Nunavut speculates about new Harper visit

Some people in Nunavut are wonderingwhether Prime Minister Stephen Harper will visit the North again this month, as the Canadian military launches its annual Arctic sovereignty exercise.

Up to 900 troops are heading to the eastern Arctic for Operation Nanook, which began Friday and runs until Aug. 26.

When Harper toured Canada's North last August, he observed the military exercise, held a special cabinet meeting in Iqaluit, toured the community of Pangnirtung and made a series of announcements in each territory.

But to date, Harper's office has kept mum on any northbound visit this year.

Scientists with the Polar Continental Shelf Program, a federal Arctic research facility in Resolute, Nunavut, are hoping Harper will come to their open house on Aug. 24.

"We have heard that the Prime Minister may be going north again. If so, it would be great to see him," program director Martin Bergmann told CBC News.

"We know that he has attended Operation Nanook celebrations in Iqaluit and Pangnirtung in the past, so he may show up. But that certainly hasn't been discussed with us."

The facility's open house takes place on the same day the Canadian Forces will host an Operation Nanook community outreach day in Resolute.

In addition to conducting Arctic sovereignty patrols during this year's Operation Nanook, troops will also work with government and public safety authorities to respond to a mock fuel spill in the High Arctic.

Ignatieff to stop in Iqaluit

Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff is coming north next week andwill be in Iqaluit on Wednesday and Thursday.

Ignatieff will meet with Premier Eva Aariak and Iqaluit Mayor Elisapee Sheutiapik, then join some locals for wing night at the Storehouse bar.

On Thursday, Ignatieff will go on a boat ride on Frobisher Bay before leaving Nunavut that afternoon.

The Iqaluit stop is part of the Liberal leader's summer cross-country tour. It will also mark Ignatieff's first visit to Nunavut as federal Opposition leader.

"That's a different way of doing politics to get out with the people," said Yukon Liberal MP Larry Bagnell, who will welcome Ignatieff to Iqaluit.

"Prime Minister Harper always hides behind closed doors," Bagnell added. "We haven't seen him for most of the summer, and when he goes, he sort of sneaks in and out of places, even in the North."

Ignatieff is also scheduled to visit Whitehorse on Aug. 17, followed by Yellowknife on Sept. 7.