Canadian Government Executive - Volume 24 - Issue 04

INTERVIEW Q: And more broadly, I’d say, the boundaries around the work we do as public servants has really changed; its almost like you man- age or influence a series of policy outcomes that go well beyond the organizational boundaries you have, especially in a granting organization like CANNOR. And in a granting organization like ours, the diversity of the people and organiza- tions we engage with, say, in territorial governments, Indigenous organizations, individual entrepreneurs, is remarkable and we need to be able to engage all of them to their potential to achieve our desired outcomes. We work very hard to make sure every engagement is positive. Q: I’m not going to let you go without asking you to “peer into your northern crystal ball.” Give CGE readers a glimpse into the future of the far north in Canada. How do you see things in the next 10 or 20 years changing in the North? And, if I may ask you, what are your concerns about the effects of big environmental and social issues like climate change in the North, and how do you see public service adapting to these challenges? That’s a big question. I’ll give you my crystal ball at 100, 000 feet. Change is the word you emphasized a few times in your question. The Arctic, Arctic peoples and Arctic issues are changing so quickly. Climate change is underpinning a great deal of that, as are societal changes going forward. At the same time, the economy continues to shape and grow a lot, and you know finding building sustainable economies at the scale of the North and at community level will continue to be a challenge. I think looking forward, the building strength and resilience of Indig- enous organizations, the land claim or- ganizations, and the clarification and the interactions of the Indigenous govern- ments with the territorial governments will shape the future. There’s been some terrific work in the territories in shaping that. So I think those relationships will continue to strengthen and deepen, and I think that will be extremely positive for the North. Economically, mining will continue to be the backbone for the near or foreseeable future, but I think increas- ingly we’re seeing entrepreneurial inno- vation and participation in an emerging economy – the digital economy – and it is so mobile, opening up opportunities in the North as well, and we hope to con- tinue to support that and bring those kind of opportunities to the territories. I look forward to seeing how the North includes its traditional practices, cultures and economy, and respect for the land and environment in the development they will shape themselves going for- ward into the future. I think I see every day deep and thoughtful thinking that is people-based, community-based and driving forward their priorities. Increas- ingly we see that a circumpolar perspec- tive – understanding, learning from and working with other northerners around the circumpolar region – is starting to be ever more accessible, partly due to com- munication and facilitated travel, but I see people reaching as well to common interests around the circumpolar globe. And that circumpolar perspective will be a key piece of public service in the North, certainly in our context. Every day we work to continue to make our public service representative of the people we serve. We’re also focused on strengthen- ing our workforce: to train, develop, sup- port, coach, and mentor northerners – In- digenous northerners – to become part of a Northern public service. July/August 2018 // Canadian Government Executive / 23 Chief Roberta Joseph with Minister Hassard and CanNor president Janet King