Poilievre unveils plan to protect Canada's Arctic

Pierre Poilievre has revealed part one of his plan to "take back control" of Canada's Arctic region.

The Conservative leader emphasized that it was time Ottawa took action amid growing threats from Russia, China, and other adversaries.

Central to Poilievre's plan is the doubling of the 1st Patrol Group of the Canadian Rangers — which currently consists of 2,000 members — as well as building at least one permanent military base in the Arctic within two years.

The base would be located in Iqaluit, and serve as the first in the region since the Cold War. The northern capital already has a Forward Operating Location, and an airport that can serve the army's needs.

Also included in the plan is the acquisition of two polar icebreakers to add to the Royal Canadian Navy's fleet, which is already among the largest in the world. Two additional vessels are currently being built at the Seaspan and Davie shipyards, however current government under Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has not given a timeline for when they will be finished. Poilievre vowed to have them ready for the Coast Guard by 2029.

"The Canadian Arctic is under threat," he said. "After 9 years, the NDP-Liberals have weakened our military and lost the respect of our allies. Our safety, territory and trade with the US requires we take back control of Canada's North."

He declared that his plan will "protect Canadians and give the brave men and women in the Canadian Armed Forces, especially the mighty Canadian Rangers, the resources they need to defend our North so we can secure our skies, seas and soil."

Poilievre went on to explain that to pay for the plan, he would make cuts to foreign aid, specifically that which has been found to go to "dictators, terrorists, and global bureaucracies."