Nunavut, a region of growing strategic importance as climate change makes shipping lanes and resources more accessible, covers 810,000 square miles (2.1 million square km) but has a population of only 40,000. An almost complete lack of infrastructure means operating costs are exorbitant.
Challenges include harsh weather, an almost total lack of infrastructure, high costs, major social problems and a largely unskilled and undereducated Inuit aboriginal workforce.
Nunavut, created in 1999, was the only one of Canada’s three northern territories that had not negotiated devolution. Talks on the agreement started in October 2014.
Companies active in Nunavut include Agnico-Eagle Mines, operator of the territory’s only working gold mine.
Nunavut is home to some of the minerals critical for battery production. Canada has pledged billions in incentives to woo companies involved in all levels of the electric vehicle supply chain as the…
