Arctic Geography
Natural Features

Arctic Climate
Environment

Canadian Inuit
Northern Population

References

The Canadian Arctic provides an environment that is truly unique when compared to the rest of Canada: sparsely populated at approximately 100,000 and spanning thousands of kilometers spread across four time-zones (eastern, central, mountain and pacific).
In short, the Canadian Arctic is gargantuan – representing 40% of the total Canadian landmass!

The Canadian Arctic encompasses three territories (west to east): Yukon, Northwest Territories and Nunavut.  The largest of the three territories, Nunavut, is also the youngest, officially formed on April 1, 1999 from land previously part of the Northwest Territories.

The Canadian Arctic
Image Credit: Natural Resources Canada

As a general rule, most Canadians regard any landmass north of 60 degrees north latitude as Northern Canada (as a reference point, this is roughly the southern boarders of all three territories).  By definition, any landmass above the Arctic Circle is recognized Arctic territory and therefore experiences both the Polar Night (sun doesn’t raise during the Winter Solstice) and Midnight Sun (sun doesn’t set during the Summer Solstice). 

Midnight Sun – Baffin Island (long-exposure photograph)
Photo Credit: John Dunn -- National Geographic

Compared to their provincial counterparts to the south, Canada’s three territories are subjected to greater federal influence as to control and jurisdiction relating to their legislative powers.  Each territorial government is headed by a federally appointed Commissioner, although the legislative structure differs slightly between the territories.  In the Yukon party politics decides the electoral process.  Elected Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) in both the Northwest Territories and Nunavut is done on an individual basis with no party politics, once the legislature is formed each MLA votes for the Speaker of the House, Premier and Cabinet – this political process is known as Consensus Government.

Territorial Structure

Yukon
Population: 30,372 (2nd smallest among all territories and provinces)
Size: 474,711.02 km² (9th among all territories and provinces)
Government: The Yukon Party (2006)

• Second-term for Premier Dennis Fentie
• 2009/10 marks seventh consecutive budgetary surplus

Northwest Territories
Population: 41,464 (3rd smallest among all territories and provinces)
Size: 1,140,834.90 km² (3rd among all territories and provinces)
Government: Premier Floyd Roland (2007)

• Elections fixed for every four-years on the first Monday in October
• 2009/10 projected short-term deficit of $81 million to be balanced the following fiscal year due in part to increased infrastructure spending 

Nunavut
Population: 29,474 (smallest among all territories and provinces)
Size: 1,932,254.97 km² (largest among all territories and provinces)
Government: Premier Eva Aariak (2008)

• Eva Aariak is Nunavut's first female premier  
• 2009/10 projected budgetary deficit of $29.1 million
• April 1/09 Nunavut celebrated its 10th anniversary as a Canadian territory