There’s No Time to Waste

By Oksana Bashuk Hepburn

The phone is ringing and I sense it’s Uncle Ilko for another round of mental callisthenics on Ukrainian themes.

“We must move fast,” he snaps without exchanging pleasantries “or we’ll miss out on the appointments again.”

“Back up, Uncle Ilko, I’m not with you.”

“You mean you haven’t heard that the Senator Pitfield has resigned?”

I recall reading that Michael Pitfield, a long-time confidant and advisor to Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau, had decided to retire due to health reasons.  I also remember that Vujko worked under him in the Privy Council, the Prime Minister’s key government department.

“It’s another vacancy.  Don’t you see?  We need to get some names up to the Prime Minster’s appointments people now.”

Uncle Ilko is right.  Several prominent positions have opened up recently in Ottawa.  Prime Minister Stephen Harper has announced that the current Governor General will not be reappointed; there’s a Supreme Court vacancy and now a Senate position as well.

“I must say, Uncle Ilku, you’re always ahead of the herd.  Good for you for taking note.  Do you have names to offer?”

“I certainly did years ago when some pretty powerful positions were filled with our people.  Some day, I will tell you how Ramon Hnatyshyn was nominated for GG; at least my version. But my generation is too old now for such appointments and, alas, I don’t know the next generation. But you do.  You and all those youngsters running today’s community - UCC, MUNO, LUC, SUM, the Catholic and Orthodox women to name a few.  Surely, they have names to put forward.”

“I hope so, Vujku.  These outstanding positions will guide Canada for years to come.  It would be great to return to an era when Ukrainians in Canada had power.  We have great lawyers, academics, entrepreneurs who qualify for consideration. But they also need to be from the right party and have the right regional presence.”

“So let the provincial types get down and nominate.  The same goes with the academics from the various universities, and the Canada-Ukraine Chamber of Commerce.  These same organizations have been talking about rosters for decades.  Just nominate a few good people.  Now!  Do you want to know my candidate?”

“I’m all ears. Who?”

“Roy Romanow, that’s who.  And you know why?  He was a great Premier of Saskatchewan: tackled its 18 billion dollar debt.  He ran a successful commission on health and awarded by the UN.  He got an Order of Canada.  And best of all, together with then Justice Minister Jean Chrtien, they worked out the final details of Canada’s Constitution back in the 1982.  Kept Canada together, our boy did.” 

“An excellent nomination.  But he’s an NDP-er.”

“NDP-er, ND- shmier.  He sits on the Trudeau Foundation – Liberal - and is buddies with Chrtien; and on the Air Canada Board.  He’s bigger than a party hack; beyond that.  Besides, a non-Conservative appointment might play into Harper’s hand.”

“That’s quite likely.  However, he’s 72 and that may be over the hill.”

“I’m not suggesting him for the Senate or Supreme Court.  I think he’d make a fine GG.  Whom do you have?”

“Good question.  My generation and those younger are busy with careers and mortgages.  We’re driving our kids to church, Ukrainian School, youth groups, dancing - there’s no time for civic involvement.  We don’t think in terms of appointment to high office.”

“Your loss and that of your kids.  You’re not contenders.  And who will promote the kids once they’re all grown up?  Those involved get the dream jobs.  You and yours will be left behind without power and influence.  We focus on language and tradition for the kids.  Then bingo!  They’re all grown up and we’ve nothing for them.  That’s why they don’t join our existing organizations: nothing there for them. So do something!  Nominate.  Give your best to Canada’s highest offices.”

As always, when it comes to Canadian politics, Vujko’s mind factors in the 1.2 million Canadians of Ukrainian heritage dimension.  Of course, we need to nominate competent people for all those vacancies. But can we?  His generation produced the first senators, Supreme Court Justices, ministers, governor generals.  All were from the so called “pioneer’ immigration.  The post- WWII immigration has produced very few political figures.  Certainly, MP Borys Wrzesnewskyj is an exception.  For decades, the prevailing view was that politics is dirty, argumentative; that peace in the community is of a higher value than debates to resolve issues, concerts or banquets.  What a mistake that was.

“Citizens who avoid politics in a democracy are bypassed.”  Is Vujko reading my mind?  He skips to another subject.

“What about policy?  Has anyone developed a position for Prime Minister Harper vis--vis Ukraine when the G-8 and G-20 come calling?  I have yet to read one.  But the anarchists/Leninists are organized well enough to toss a bomb in Ottawa.  And you can bet that Russia will grand-stand these events to its advantage.  Well, Mr. Harper should be telling the Moskali a thing or two about transparency, free media, and war in the North Caucasus against its own people!  Russia’s representing Ukraine’s interests too, isn’t it?  So what advice does the Diaspora have for Mr. Harper’s consideration on this?  There’s no time to waste.  The meetings are coming up in a few weeks and the appointments sooner than we think.”