Canada and the Circumpolar Regions

The Arctic is central to Canada’s national identity, prosperity, security, values and interests. The Canadian Arctic covers 40% of Canada’s territory and more than 70% of our coastline and is home to many Canadians across the region, including Indigenous Peoples who have inhabited this land since time immemorial.

Advancing Canada’s Arctic priorities involve many departments across the Government of Canada, both at home and internationally.

Canada is committed to addressing:

The causes and impacts of climate change;
Renewing the nation-to-nation relationship with Indigenous peoples;
Supporting sustainable Northern economic development;
Promoting Canada as a leader in Arctic science and research; and
Working with domestic and international partners to advance Canada’s goals in the region.

Global Affairs Canada and the Arctic

Global Affairs Canada is responsible for coordinating and leading the international aspects of Canada’s Arctic engagement. This work is carried out by the Nordic and Polar Relations Division in Ottawa, and by Canadian embassies around the world. Canada is an active founding member of the Arctic Council, the preeminent international forum for Arctic cooperation.

Global Affairs Canada’s main objectives in the circumpolar Arctic include:

Lead in implementing the International chapter of Canada’s Arctic and Northern Policy Framework (2019) and Canada’s Arctic Foreign Policy (2024);
Support the identification of targeted, innovative trade and commercial opportunities for the North, benefiting Northerners;
Help position Canada as a global leader in Arctic science and research; and
Assert Canadian positions and contribute to raising Canada's profile on Northern issues, through an active advocacy strategy involving Northern participation.

For Arctic-related updates from Global Affairs Canada, follow us on X (Twitter) at @CanadaArctic and Instagram at @CanadaArctic.

The Arctic and Northern Policy Framework

In September 2019, Canada set out a long-term vision for the Canadian and circumpolar Arctic with the release of the Arctic and Northern Policy Framework (ANPF), which provides overarching direction to the Government of Canada’s priorities, activities, and investments in the Arctic to 2030 and beyond. Co-developed with Northerners, territorial and provincial governments, First Nations, Inuit, and Métis People, it includes an international chapter that sets out priority areas for Canada’s international Arctic engagement, including: to strengthen the rules-based international order; to increase engagement with Arctic and non-Arctic states; and to more clearly define Canada’s Arctic boundaries. Global Affairs Canada is working with international and domestic partners to implement these priorities, empower Northern communities while protecting the fragile Arctic environment, and to ensure the Arctic remains a region of peace and stability.

Canada’s Arctic Foreign Policy

The world has changed significantly since the release of the ANPF in 2019, particularly with Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine and deepening strategic competition including in the Arctic. To stay ahead of evolving security and political dynamics Canada is recalibrating its foreign policy approach in the Arctic to better advance Canadian interests.

In December 2024, the Minister of Foreign Affairs launched Canada’s Arctic Foreign Policy. The Policy supports implementation of the ANPF International chapter by responding to evolving geopolitical developments in the region and providing new diplomatic tools and policies which position Canada to continue to assert its sovereignty and advance its interests pragmatically and effectively well into the future.

The Arctic Foreign Policy enables Global Affairs Canada to leverage diplomacy to support our national defence and security, manage Arctic boundaries through a rules-based approach, strengthen partnerships with Arctic allies and key non-Arctic states, demonstrate leadership on Arctic governance and multilateral challenges, and adopt a more inclusive approach to Arctic diplomacy.

To enhance and magnify our diplomatic leverage, the Policy proposes several new measures including establishing an Arctic and Circumpolar Ambassador, opening consulates in Greenland and Alaska, and enhancing support for the Arctic Council as well as Indigenous and youth diplomacy.

The Arctic Foreign Policy draws on Canada’s pragmatic diplomacy agenda, the Indo-Pacific Strategy, and the Future of Diplomacy. It also complements and benefits from the historic defence and security investments in Our North, Strong and Free.

Global Arctic Leadership Initiative

The Global Arctic Leadership Initiative (GALI) supports initiatives that address gaps and promote Canada’s interests and values in international Arctic engagement. The GALI funding program is rooted in the International Chapter of Canada’s ANPF and supports the objectives of the Arctic Foreign Policy.

With an investment of $6.15M devoted to Arctic programming each year, GALI supports actions in five areas:

strengthening Canada’s engagement in the Arctic Council to promote Canada’ interests and values
establishing a Canadian-based permanent secretariat for the Arctic Council’s Sustainable Development Working Group to improve conditions for Indigenous and Arctic communities
supporting Canadian Indigenous Northerners participation in international Arctic forums to make sure their voices are heard in discussions and decision-making on the Arctic
increasing the University of the Arctic’s activities to promote education and research in the Arctic region
meaningfully engaging Northern youth on international Arctic affairs and Arctic issues so their perspectives inform discussions and decision-making on the Arctic

As with the ANPF and Arctic Foreign Policy, GALI initiatives and programs are based on a people-centred approach to the Arctic, where Indigenous Peoples and Northerners are meaningfully engaged in the full process of policy-making and implementation.

Canada’s submission to the Commission on the limits of the Continental Shelf

On May 23, 2019 Canada filed a 2,100 page submission to the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf at the United Nations. This follows a decade of scientific and legal work to determine the limits of Canada’s undersea landmass in the Arctic. This marked the first step in the process set out in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea to obtain international recognition for the outer limits of the continental shelf in the Arctic Ocean.

On December 19, 2022, Canada submitted an addendum to the Executive Summary of its 2019 Arctic Ocean submission. Within the next five years, new data collection and analyses will continue with surveys in remote areas to further support Canada’s addendum. Canada will file this information for the consideration of the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf.

Arctic Council

The Arctic Council is the leading multilateral forum through which Canada advances its Arctic interests internationally. It was established in Ottawa in 1996 by the Ottawa Declaration. Canada was the first chair of the Arctic Council, serving from 1996 to 1998, and served again from 2013 to 2015. Canada’s next Chairship will be from 2029 to 2031.

Canada and the Antarctic

On October 22, 2021, Canada submitted its application for Consultative Party status in the Antarctic Treaty System. Canada recognizes the Antarctic Treaty System as the key multilateral mechanism for decisions on the regulation and management of Antarctica, and is committed to pursuing peaceful and environmentally responsible solutions to ongoing and emerging global issues. As an international leader on polar issues and with strong connections to research, tourism, governance and history in the region, it is time for Canada to take a more formal role as a steward of the Antarctic. Canada has long participated in the annual Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meetings as a Non-Consultative Party and has been an active participant in discussions on Antarctic governance. With this application, Canada is seeking full membership alongside 29 other Consultative Party states.

Learn more about the Antarctic Treaty System and Canada's long-standing contribution to Antarctic research. (Polar Knowledge Canada)

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