April 2004
Spring has arrived in
One of the most important issues we dealt with before the break was the new Ethics Bill. As a result of this legislation, the Senate will have an ethics officer to make sure we follow financial rules and don’t get into conflict of interest situations. You all know your Senator is very honest and I’m just a poor guy so there’s no chance of getting into financial trouble. Senators are not like Ministers who handle a lot of money and make big decisions on spending. We review government legislation, propose bills on non-money matters and work in committees to study important policy issues. Still, it is important not just to be honest but also to be seen as honest and the new ethics officer will provide the clearness and accountability that Canadians expect from Parliament.
There are a number of bills of importance to First Nations
that I will be dealing with after the break, although all of them are still in
the House of Commons. The Westbank
Self-Government agreement, providing self-government to a band near
I am continuing to work on the project to change the name of the NWT. I’ve received quite a few letters, some supportive and others opposed and I’ve had some very interesting discussions with high school students and residents in several communities. Things like names and flags seem simple enough but can generate lots of emotion. I’ve noticed children in particular are attached to the present name. Older people are more rational and can get above emotion to discuss adopting a new name. For many people, it is a way to start thinking about what the future NWT will look like. While it is important that leaders get together to discuss the big issues of government structure and economic development – as they did recently in Hay River – it is also important that people in communities take part in the debate about the future. Thinking about whether we should have a new name is one way to help people think about what kind of territory (or province) that name will represent. So I intend to keep providing people with information around the idea of a new name. I will send out another newsletter in the next month or so and I will also be launching a web-site soon that will allow people to provide direct feedback to me on this and other issues. There will be more details on that in my next report.
February in Ottawa can be quite an exciting time. Lots of people, including Karen and I, are skating on the Rideau Canal – billed as the world’s longest skating rink. Winterlude, a local festival with music and ice sculptures everywhere, is in full swing. The Governor General just held her annual winter party with sliding and sleigh rides.
But the real excitement is happening indoors. First came the Speech from the Throne, held in the Senate Chamber on February 2nd. I was pleased to hear the promises of a better deal for aboriginal people in health, education and their relationships with the government. The North was also mentioned. The government will “develop a Northern strategy, ensuring that economic development related to energy and mining is brought on stream in partnership with Northern Canadians, based on stewardship of our most fragile northern ecosystems.” As a long time advocate of a comprehensive approach to northern development – I first raised it in a speech to Premiers in 1986 – I am pleased to see that the North is part of the Prime Minister’s new vision for Canada.
The release of the Auditor General’s report also caused quite a stir. Although the main focus in Ottawa was on the sponsorship program, the Auditor also pointed out some real problems with the way DIAND has carried out its responsibilities with respect to land claims. These will need to be addressed if the federal government is really going to make a difference in the lives of northerners and aboriginals across Canada.
Adding to all this excitement, of course, is the prospect of a federal election this year, possibly as early as May.
Despite all this excitement and speculation, there is still lots of work to do and I’m looking forward to doing my share. I have recently been selected to be the Chair of the Senate Aboriginal Peoples Committee. This is sort of the Senate version of being appointed to Cabinet. I’ll be responsible for guiding the work of the committee as they study proposed legislation or other matters of interest. There are at least three Bills expected to come before the committee this session, including the Tlicho Agreement, which is, of course, of tremendous interest to the NWT.
As many of you will have heard, I’ve also taken on a big project of my own. Recently, I sent a brochure to every household in the NWT proposing a process to come up with a new name for the territory. I’m hoping people will get excited about this idea and be creative in proposing a new name – one that truly represents the NWT as it is today and is inclusive of all the people who live there. I’ll be consulting closely with people throughout the North, starting with a visit to Tulita and Deline in mid-February. Please feel free to contact me if you have any thoughts on the matter.
Finally, I’m busy organizing my second annual trip for Senators to the NWT. Last year, four Senators from all over Canada visited Ekati diamond mine, met with business and political leaders in Yellowknife and attended a charity dinner and dance. This year I’ve proposed a trip at the end of May that will include Rae and Fort Smith in the itinerary. So far, seventeen Senators have expressed an interest! As I said, interest in the North is growing and this event is a great opportunity to make sure that trend continues.