Last year was very much a mixed bag in terms highs and lows.
2017 bore witness to the slow-moving train spectacle of an impending leadership review – one that would either affirm Bob McLeod’s success as the only the two-term premier in modern NWT history or perhaps send his legacy crashing to the ground in a mid-term non-confidence vote.
Ever since the review was announced following the 2015 general election, political watchers in the North have lollygagged and gossiped as the review creaked along the tracks toward its Oct. 5 date with destiny in the legislative assembly. It was almost as if the trains were rolling past Enterprise again – a bit of excitement after months of the usual -- and mostly forgettable -- NWT politicking.
McLeod’s government ultimately survived although not unbloodied. MLAs voted non-confidence in Justice Minister Louis Sebert during the review, but ultimately couldn't muster enough gumption to oust the minister. Seven members voted for, and 11 against removing him from cabinet.
The year began with a number of hits and misses for the territorial government. It started with the $20-million joint federal-GNWT announcement of construction plans for a 14-km road extension outside Norman Wells – “Big deal,” wrote an underwhelmed News/North columnist Cece Hodgson-McCauley – followed by the costly but necessary $4.5 million purchase of barges and other assets from NTCL to keep the Mackenzie River supply chain rolling.
Last year marked the first-year anniversary Gahcho Kue Mine and the appearance of an overall return to the diamond mining boom. But while diamond markets rejoiced, their success seemed only to underline the territory’s reliance on mining to sustain its economy.
This fact was not lost on Premier McLeod, who a month after surviving the leadership vote, issued his "red alert' heard from coast-to-coast-to-coast.
McLeod was furious over what he termed "a re-emergence of colonialism," especially seen in the unilateral decision by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and then-U.S. president Barack Obama to impose a moratorium on Arctic offshore oil and gas development.
It was a bold display but also opened the premier up to his own vulnerabilities heading a government that increasingly seems autocratic and unable to connect with ordinary residents. Several First Nations leaders were quick to point out the GNWT’s own poor track record in self-government negotiations.
The timing was also poor coming on the heels of a revised government mandate that buried its once highly touted promise to establish universal daycare in the territory.
That said, McLeod appears to have decided if he is going to lead the territorial government then he must try and lead the territory. This is no easy task in a jurisdiction where MLAs choose their premier by secret ballot behind closed doors. Hopefully his willingness to bear teeth at Ottawa will encourage other northern leaders to speak up.
What we ask this year – as we must deal with huge issues such as carbon tax, a new mineral resources act and legalized cannabis – is for our leaders to show leadership.
Be engaged and get work done.
It's always a struggle for the sparsely populated North to get the attention of those in power in the south. However, we're all up here keeping the lights on for the country.
So let's pull together in 2018 and defend and enhance this wonderful place as best we can. And if that mean throwing more bombs at Ottawa, so be it.