Frequently Asked Questions 

Q1.      What is the Canadian High Arctic Station?

A1.     The Canadian High Arctic Research Station (CHARS) will provide a year-round world-class hub for science and technology in Canada’s North.  The new Station will complement and anchor the existing network of smaller regional facilities across the North and will comprise a suite of services for science and technology in Canada’s North. The Station will be built in Cambridge Bay, Nunavut.

Q2.      What is the mandate for the Canadian High Arctic Research Station?

A2.     To meet the challenges and opportunities of a changing North, the Government has established a comprehensive Northern Strategy and is taking concrete action in four priority areas: Exercising our Arctic sovereignty; Protecting our environmental heritage; Promoting social and economic development and Improving and devolving Northern governance. World-leading Arctic science and technology underpin the Northern Strategy and help ensure sound decision-making.

The mission of the Canadian High Arctic Research Station will support Arctic science and technology to:

• Develop and diversify the economy in Canada's Arctic;
• Support the effective stewardship of Canada's Arctic lands, waters, and resources;
• Create a hub for scientific activity in Canada's vast and diverse Arctic;
• Promote self-sufficient, vibrant, and healthy Northern communities;
• Inspire and build capacity through training, education and outreach; and,
• Enhance Canada's visible presence in the Arctic and strengthen Canada's leadership on Arctic issues.

Q3.      How were the priority themes and outcomes chosen for the Station?

A3.      The priorities were developed through consultations with academia, Northerners, the private sector and governments. 

These priorities represent pressing issues in the North and will help to deliver on the pillars of the Northern Strategy.

Q4.      What will be included within the scope of the Station? 

A4.      The Station will include cutting-edge laboratories, workshops, offices, telecommunications and meeting facilities to support world class science and technology, as well as facilitate collaboration both nationally and internationally.

Q5.      Who is going to undertake research at the Station?

A5.     It is anticipated that the Station will house resident scientists as well as host domestic and international collaborators and visiting researchers. The total number of people who will work at the Station will be evaluated during the design phase. 

The Feasibility Study

Q6.     What is the Canadian High Arctic Research Station Feasibility Study?

A6.      The Canadian High Arctic Research Station (CHARS) Feasibility Study presents the results of a two-year consultation period with a broad range of stakeholders to determine the future of the Station, the types of services that should be offered and the infrastructure required. Information was also gathered from other international polar facilities as well as from experience and lessons learned through the implementation of the Arctic Research Infrastructure Fund (http://www.ainc-inac.gc.ca/nth/st/arf-eng.asp). The report provides background analysis and criteria that supported the development of the architectural vision and functional design of the Station.

Q7.      Why was it necessary to complete a Feasibility Study?

A7.      To properly plan for CHARS, Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada (AANDC) embarked on an in-depth feasibility study to better understand:

• The role and operational niche of existing Canadian and international research stations;
• Where the new station should be located;
• What the mandate and the science and technology (S&T) needs and priorities of the station should be;
• Who to partner with to deliver science and technology solutions for the North;
• What design elements need to be considered for the building, operations, and activities of CHARS; and,
• The limitations and benefits of various procurement options.

The report is a foundational document that will provide background information (including preliminary functional programming) for the architectural firm that will be selected to design CHARS.

The need for an Arctic research station

Q8.      What will the funding for the Canadian High Arctic Research Station cover?

A8.      The new funding announced in Budget 2010 for the Canadian High Arctic Research Station will support the detailed design of this new, world-class facility over the next five years.

The design phase will build on the feasibility study that was made public in August 2011 to develop the conceptual design including floor plans, building elevations and material specifications, telecommunication strategies, and detailed cost and scheduling estimates for both the construction and operational phases of the new Station. The design phase will also include green building considerations.

Benefits of CHARS for Canadians

Q9.      How will CHARS benefit Canadians? 

A9.      Canada needs to know its North in order to effectively exercise sovereignty and stewardship of Canada’s Arctic lands, waters and resources. CHARS will anchor a strong research presence in Canada’s Arctic to serve Canada and the world.

CHARS is being designed to undertake solution-driven science and technology to address pressing economic, social and environmental issues in the North. Research at the Station will support resource development and diversification of the Northern economy which will not only benefit companies in the North, but across Canada. New integrated monitoring through CHARS could deliver greater certainty and timeliness in the assessment and regulatory processes. Health surveillance and research into new delivery models will improve health outcomes for Northerners and foster the well-being of communities. Climate changes currently witnessed in the North are viewed as an early indicator of the changes to come for the rest of Canada and the world. Discoveries made from Arctic science and technology can provide adaptation and mitigation strategies for all Canadians facing changes to their environment. 

Q10.    Why was Cambridge Bay chosen as the location for CHARS?

A10.    A comprehensive analysis was undertaken to choose the location for CHARS. An initial assessment of potential locations across the North in February 2009 resulted in the identification of three Nunavut communities as potential hosts for the Station. This was followed by extensive analysis and consultations with Northerners, the private sector, academia, other federal departments and other levels of government. Each potential host community was then visited and consulted on two separate occasions before the final decision was made. 

Cambridge Bay was found to be the most suitable candidate for a number of reasons, including: opportunities for partnerships, its role as a transportation hub, potential for research opportunities and proximity to natural resource development areas. Cambridge Bay’s central northern location provides good access to all parts of the North, making it easier to facilitate networking and logistics support.

Q11.    What role will Northerners play in the design of the Station?

A11.    Northerners were involved in the development of the feasibility study and will continue to be engaged in the design of the Station through their participation on advisory bodies, through community consultations and bilateral discussions.

The CHARS mandate specifies as a principle that the Station will work with Aboriginal peoples of Canada’s North and recognize the importance of Traditional Knowledge.

The community of Cambridge Bay will be engaged to ensure that the Station complements services in that community.

Q12.   What are the benefits of CHARS for Northerners?

A12.    The construction and future operations of CHARS will deliver direct benefits for Cambridge Bay and the surrounding area in terms of employment and service contracts.

Once CHARS is operational, the research, education and outreach activities will provide Northerners with skills and experience to better participate in the labour force, from mining and energy through natural resource and wildlife management, to health and life sciences. The Station will also help contribute to the economic development and diversification of Northern economies.

The design and building of the Canadian High Arctic Research Station

Q13.    Who will design and build the new Canadian High Arctic Research Station?

A13.    The design process will be open to all registered professional architects and engineers, who are interested in submitting their qualifications to a MERX-based system Request for Proposal. The final selection of the design firm will be based on a consultant selection process administered by Public Works and Government Services Canada through their contracting authorities.

Similarly, bidding on construction work will be open to all contractors who qualify through the standard MERX-based bidding process. The size and timing of the construction contracts will be determined during the design process.

All announcements for public tendering of the design process will be made through Public Works and Government Services Canada (PWGSC) and the MERX website www.merx.com. Additional information about the project will be published, as it becomes available, on the CHARS website (http://www.ainc-inac.gc.ca/nth/st/fs-eng.asp).

Q14.    How will the design and construction firms be chosen? Will there be participation from Northerners?

A14.    The federal government is committed to a competitive contracting process. All bidding for design and construction contracts will be advertised through the MERX system ( www.merx.com), which is used by Public Works and Government Services Canada to tender design and construction contracts.

Northerners will have the opportunity to bid on the contracts as they are announced. Canada's procurement obligations, as specified in Nunavut Land Claims Agreement, will be respected in the implementation of this initiative.

Q15.    How can my firm be considered for involvement in CHARS design and construction?

A15.    Contracting for both design and construction will be carried out through standard Federal Government contracting procedures. Contracts will be administered through Public Works and Government Services Canada (PWGSC) and advertised on the MERX public tendering system (www.merx.com).

Q16.    How will the Canadian High Arctic Research Station relate to the system of existing Arctic research facilities?

A16.    The Government of Canada acknowledges the exceptional work of existing research facilities located throughout the Arctic. That’s why $85 million was invested under Canada’s Economic Action Plan to upgrade and improve existing Arctic research infrastructure. These investments will ensure that a strong research infrastructure network is in place across the North to support the Canadian High Arctic Research Station as the anchor of the overall network.

Q17.  When will CHARS be operational?

A17.    CHARS is targeted to be operational in 2017 for Canada’s 150^th anniversary.

The design and construction of a world-class research station is a large and significant endeavour, especially when you consider the unique environmental and logistical challenges in the Arctic. Taking these factors into consideration, the timeframe for the design and construction of the Station is expected to be between five to seven years. In the interim, CHARS will build capacity by using existing facilities in the North and in Cambridge Bay to build the scientific and technical capacity to staff the new facility

The following is the proposed schedule with key milestones for the project:

Design (2011-2015)

­         2011-12 - Solicit and hire Design team

­         2012 - Design concept and initial design development

­         2012 – 2015 - Finalize design development, construction document preparation, and construction tendering processes

Construction (2014 – 2017)

July 1, 2017 – Opening/operation of the research station

Q18.    What is the expected cost of building CHARS?

 A18.    The design phase will provide detailed cost estimates and schedules which better reflect the detailed scope, scale and operational needs developed for CHARS.

Interaction with the Private Sector

Q19.   How will the Station interact with the private sector?

A19.    The private sector has been engaged in planning for the Station
through bilateral consultations and participation on advisory bodies and will continue to be engaged through the new advisory bodies created to provide technical information and advice.

The private sector will also be eligible to provide support services for researchers once the Station’s science and technology program is initiated. Furthermore, the Station will work with the private sector to help foster economic development in the North including resource development and economic diversification.

AANDC’s Role:

Q20.    What is the role of the Department of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada in this project?

A20.    Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada is leading the development of CHARS. The Canadian High Arctic Research Station is being created in consultation with Northerners and with input from Aboriginal, academic, industry, territorial and government stakeholders.