Critics Urge Canada to Aid Inuit on Chinese Arctic Influence

OTTAWA — Critics are calling on the Canadian government to provide Inuit communities with greater resources and expertise to counter growing Chinese influence in the Arctic, warning that current approaches leave northern residents vulnerable to surveillance and economic dependencies.

At a news conference on Parliament Hill on March 9, Elizabeth Donkervoort, director of the China Strategic Risks Institute, highlighted the lack of support for Inuit groups evaluating Chinese investment proposals. "Inuit communities are central to the challenge," she said. "Yet they are often not provided with the resources, information or technical support needed to fully assess these complex Chinese investment proposals." Donkervoort's think tank released a report earlier this month urging Ottawa to bolster partnerships with Indigenous groups to resist Beijing's expanding presence in the region.

The report details potential Chinese engagements, including investments in mining projects, collaborations with polar research vessels and funding for infrastructure like transportation and broadband internet. Donkervoort noted that such offers address genuine community needs but could incrementally build...