Carney names Virginia Mearns as Canada’s new Arctic ambassador
QIA calls Iqaluit woman’s appointment ‘milestone achievement’
Canada’s newly named Arctic ambassador Virginia Mearns, right, meets with Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami president Natan Obed and Gov. Gen. Mary Simon in Inuvik, N.W.T. on Thursday. (Photo courtesy of Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami)
Virginia Mearns of Iqaluit has been named to represent the North as Canada’s new Arctic ambassador.
Prime Minister Mark Carney announced the appointment Thursday in Inuvik, N.W.T., where he co-chaired a meeting of the Inuit-Crown partnership committee meeting alongside Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami president Natan Obed.
Mearns served as senior director of Inuit relations with Qikiqtani Inuit Association, prior to her appointment.
It was with “pride and sadness” that QIA received the news, said Karen Flaherty, director of strategic communications with the organization, in a news release Thursday.
“Virginia’s appointment is a milestone achievement,” she said. “While Virginia’s departure marks a tremendous loss for the Qikiqtani Inuit Association, we cannot imagine a more dedicated and visionary representative of Canada in the international arena.”
She said Mearns’ leadership helped shaped policy and guide association initiatives, such as the implementation of its revenue allocation policy.
The ambassador position was a pillar of the federal government’s $34.7-million Arctic foreign policy that was announced late last year.
It was originally created by Jean Chretien’s Liberal government in 1994. The first person to hold the position was current Gov. Gen. Mary Simon, who stayed there for 10 years. The ambassador position was eliminated in 2006 under prime minister Stephen Harper as a cost-saving measure before the idea was revived in December.
As Arctic ambassador, Mearns will work with Canada’s Arctic allies, Indigenous Peoples and provincial and territorial governments to promote the country’s domestic and foreign policy agendas, advance Canada’s Arctic interests and raise awareness of Indigenous rights in the Arctic, according to a news release from Global Affairs Canada.
Mearns previously served as deputy minister and associate deputy minister of Executive and Government Affairs, cabinet secretary, and principal secretary for the Government of Nunavut.
What a waste of money at such a moment where our government has so little money to waste. We have so many public officials already in place to work with Canada’s arctic allies to advance Canada’s arctic interests and raise awareness of indigenous rights in the Arctic. That’s Natan Obed’s job, the head of NTI’s job, the head of the Inuvialuit Regional Corp’s job, the Premier of Nunavut’s job, the commissioner of Nunavut’s job. So many officials have those responsibilities in their job description. Do we really need to create another one with 300k salary and an office budget likely running into millions with luxury travel etc.. This is just nuts. We need less ambassadors and more workers.
Waste of $$$ ? What waste is the Canadians Hotels revenue of 1.2 billion on housing asylum seekers…And many Inuit are house surfing, homeless….hungry and sick.
I couldn’t think of anyone more deserving of this appointment than Virginia! Congratulations. Best wishes for the future.
Good choice. It’s reassuring to see a competent Inuk being promoted instead of some token useless washed up political figure. I have no doubt Virginia will serve Canada well and make Nunavut proud.
She will make the arctic ocean great agian !!!
QIA’s ’Milestone Achievement’ should be tempered, I’m happy for Virginia and we’ll all expect she’ll be good for our time. Let’s not forget Mary Simon (our GG) was the first Arctic Ambassador- which was truly a milestone achievement. It’s important for us to remember our history- so as to avoid the embarrassments of the past and try to avoid them in the future.
By the way, what concrete thing was accomplished by the last “ Arctic Ambassador”? Can anyone name one thing? Come on. This is a ceremonial figurehead position just like our Governor General who coincidentally is the same person as our last Arctic Ambassador. Come to think of it, Mary Simon has really made out good with these ceremonial positions that come with first class travel and luxury hotels. We have enough of these expensive ceremonial figureheads. We need less not more.
I m envious of , my fellow kuujjuamiuk , leaving the jet set lifestyle , fat pension from all those jobs, when she retires . Me still working , got $280k in RRSP s , six yrs till retirement.
Wow thats good retirement $$$ if you just stay stationary upon retirement.
Virginia may be passionate, but she’s not the right fit for the Arctic Ambassador role. She lacks the relevant field experience and scientific background needed to navigate the complexities of Arctic advocacy and policymaking.
Virginia is the most qualified person for this position!
She has always been a team builder, she is analytical and an excellent writer. She brings people together where in times it is hard to with all their priorities and mandates. She would have been the best DM under PJ but he let her go. We Inuit women need to give her our support!!!
Where is V Mearns originally from?