Canada Command Backgrounder

BG #07.00407 August 2007

Operation NANOOK 07

Operation NANOOK 07

Operation NANOOK 07 is a Canada Command sovereignty operation taking place in Iqaluit and the Baffin Island Coastal and the Hudson Strait areas from August 7 to 17, 2007. During the operation, Joint Task Force (North) (JTFN) will participate in an exercise designed to train the Headquarters in the conduct of domestic operations in support of other government departments in its area of responsibility.

Operation NANOOK 07 is a joint operation involving the deployment of navy, army and air force personnel and resources. This operation is being conducted in close cooperation with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and the Canadian Coast Guard.

Participants in Operation NANOOK 07 include personnel from:

• Canada Command Headquarters, Ottawa
• Joint Task Force (North) Headquarters, Yellowknife
• Canadian Operational Support Command Headquarters, Ottawa
• 8 Air Communications and Control Squadron, Trenton
• Aerospace and Telecommunications Engineering Support Squadron, Trenton
• Combined Force Air Component Commander, Winnipeg
• 440 Transport Squadron, Yellowknife
• 400 Tactical Helicopter Squadron, Borden
• 405 Maritime Patrol Squadron, 14 Wing Greenwood
• Land Forces from: 33 Canadian Brigade Group
• 425 Tactical Fighter Squadron, Bagotville
• 435 Transport and Rescue Squadron, Winnipeg
• 1 Canadian Ranger Patrol Group
• Arctic Region, Public Safety Canada
• "V" Division, Royal Canadian Mounted Police
• Central and Arctic Region, Canadian Coast Guard
• Her Majesty's Canadian Ship Fredericton
• Her Majesty's Canadian Ship Summerside
• Her Majesty's Canadian Ship Corner Brook
• Canadian Coast Guard Ship Martha L. Black
• Canadian Ice Service

There are two exercise scenarios during Operation NANOOK 07:

• CF response to a request from the RCMP for assistance with a drug interdiction event; and
• CF response to a request from the Canadian Coast Guard for assistance with an environmental protection event.

Approximately 600 Canadian Forces members, Canadian Coast Guard personnel and RCMP members will participate in Operation NANOOK 07.

RECENT EASTERN ARCTIC OPERATIONS

Operation LANCASTER

Operation LANCASTER, a Canada Command sovereignty operation, took place along the eastern and northern coasts of Baffin Island from August 12 to 24, 2006. Navy, army and air force personnel and resources conducted sovereignty and surveillance operations of these areas, including the waters of Lancaster Sound.

In addition to military participants, Operation LANCASTER included representatives from:

• Canadian Ice Service
• Royal Canadian Mounted Police
• Parks Canada
• Department of Fisheries and Oceans
• Canadian Coast Guard Ship Henry Larsen

Approximately 425 military and civilian personnel were involved in this operation.

Operation HUDSON SENTINEL

Operation HUDSON SENTINEL was a joint sovereignty operation involving the deployment of navy, army and air force personnel and resources. The operation took place in Hudson Bay August 15 to 30, 2005. In addition to military personnel, members of "V" Division RCMP and the Canadian Coast Guard Ship Radisson participated in this operation.

Approximately 200 military, RCMP and Coast Guard personnel took part in this operation.