From time to time, I am asked to speak at northern events. Here are two speeches I recently gave in Inuvik.
Speech to NWT Association of Communities AGM, Inuvik 2009
I’m glad to be here with you. Thank you for inviting me. Welcome.
So much to say, so little time.
Long, long ago when the North was young in 1970, I had just finished University in Edmonton and I applied for the Settlement Manager’s job in Fort Simpson. There had been no such position. There had been an Indian Agent. There was Sid Hancock. He was the area Administrator. He was responsible for all things government.
Democracy was in its infancy when I arrived in Simpson to start the job. Mark Fairbrother who was Chairman said to me “Sid ran the Hamlet out of a shoe box” and pointed to a small box. I was handed the paper box. Don’t expect an office. Don’t expect a secretary.
He then gave me a list:
· print up some STOP signs – there was just Main Street and a few adjoining roads;
· there’s some holes in the road, fill them up – borrow a shovel from DPW if you need one;
· there’s a lot of loose dogs in town - we need a dog pound.
That was my introduction to local government.
So there I was with my newly minted University degree digging and shovelling dirt, filling holes, catching dogs and making them a home. So things never change.
Local government, municipal government is very much dealing with roads, dogs and dumps. In Yellowknife’s case, ravens and seagulls.
I didn’t mind the work. But when the territorial election was called later that fall, I put my name in and to my surprise, I won. That started me on my political career. Interestingly, my first portfolio in government was with local government. Now, I could have my own office and secretary.
Being the Senator for the Northwest Territories gives me a chance to make some observations about politics in the south and the north. Coming from the North where we have a consensus style of government, I’m always surprised at the extent of partisanship in Ottawa. We deal with issues on merit – not philosophy. We’re civil and friendly with each other. In Ottawa, Conservatives don’t mix with Liberals, even less with NDP and never with the Bloc, except for a short spell. Whenever I have lunch with my brother-in-law, Leon Benoit, a Conservative MP, we raise eyebrows. Each party looks at each other with jaundiced eyes.
I’m in the Liberal fold. I often hear my colleagues speak of other parties as “really bad people” who are out to ruin the country. I tend to be an idealist. Whenever I hear of any Minister coming to the North, I tell them “I’m the Senator for the North, invite me”. Perfectly good sense to the North but not done by southern political standards.
The one exception to all the partisanship is our Senate Aboriginal Peoples Committee. Gerry St. Germain is the Chairman, he’s Conservative. I’m the Deputy Chair. We work in a non-partisan way and we have had a great deal of success in dealing with difficult issues. We’ve dealt with economic development, water on reserves and land claims both specific and comprehensive. Right now we’re doing a study on Band elections.
Sovereignty and climate change have caught the attention of southern Canada and focused the government and public northward. Large pieces of ice bergs, masses of ice tumbling into the ocean are flashing on national television. Hard to dispute satellite pictures of receding arctic ice and its annual reduction. Weather patterns seem less regular and occasionally chaotic.
Our winters seem to be less intense: don’t get as much -40°,-50°; the warm spells we get in the height of winter is welcome. No one dislikes the occasional warm reprieve. But I haven’t heard a widespread call for climate change – bring it on. We’re all concerned about the effects.
The cold I think is etched deeply in our northern genes. Karen and I went to a warm country for 12 days this winter. When we returned to Ottawa it was -30° for a few days. It was cold but our bodies didn’t shudder in revulsion of the cold. We didn’t mind being back in the snow and cold. I’ve heard it said by some Northerners that they like the cold, cold being consistently -25°, -30°, -40° all winter long.
We have a Charter of Rights ensuring freedom of such things as speech, religion, freedom from discrimination. I suggest we add to the Charter of Rights to be cold.
The government has sought to establish it’s foothold in the Arctic claiming sovereignty by establishing military bases, greater presence of the Coast Guard, Armed Forces, increase the number of rangers, Arctic ports and extending the water pollution boundary.
While we look amused by the coming and going to federal Ministers, even the Prime Minister, to the North in the end its People who are the biggest reason for Canada’s claim to the Arctic lands and waters.
There’s a debate in Canada about the Senate, its value, purpose, whether it should exist, if it does, should it be elected. A few years ago there was this Senator who put us all in a bad light who lived in Mexico and made his “once a year” trip to Ottawa to occupy his seat and claim his salary.
For me, it’s an honour and privilege to represent the Northwest Territories in the Senate. I’m often asked, “How is it to be a Senator?”
Very good!
Our week begins on Tuesday and ends Thursday. MPs work harder than us – Monday through Friday. My staff is often amused by my saying: Thank God it’s Thursday!
Until the mid 80’s, Senators were appointed for life. At least now it’s only 75. Even so, on any given day when Senate is in session many can be seen nodding off and having their afternoon rest.
The Senate is very quiet place – nobody raises voices unless you scare them awake. They have a nurse on stand-by and a health clinic in a nearby room. They have Pages, young men and women who routinely check your pulse particularly if you nap more than half an hour.
As I look over the agenda for this weekend’s meetings, I’m impressed by the depth and breadth of the issues you are discussing. From elections to electricity, from capital planning to capacity building and from sewers to sustainability, you are covering many of the critical issues facing your residents.
I have a great deal of faith in your ability to do this work. Recently, when I undertook the study into climate change that led to the publication of “On the Frontlines of Climate Change,” I learned how community governments are among the most impacted by these environmental changes.
But I also learned that you are among the most innovative and creative players in dealing with this issue.
The involvement of local governments in exploring alternative energy sources – whether it is geothermal in Yellowknife, wind in Tuktoyuktuk or wood pellets and small scale hydroelectricity in a number of communities – is impressive.
Although the total amount of greenhouse gas emissions given off in the NWT is quite small in the bigger scheme of things, every reduction helps and the example you set – here in one of the harshest climates in the world – resonates far beyond the borders of our territory.
Thank you for giving me this time to speak to you. I encourage you in your work and wish you well.
Welcoming Remarks – Inuvik Petroleum Show 2009
I am pleased to welcome you to 9th Annual Petroleum Show. I’ve had the pleasure of attending several of these events and have always been impressed by the wide range of topics and expertise. This year looks to be no exception.
This year’s show takes place during difficult times. The on-going delay around the JRP final report coupled with the global economic recession has created uncertainty and economic hardship for the industry and for the communities of the Mackenzie delta.
But to quote the people of Aklavik: Never Say Die!
They say it’s always darkest before the dawn. Although June in Inuvik is never dark at all. Still, the advantage of being at the bottom of the cycle is there is nowhere to go but up.
But in the meantime, there are things that governments can and should be doing to both assist our communities through these difficult times and to prepare them for the future.
I would call your attention to a recent report of the Senate Standing Committee on Energy, the Environment and Natural Resources. Entitled “With Respect, Canada’s North” this report was the result of a study by the Committee including a visit by a number Senators to the Northwest Territories and Yukon.
The report made nine recommendations that, if implemented, would stimulate the local economy, while preparing the region for both climate change and future economic development.
These recommendations specifically include the need to complete the road to Tuk and to begin replacing ice roads with permanent all-weather roads. With respect to the Pipeline, it calls on the Federal government to streamline its own decision making process, so it can respond quickly once the JRP and NEB reports are complete.
The Report also calls on the Federal government to recognize that it is the people who live here that are Canada’s greatest claim to sovereignty. They should demonstrate that by respecting local decision-making and by negotiating a resource revenue sharing agreement to benefit the permanent residents of the North.
I have a number of copies of the complete Report for those who are interested.
The Inuvik Petroleum Show is a great event where you can see old friends and make new ones, where you can learn more about the opportunities in the Beaufort Delta and maybe make a deal or two. It’s a great place to network and it’s a great place to have fun.
I wish you all the best over the next few days as you explore the many opportunities and possibilities – both on-shore and off – that the Beaufort Delta present.