Canada Inuit Nunangat Arctic Region

Canada Arctic Region

In 2018, Canada announced the creation of a stand-alone Arctic Region inclusive of the four regions of Inuit Nunangat for the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) and the Canadian Coast Guard (CCG).

According to DFO, the new region was created to address fishing, shipping, resource development, and other interests in light of the changing arctic climate.

The creation of the Arctic Region will be implemented in phases and has already begun with the hiring of new DFO Regional Director General, Gabriel Nirlungayuk and a new Assistant Commissioner of the Coast Guard.

They will both work with Inuit and all Indigenous peoples, as well as residents of the North to define the borders of the new Region and its activities.

The new Region will enable DFO and the Coast Guard to work more closely with Inuit and all Indigenous Leaders, Indigenous organizations, stakeholders and all residents of the Arctic on innovative approaches to program and service delivery.

There will be 7 Fisheries and Oceans Canada regions once the stand-alone Arctic region has been established. Currently, the agency has 6 administrative regions: Newfoundland and Labrador, Maritimes-Scotia Fundy, Gulf, Quebec, Central, and Arctic and Pacific.

The Canadian Coast Guard will have 4 operational regions once the stand-alone Arctic region is established. CCG currently has 3 operational regions: Western, Central and Arctic, and Atlantic.

There are four Inuit regions in Canada, Nunatsiavut (Labrador); Nunavik (Quebec); Nunavut; and the Inuvialuit Settlement Region of the Northwest Territories. Known collectively as Inuit Nunangat, the region encompasses 35 percent of Canada’s landmass and 50 percent of its coastline.

Related Information

Canada Department of Fisheries and Oceans

Canada Commercial Fishing