Prime Minister Stephen Harper landed in Resolute Bay, Nunavut, Tuesday and paid tribute to the 12 people who died in a weekend plane crash, but said it's "impossible" to have a full-time Arctic search-and-rescue team.
Harper delayed a planned trip to the area by 24 hours, after the First Air Boeing 737 slammed into a hill while trying to land at the Resolute Bay airport just before 1 p.m. on Saturday.
The Canadian military happened to be doing training exercises nearby at the time of the crash and was able to quickly respond. But Harper said search-and-rescue crews couldn't stay there permanently.
"We have to be realistic. There is no possible way that in the vastness of the Canadian Arctic we could ever have all of the resources close by. It's just impossible," he said.
Harper had planned to spend two nights in the community, but after the crash his office said plans had been changed to include only a brief visit to pay his respects to those affected by the disaster.
Three people survived the crash.
Harper met with community members and first responders who participated in the rescue. He laid a wreath in honour of those who died and also paid tribute to a scientist, Martin Bergmann, who was a victim of the crash.
Bergmann, of Winnipeg, was the director of Canada's Polar Continental Shelf Project in Resolute
"I want to pay tribute to Marty and his team. Thank you for this unique contribution to this great country," Harper said, offering his condolences to Bergmann's colleagues there.
Health Minister and MP for Nunavut, Leona Aglukkaq, personally knew one of the flight attendants who died in the crash.
"I had known her for a very long time. We went to high school together, her father was my high school teacher, so it hit home," she said.
No other details are known about the cause of the crash.
More plans
On this trip, in addition to his visit to Resolute Bay, he will be stopping in Baker Lake, Yellowknife, White Horse and Haines Junction.
Harper will meet with northern premieres and visit projects that benefit residents, during his trip.
Harper has made the north a priority since he was first elected, visiting the region on a regular basis and beefing up Canada's military presence in the Arctic.
The region is seen as vulnerable to foreign interests, particularly as the melting sea ice opens up the Arctic for increased shipping and as the mineral and gas exploration industries begin to eye the region for future projects.
The current trip marks the sixth consecutive summer Harper has travelled to the Arctic.
The visit coincides with Operation Nanook, a joint military operation that is in its third week in the Resolute region.
