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Backgrounder

Government of Canada’s Operation Nanook 09

BG 09.04 - August 7, 2009

Operation NANOOK 09 is one of three major sovereignty operations conducted every year by the Government of Canada in Canada's North. This operation will see the Canadian Forces demonstrate a visible presence in the eastern Arctic with sea, land and air forces operating in the Baffin Island region. The operation will run from August 6 to 28, 2009, and will include sovereignty patrolling, a military exercise, and a whole-of-government exercise.

Operation NANOOK 09 is a joint operation that will be conducted with the participation of personnel, ships and aircraft from the Army, Navy and Air Force, working under the command of 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, NT, and commanded by Brigadier-General David Millar.

SOVEREIGNTY PATROLLING

During the operation, maritime surveillance patrols will extend through the Hudson and Davis Straits, and aerial reconnaissance missions will be conducted over much of Canada’s Arctic territory and northern land and air approaches.

Surveillance patrols will also be conducted by the Canadian Coast Guard and Transport Canada. The CF works closely with federal government partners to ensure the monitoring of Canada’s territory and aerial and maritime approaches, including in the Arctic, in order to detect threats to safety and security.

MILITARY EXERCISE

In addition to surveillance patrols, this year’s operation will include a military exercise involving sea, land and air forces, the Canadian Coast Guard and Transport Canada. The exercise will see the amphibious landing of an Arctic Reserve Company Group on an island near Iqaluit to search for a suspected downed unmanned aerial vehicle. The exercise will progress to include diving operations and an anti-submarine warfare component.

Canadian Rangers will provide support to the land patrols, demonstrating the traditional skills required to live off the land. The Canadian Rangers, who are experienced in Arctic survival and deployed almost every time the CF operates on the land in the North, will

act as guides, experts on the land, and provide predator control. The Canadian Rangers are skilled Reserve Force members of the CF, and a major contributor to the training and effectiveness of the military in the North.

INTEGRATED WHOLE OF GOVERNMENT EXERCISE

Operation NANOOK 09 will conclude with a Government of Canada exercise, designed to enable the departments and agencies of multiple levels of government (municipal, territorial and federal) to work together. Operation NANOOK 09 enables federal and territorial partners to exercise the knowledge and skills necessary to practice inter-departmental coordination.

PARTICIPANTS

Operation NANOOK 09 will includes over 700 participants from:

• Emergency Management Office, Nunavut
• Qikiqtani Regional Hospital, Iqaluit
• Public Safety Canada, Arctic Region
• Canadian Coast Guard, Central and Arctic Region
• Canadian Coast Guard Ship Pierre Radisson
• Royal Canadian Mounted Police
• Canadian Ice Service
• Public Health Agency Canada
• Canada Border Services Agency
• Canadian Security Intelligence Service
• Health Canada
• Transport Canada
• Department of Defence
• Canada Command Headquarters, Ottawa
• Joint Task Force (North) Headquarters, Yellowknife
• Canadian Operational Support Command Headquarters, Ottawa
• 8 Air Communications and Control Squadron, Trenton
• Aerospace and Telecommunications Engineering Support Squadron, Trenton
• Combined Force Air Component Commander, Winnipeg
• 440 Transport Squadron, Yellowknife
• 405 Maritime Patrol Squadron, 14 Wing Greenwood
• Land Forces from 32 Canadian Brigade Group
• 435 Transport and Rescue Squadron, Winnipeg
• 1 Canadian Ranger Patrol Group
• Her Majesty’s Canadian Ship Toronto
• Her Majesty’s Canadian Ship Glace Bay
• Her Majesty’s Canadian Submarine Cornerbrook

OTHER RECENT ARCTIC OPERATIONS

Operation NANOOK 09will build on the success achieved in other recent Eastern Arctic sovereignty operations including Operation NANOOK 08 and 07, Operation LANCASTER in 2006, and Operation HUDSON SENTINEL in 2005.

In addition to these Eastern Arctic sovereignty operations, the CF annually conducts Operation NUNAKPUT in the Western Arctic, and Operation NUNALIVUT in the High-Arctic.

– 30 –

For more information, please contact:
Lieutenant Navy Jordan Holder
JTFN Public Affairs Officer
Phone: (867) 873-0700, ext 6005,
Fax: (867) 766-6803,
Cell: (867) 445-4060

Or:

Summer Halliday
JTFN Public Affairs Advisor
Phone: (867) 873-0700, ext 6922,
Fax: (867) 766-6803,
Cell: (867) 765-8624

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