Canadian Armed Forces Assert Arctic Sovereignty through Military Operation NUNAKPUT 2015

July 6, 2015

HAY RIVER, N.T. – Operation NUNAKPUT 2015 (Op NK 15) launched today in Hay River, Northwest Territories. From July 6-23, members of 1 Canadian Ranger Patrol Group (1 CRPG) will assert Canada’s sovereignty in the north as they move from Hay River to Tuktoyaktuk by boat during this annual Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) maritime sovereignty operation.

Op NK 15 will enable the Canadian Rangers to demonstrate Canadian sovereignty capabilities and practice interoperability with other government departments through shared training exercises conducted throughout the patrol, focusing on the Mackenzie River region in the Western Arctic. A major goal of Op NK 15 is to maintain interoperability with mission partners for maximum effectiveness in response to safety and security issues in the North.

Quick Facts

• Op NK 15 operates concurrently with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police’s (RCMP) Operation GATEWAY 2015. This collaborative approach supports combined training scenarios between the CAF and other government departments (OGDs) including the RCMP, as well as Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) and Environment Canada (EC).
• Enhancing the ability to operate collectively and share best practices in training with OGDs in the North benefits all parties involved while respecting each participating department’s unique mandate, roles and responsibilities.
• This year, the route begins in Hay River, NT at the edge of Great Slave Lake then moves north along the entire length of the Mackenzie River, ending at the cusp of the Beaufort Sea and Amundsen Gulf in Tuktoyaktuk, NT. Nearly 2000 km of territory will be covered by the patrol over the course of the operation.
• In total, approximately 100 personnel will be deployed on Op NK 15. This includes both the CAF and members of the RCMP, DFO and EC. Participating units from the CAF include: 1 Canadian Ranger Patrol Group (1CRPG), 440 (Transport) Squadron, and members of Joint Task Force (North).
• The Canadian Rangers are the “eyes and ears” of the CAF in northern communities and in sparsely settled coastal and isolated areas of Canada.

Quotes

“I commend the Canadian Armed Forces’ ability to conduct operations across the Arctic in partnership with other government departments. It’s through the dedicated work of our military men and women and their colleagues across departments that Canada has been able to assert our sovereignty in the Artic and operate so effectively in challenging conditions.”

The Honourable Julian Fantino, Associate Minister of National Defence.

“Operation NUNAKPUT 2015 is a unique opportunity for the Canadian Armed Forces and our government partners to conduct concurrent maritime patrols and training exercises in the Western Arctic, highlighting a Team North approach when it comes to ensuring the safety and security of Canadians working and living in the North.”

Major-General Greg Loos, Commander, Joint Task Force (North)

Related Products

• Backgrounder – Operation NUNAKPUT
• Images from Operation NUNAKPUT will be available on JTFN Flickr
• Follow JTFN on Facebook for news and imagery from Operation NUNAKPUT

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Contacts

Media Relations
Department of National Defence
Phone: 613-996-2353
Toll-Free: 1-866-377-0811

OP GATEWAY:
Constable Elenore Sturko
RCMP Media Liaison
“G” Division RCMP
Cell: (867) 445-3482

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