Canada conducts major military exercise in high Arctic

The Canadian armed forces has started a major military exercise in high Arctic to showcase its sovereignty in the region, the National Defense Department said on Tuesday.Operation Nunalivut 2013 will be held from April 2 to 30 in the northwestern portion of the Arctic Archipelago, extending as far west as Mould Bay, Northwest Territories, and north to Isachsen, Nunavut.The forces will face some of the most challenging terrain and weather conditions in the operation, which "will exercise Canadian sovereignty and demonstrate the Canadian Armed Forces' abilities in the High Arctic during winter," Minister of National Defense Peter MacKay said.The Canadian Rangers, experts in living and operating in these areas, will conduct sovereignty patrols between Resolute Bay and Isachsen, Nunavut, as well as on Devon Island, more specifically in Griffon Inlet and Gascoyne Inlet in a bid to increase their collective knowledge and experience in the challenging environment.The Royal Canadian Air Force will assist the exercise in the Arctic Archipelago by providing tactical airlifts and a platform for surveillance and reconnaissance missions.The exercise, one of the major operations conducted every year in Canada's North, will take place under the command of Joint Task Force (North) headquartered in Resolute Bay, Nunavut. Endi