Northern Workforce Investments to Drive Local Economies and Sustainable Ocean Innovation

Published July 7th | Hilltimes

By: John Vandenberg, Executive Director, Arctic Marine Training Group and Jeffrey Ungalaq Maurice, Vice President – Partnerships, Arctic Economic Development Corporation

Canada’s Arctic is no longer a distant policy concern; it is now central to the country’s sovereignty, security, and economic future. As Ottawa advances NORAD modernization and a new Defence Industrial Strategy, it must also recognize that Arctic security cannot be separated from the people, infrastructure, and communities that make Canada’s northern presence real. The recent Inuit-Crown Partnership Committee meeting in Kuujjuaq, Que., was an important reminder that Inuit partnership is not peripheral to this agenda—it is foundational. With more than half of Canada’s coastline in the Arctic, and 72 per cent of that coastline in Inuit Nunangat, Canada’s ocean ambitions will depend on sustained investment in Inuit-led infrastructure, training, and workforce development. 

Canada’s Ocean Supercluster (OSC) recently commissioned the Arctic Insights Report (2026) to identify practical ocean-sector opportunities and barriers in the North and to clarify where the OSC, and the broader ocean community, can play the most effective role in enabling northern-led growth and innovation.  It is no surprise that the report identifies extensive infrastructure gaps as one of the most persistent barriers to northern economic development.  

Ports and dual-use infrastructure are key to unlocking Canada’s Arctic marine economy. The report identifies several investment opportunities, including the Qikiqtarjuaq Deep Sea Port and the Grays Bay Port and Road proposal, that could support fisheries, tourism, defence, and community resupply.

Investments in dual-use infrastructure and community-based marine and trade training can create opportunities for the local Inuit workforce. The report identifies “education prerequisites and financing” as key barriers for Inuit entering maritime careers. Inuit Nunangat communities are eager to expand fisheries, marine transportation, tourism, environmental monitoring, and dual-use infrastructure. Inuit youth, the fastest-growing population in Canada, offer a chance to build a skilled northern workforce. However, education, training, funding, and program delivery systems are often fragmented and misaligned with northern realities.

According to Statistics Canada (2023), “Inuit are more likely to live in certain geographic regions, which can impact their participation in formal education” with approximately 23.7 per cent of Inuit living in Inuit Nunangat holding postsecondary qualifications, compared to 52.8 per cent of Inuit living outside the region. Southern-designed prerequisites are often misaligned with Arctic realities, training centres are stretched thin, and many learners must travel long distances, affecting women and young parents the most. The Insights Report suggests a path forward rooted in community, culture, and innovation. Education should align with real opportunities and respect local perspectives and rhythms.  

Workforce development should start early with dual-credit high-school programs that blend academic learning with practical opportunities in marine careers, trades, digital or other skills. Essential supports such as childcare, housing, food security, travel subsidies, and mental-health services must be integrated into program design to improve participation and completion rates. The Insights Report stresses that training must be community-based, include local instructors complemented by fly-in instructors where needed, mobile units, seasonal programs, and partnerships with Inuit organizations. This approach will create accessible, culturally relevant learning environments that build local capacity and long-term growth by supporting local instructors and mentors. 

Workforce development should be positioned as a core pillar of Canada’s ocean innovation agenda. Sovereignty, safety, environmental stewardship, and economic growth all depend on people—local people—who are trained, supported, and empowered to lead.
The Arctic Insights Report makes one thing unmistakably clear: investing in dual-use infrastructure, Inuit education, and Inuit-led training is not only the right thing to do; it is one of the smartest ocean investments Canada can make. By embracing a community-driven, Inuit-led, and culturally grounded approach, Canada can help build a workforce that will strengthen Arctic sovereignty, support local economies, and sustainably guide ocean innovation for generations.