Patterson won't give up seat
Nunavut senator is busy and loving his job, he's not going anywhere despite 'promise'
Michele LeTourneau
Northern News Services
Monday, March 20, 2017
IQALUIT
Nunavut Senator Dennis Patterson has zero plans to give up his seat in the Red Chamber, despite calls in the Nunavut legislative assembly March 14 by Iqaluit-Sinaa MLA Paul Okalik to honour a promise.
Senator Patterson says Senate reform never happened so he is not stepping down. - |
"The current occupant of Nunavut's Senate seat is on record as having stated that he would resign his position after having sat in the Senate for eight years. That deadline is fast approaching," said Okalik to Premier Peter Taptuna.
Okalik had tabled a news article from 2009, when then-Prime Minister Stephen Harper appointed Patterson to the Senate.
"He (Harper) asked me if I would support Senate reform," Patterson said. "That was at a time when Mr. Harper was proposing to introduce legislation to establish term limits (eight years) for senators, which he did introduce. He was also proposing legislation to allow for election of senators in provinces and territories. So it was in that context that I said I would support Senate reform and if the requirements for terms changed, I would support that and I would step down."
But Senate reform never happened. The Supreme Court of Canada weighed in in 2014, saying Parliament alone could not establish term limits and elections for senators, adding such changes would require amendments to the Constitution. A new process was introduced by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, allowing any eligible citizen to apply if there's a vacancy.
Okalik asked Taptuna if he would support an election.
"As far as I know, there is no legislation change for an election. I do know that there has to be consensus from all jurisdictions, at least seven jurisdictions, to change the Senate legislation," said Taptuna.
Nunavut MP Hunter Tootoo says he has no knowledge of Senate reform beyond the application process, which involves review by the Independent Advisory Board for Senate Appointments, already instituted by Trudeau.
"Amongst other things, this is intended to ensure diversity within the Senate," said Tootoo via e-mail.
"The current senator is active and does represent certain interests very well. When an opening occurs, Nunavut would be well served to have an Inuk senator."
 | I'm willing to carry on | 
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Patterson was sworn in Sept. 15, 2009 - this coming fall he will have served eight years.
"In light of the fact that the Senate reform initiatives didn't materialize and considering that I've got things to do, I've got things underway, and considering that I love my job ... I'm gratified that I've been able to have some influence in the last eight years ... And God willing, I'm in good health, I'm willing to carry on," said Patterson.
Patterson also says he's had a lot of support from Nunavummiut during his years working for the North. He lists his accomplishments on >his website.
Okalik sharply criticized Patterson, questioning how he represents Nunavut.
"What I was pointing out, primarily, is that when it comes to organizations in Nunavut the senator is very quick to critique and criticize and make accusations that aren't true," Okalik told Nunavut News/North.
"Like Inuit women's groups that are trying to support Inuit women and accusing them of being racist. And, when it comes to his own party in the Senate, promoting the use of residential schools ... It's horrific. How could you just sit there and not say anything? And be very quick to criticize Inuit women in particular, for example - the people who you are supposed to serve."
Okalik is referring to Conservative Senator Lynn Beyak's comments March 7, saying religious teachers at Canada's residential schools were "well-intentioned". Beyak said many other positive statements regarding residential schools. Many are calling for her resignation.
To his colleagues, Okalik said, "He didn't rebut that statement. It seems like he is not representing us in Nunavut."
Patterson is the deputy chair of the Senate's Standing Committee on Aboriginal Peoples, of which Beyak is a member. He said the statements by Beyak are being dealt with by the committee.
As for Okalik's airing his concerns in the Nunavut legislative assembly, Patterson said he wouldn't comment on the MLA's motivation.
"I wasn't surprised," he said.
"He's been a critic for some years."
