Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says a joint Canada-U.S. NORAD military base in the Canadian north could help to strengthen the relationship between the two countries, following weeks of growing tension.
“The U.S. has emphasized the need for immediate measures on border security, and l stressed the importance of Canada taking that demand seriously,” said Smith.
Smith brought the idea forward during a premiers’ meeting with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau earlier this week
“To further bolster Canada–U.S. arctic security, I asked my provincial and federal counterparts in the First Ministers’ Meeting to consider establishing a joint Canada-U.S. NORAD region base in Northern Canada, similar to the Canadian NORAD Region (CANR) headquarters in Winnipeg,” said Smith.
Chinese military activity has steadily increased near Canada’s Arctic, with a Canadian warship encountering a Chinese polar research vessel in the Bering Strait off Alaska last summer. The warship was on its first-ever Arctic patrol when it encountered the Chinese ship in August 2024.
The Department of National Defence has previously noted that Canada’s “competitors are not waiting to take advantage” of the natural resources in the area which are becoming more accessible as the Arctic circle begins to warm.
According to the DND, our warming Arctic has made the “vast and sensitive region more accessible to foreign actors” who are seeking transportation routes and natural resources.
“Competitors are not waiting to take advantage – seeking access, transportation routes, natural resources, critical minerals, and energy sources through more frequent and regular presence and activity. They are exploring Arctic waters and the seafloor, probing our infrastructure and collecting intelligence,” said the department at the time.
Additionally, Smith called upon the federal government to appoint a Canadian “border czar.” The new position would work jointly with U.S. border czar Tom Homan.
“The U.S. has emphasized the need for immediate measures on border security, and l stressed the importance of Canada taking that demand seriously – beginning with the immediate appointment of a Canadian border czar to work with the U.S. on securing our shared border from Fentanyl dealers and illegal migrants,” said Smith in a statement released Thursday.
U.S. President Donald Trump’s 25% tariffs on Canada and Mexico are scheduled to begin Saturday if the government does not act to curb illegal crossings into the United States, and address the importation of fentanyl from Canada to the U.S.
Smith told reporters that the “one thing that we can do this week in just the next couple of days to have the best chance to avoid tariffs is to show clear and unequivocal action to secure the border.”
While the Alberta premier acknowledged that this move wouldn’t entirely reverse course on U.S. tariffs, she remains “convinced” after speaking with Trump and dozens of U.S. officials that this is the “most important first step.”
She noted that, in addition to Trudeau and the premiers, she’s expressed her concerns with Minister of Public Safety Dominic LeBlanc and Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Jonathan Wilkinson.
“I hope it is acted on by the end of this week before February 1,” said Smith.
