Dennis Patterson Appointed To Senate of Canada

Submitted by Mary Simon on Thursday, August 27, 2009

I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Dennis Patterson on his appointment to the Senate of Canada representing Nunavut.

From 1978 to 1995 Mr. Patterson served in the NWT Legislative Assembly as the MLA for Frobisher Bay and Iqaluit, as MLA he held the portfolio of Minister of Education, Justice and Municipal Affairs, and was selected by MLA's as their Government Leader from 1987 to 1991.

In addition to his public service in the Legislative Assembly he has served as Director of the Northwest Territories Law Foundation, and as Chairman of the Northwest Territories and Nunavut Legal Services Board.

I look forward to working with the new Senator for Nunavut on the various issues that are important to all Inuit.

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Sometimes silence is better than a diplomatic congratulations

Submitted by Anonymous on Wednesday, September 2, 2009.

I know you can't call Mr Patterson out for not living in Nunavut but still accepting the political position of representing its citizens. I know you can't call out the Government of Canada for appointing a non-Inuk who can't speak Inuktitut.

But why celebrate this? Silence would have been much more powerful than what I desperately hope was false praise. Nunavut deserves an Inuk representing its people in the Senate. No Inuit organization should settle for less.

Dennis Patterson Appointment

Submitted by Mary Simon on Thursday, September 3, 2009.

Our position on the Senate appoint for Nunavut was made clear to the federal government very early on in the process, Inuit wanted an Inuk Senator.

In a post on this blog dated June 25th I said

If Mr. Harper were to ask me for my advice on the appointment of a Senator for Nunavut to replace Mr. Adams I would make two suggestions:

  • Look to how Inuit choose to govern ourselves, and
  • Appoint a non-partisan Inuk

There are a great many issues facing the Arctic - housing, education, language, health care, and mental wellness, to name but a few. And it is my firm belief that the government of Canada needs the advice, counsel, and perspective, of an Inuk from Nunavut to help adequately address them.

And in an op-ed published in the Ottawa Citizen published on July 2nd I said

Senator Adams’ retirement is a great loss for Inuit and I urge Prime Minister Stephen Harper to name an Inuk to the vacant post for Nunavut before the Senate and the House of Commons return in the fall. I hope that he will visit Canada’s Arctic communities during the beautiful summer season and spend some time on the land under the 24-hour sun.

In that time, I trust that he would meet many passionate Inuit able to serve the interests of Inuit in the Senate. I would like to quote the Honourable Lowell Murray, Senator for Pakenham, Ontario, who said in the Senate Chamber earlier this month in bidding farewell to Senator Adams, “The one Senate seat for Nunavut ought not to be left vacant for long. His people, more than most, need a voice in both Houses of Parliament.”

I share your disappointment that Prime Minister Harper did not follow our advice and appoint an Inuk Senator to replace Mr. Adams however it has always been the position of the Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami that we will work with whatever government is in power, and that includes working with whoever any particular government in power appoints to the Senate.

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