Nunavut and federal officials have no set date for new measures to stop illegal substances from reaching communities
This story was updated on Thursday, March 12, 2026, at 1 p. m.
Officials are looking into tighter checks at northern airports and mail routes after growing worries about drugs and alcohol making their way into Nunavut, says the territory’s justice minister.
George Hickes, who also handles infrastructure and transportation, said this is still a top concern for the territorial government following a recent visit to Yellowknife Airport with other government and security leaders.
“Society has changed. There are a heck of a lot more security concerns nowadays, especially with some of the illicit substances that are coming into our communities,” he told the Nunavut legislature during question period Tuesday.
Hickes was in Yellowknife on March 3 along with federal Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree, RCMP Commissioner Michael Duheme, and senior reps from Public Safety Canada, the RCMP, Canada Border Services Agency, and Canadian Security Intelligence Service.
They checked out airport screening procedures with Northwest Territories ministers Vince Mc Kay and Jay Macdonald and talked about how illegal substances reach northern areas.
The group planned to head to Cambridge Bay too but had to cancel because of a flight issue.
Anandasangaree said their visit showed “loopholes” in security that need fixing. For instance, Yellowknife Airport doesn’t require security screenings before flights head to smaller northern spots.
“There’s no quick fix,” he said in an interview.
In Nunavut, only Iqaluit International Airport has mandatory passenger screening by the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority. So passengers flying between places like Rankin Inlet or Cambridge Bay only get screened when passing through Iqaluit en route south.
Anandasangaree also pointed out concerns about Canada Post being used to send contraband and illegal drugs into communities.
Last July, Cambridge Bay Mayor Wayne Gregory told Cambridge Chronicle that no security checks on regional flights-like those between Yellowknife and Cambridge Bay-make it easier for drugs to get into Kitikmeot Region.
After a violent drug-related attack there, Gregory mentioned hearing talks about changing airport security. But an N. W. T. Department of Infrastructure spokesperson told Cambridge Chronicle they hadn’t heard any plans for new security steps yet.
During Tuesday’s legislature session, Cambridge Bay MLA Fred Pedersen asked Hickes about Bill C-2 from the federal government which would let Canada Post open letters suspected of having illegal items inside.
The bill called the Strong Borders Act is still at second reading in the House of Commons.
Hickes said Nunavut is reviewing this bill to see if it can help improve mail screening up north.
No one gave any timeline on when new mail or passenger screening will be put in place but Hickes said they’re “working on it diligently.”
Suzanne Perseo from the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority said her agency hasn’t heard of any new passenger or cargo screening changes since their visit to Yellowknife Airport.
Clarification: This story has been updated to better explain how passenger screening works between northern communities.
