Tributes pour in for George Braden
First elected leader of NWT died last week of cancer at age 65; premier says NWT lost a 'good friend'
John McFadden
Northern News Services
Monday, June 1, 2015
NORTHWEST TERRITORIES
Tributes continue to pour in following the death of George Braden, the first elected leader of the NWT government.
George Braden sits among the dignitaries on what would be his last visit to Yellowknife on Nov. 1, 2013. Braden was here to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the legislative assembly building. Braden was an MLA and became the leader of the NWT government when he was only 29. - photo courtesy of the legislative assembly |
He died in Ottawa after a short battle with gastric cancer May 25 at the age of 65. Braden is widely considered to be the "father of devolution" because he was, according to many who worked with him, very instrumental in taking political power over the NWT away from the federal government and bringing it to the territory.
According to a bio provided by the library at the legislative assembly, Braden moved to Yellowknife from Saskatchewan with his family in 1964 and attended Sir John Franklin High School. He received his B.A. in political science from the University of Alberta and a master's degree from Dalhousie University in Halifax.
Braden was voted in as the MLA for Yellowknife North in the territorial election on Oct. 1, 1979 at the tender age of 28. He was elected leader of cabinet by the other MLAs the following summer. He was essentially the premier although the territory didn't use that title until the mid-1990s.
From 1979 to 1982, Braden was also Minister of Economic Development and Tourism; from 1980 to 1984 Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs; from 1981 to 1984 Minister of Justice and Public Services and Priorities and Planning and from 1982 to 1983 he was the Minister for the Status of Women.
Braden was in charge of co-ordinating the NWT pavilion and northern participation at Expo '86 in Vancouver. He also served as an adviser to Premier Stephen Kakfwi.
"He and former mayor, MLA and speaker, the late Mike Ballantyne, were a formidable team. They had a reputation in town and were called the mayor and the minister," said George's brother Bill Braden, a former MLA himself.
"They were constantly collaborating about where to go and what to do and how to do it. They had immense strength, capacity and audacity and George really thrived in that atmosphere."
The cancer came on very suddenly, said Braden.
"He was just diagnosed with cancer in early March and it was quickly determined that it was inoperable, so after looking seriously at a couple of courses of treatment or options that would have potentially given him more time, it became evident that nothing was going to make a difference," Braden said.
"George and his wife Lise determined that they would move into a palliative care stream and do as much as possible to care for George at home. That was very important to him. One of his last wishes was filled and we are very happy about that."
Because he worked for Nunavut Senator Dennis Patterson, also a former government leader, he travelled much more frequently to Nunavut than he did back to the NWT, said Braden. He was last in Yellowknife in November 2013 for the 20th anniversary of the legislative assembly building.
"He wasn't a big brash bold kind of guy but I think that was his strength. He didn't fly off the handle or get into tirades or lose it. In the midst of all the chaos that was going on in the territory, he was an anchor," said Braden.
Patterson said that the loss of Braden is almost difficult to put into words.
"He was a devoted public servant who worked right up until he was hospitalized. He came to work even though he wasn't looking well and had lost weight," he said. "He shrugged it off. He was very determined and was very dedicated to his work. It was only after the emergency surgery in early March that they discovered the stomach cancer."
It was impossible to find anyone who would say a bad word about George Braden, Patterson said.
"He was in politics and not free from controversy but he was such a diplomat, such a humble guy," Patterson said. "He enjoyed the widest respect because of his personality and his respectful approach to people and issues."
Not only did Braden lay the framework for devolution, he continued to be part of the process after he left the territory and was working in Ottawa, Patterson said.
"This movement toward responsible government and taking power away from Ottawa got going in the ninth assembly when we worked together," said Patterson. "One its finest manifestations was the transfer of land and resources management from the feds to the territory which is what happened on April 1, 2014 with the implementation of devolution. George was also very much engaged in that here (in Ottawa) and he was fully involved with selling this deal in Ottawa."
Premier Bob McLeod offered his condolences in a statement released after Braden's death.
"Throughout his lifetime career as a politician and public servant, Mr. Braden was committed to the development of the Northwest Territories and defender of its interests," stated the premier. "The NWT had a good friend in him and I am sorry to hear of his passing."
NWT MP Dennis Bevington released a statement and issued condolences to the Braden family.
"It is with great sadness that I learned of the passing of George Braden. The Northwest Territories has lost a champion and a leader. George believed strongly in an NWT which was governed by the people of the Northwest Territories and not Ottawa. George's strong support for an independent NWT was a major influence on my political career. George will be sorely missed." Bevington stated.
A public book of condolences has been placed in the Great Hall of the legislative assembly in Yellowknife, where members of the public can offer their own thoughts to the Braden family.
