Ottawa says it plans to shutter and sell its Nanisivik naval port

OTTAWA — The Liberal government is shutting down the Nanisivik naval station on northern Baffin Island as a cost-cutting measure, and plans eventually to transfer the property to another party.

The Department of National Defence says it already has started to transition the problem-plagued Nanisivik Naval Facility out of operations.

The Arctic base, which was built at a former mining site by the government of Prime Minister Stephen Harper, was envisioned as a deepsea port and a show of Arctic sovereignty.

Prime Minister Mark Carney’s government insists it’s no longer needed due to its very short seasonal access window, repeated construction issues and costly jetty repairs.