Fletcher At the top of the World

August 20, 2008

IQALUIT  — Steven Fletcher, Member of Parliament for Charleswood–St. James–Assiniboia and Parliamentary Secretary for Health, today will arrive at CFS Alert the northernmost permanently-inhabited settlement in the world as part of his participation in Operation NANOOK 2008.

“To keep Canada the true North strong and free we must demonstrate our sovereignty over the Arctic” said Fletcher. “All of the activities related to Operation NANOOK 2008, including the ability to transport a person in my physical condition to within about 800km of the North Pole, makes a strong and clear statement of our ownership over the Canadian Arctic.”

Steven Fletcher is believed to be the first high-level quadriplegic in the world to reach within less than 1,000 kilometres from the geographic North Pole.

Steven went on to add, “Another motivation for my being part of Operation NANOOK is to draw attention to the critical role our own 17 Wing Winnipeg plays in asserting Canadian sovereignty in the North. These duties include supplying strategic locations like CFS Alert and handling a large majority of the search and rescue (SAR) missions in the Canadian North. I think many of my constituents would be surprised to know that in many ways defending Canada's Arctic sovereignty begins with the excellent work being done at the Wing located in their own backyard.”

CFS Alert is the most northern permanently inhabited settlement in the world. It is situated on the northeastern tip of Ellsemere Island in the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. The station is located about 817 kilometres (450 nautical miles) from the geographic North Pole.

Operation NANOOK 2008 is one of three major sovereignty operations conducted every year by the Canadian Forces in Canada's North. This year’s operation includes exercise scenarios with simulated maritime emergencies, including the evacuation of a ship in distress and an oil spill. These exercises are designed to develop and refine relationships between various agencies that assist in the government’s approach to Arctic sovereignty.

This year’s operation involves approximately 600 Canadian Forces members working alongside personnel from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, the Canadian Coast Guard, Public Safety, Health Canada, Canada Border Services Agency, Emergency Management Office Nunavut and others. Operation NANOOK is being conducted by Joint Task Force North (JTFN). As one of six regional commands reporting to Canada Command in Ottawa, JTFN is responsible for the conduct of all routine and contingency operations in Canada's North. JTFN is headquartered in Yellowknife, N.W.T., and commanded by Brigadier-General David Millar.