Western Arctic Business Association

Editorials

Opinion in the Arctic is never abstract—it is forged in the tension between government policy and local enterprise, between opportunity and constraint. Our Editorials bring strong voices and sharp arguments to bear on the questions shaping the Western Arctic economy. Expect both critique and constructive solutions, grounded in the lived reality of Northern business.

$35B for the North Is Only as Good as the Policy Behind It
Editorials

$35B for the North Is Only as Good as the Policy Behind It

PM Mark Carney has announced an estimated $35 billion for defence and Northern infrastructure. The headline number matters—but what will …

Don’t Bring a Defence Build-Up to Inuvik Without an Economic Plan
Editorials

Don’t Bring a Defence Build-Up to Inuvik Without an Economic Plan

DND’s April 21, 2026 town hall in Inuvik is the right start. But if Ottawa wants “capacity in the North,” …

Defence Supply Chains Require Scale. The North Was Never Funded to Scale.
Editorials

Defence Supply Chains Require Scale. The North Was Never Funded to Scale.

RDII is a welcome signal for the Western Arctic, but Ottawa is still trying to buy defence-ready capacity from a …

Startup Success and Skills Development: The Northern Trade-Off We Should Name Out Loud
Editorials

Startup Success and Skills Development: The Northern Trade-Off We Should Name Out Loud

In the Arctic, tech can help a business succeed while masking whether the owner is building the non-revenue skill set …

When Arctic Municipalities Bypass Local Business, They Undermine Their Own Communities
Editorials

When Arctic Municipalities Bypass Local Business, They Undermine Their Own Communities

Local procurement rules exist for a reason. So why are Arctic contracts still going south? The hidden costs show up …

Why CanNor’s Funding Strategy Defies Its Own Economic Logic
Editorials

Why CanNor’s Funding Strategy Defies Its Own Economic Logic

If the goal is a real Northern economy, CanNor’s funding logic is backwards. This piece explains why—and what a better …

Why CanNor’s Loans Aren’t Sparking the Northern Economy
Editorials

Why CanNor’s Loans Aren’t Sparking the Northern Economy

CanNor’s business loans are sitting unused. Northern entrepreneurs aren’t the problem—policy design is. Here’s what needs to change.

Arctic Business is brought to you by the Western Arctic Business Association (WABA)—a member-led organization that supports business growth across the region through partnerships, practical programming, and advocacy on the conditions Northern enterprises need to succeed.

Northwest Territories