All you good people in the Northwest Territories better sit up and pay attention. On Sept. 1, 2017, a major newspaper, The Globe and Mail, gave us a wake-up call regarding the Arctic Ocean and region. We have known for years the Chinese have had their eyes on the Arctic region.
China has built an icebreaker, a research ship which is making its first ever voyage through the Northwest Passage. Experts believe it is a move to lay the foundation for China to sail cargo ships over the top of Canada!
The Snow Dragon is currently in the Davis Strait and should now be entering Canadian waters as part of a mission to circumnavigate the Arctic, according to University of Calgary's Rob Huebert, a professor who has been tracking the Chinese government icebreaker via satellite imagery.
By the way, the University of Calgary has a political science department. They read one of my articles about the Arctic region and contacted me in 2009 after reading more of my columns. So, you see, I am not the only one worried about our Arctic region.
I am in Edmonton for my eye exam. I picked up News/North as I travelled through Yellowknife. There is a photo of the Conservative Party of CanadaSA国际影视传媒檚 new leader, Andrew Sheer surrounded by a big crowd. It was taken during his first trip to the Northwest Territories in late August. He said he is still in a SA国际影视传媒渓istening phaseSA国际影视传媒� and wanted to come North to meet the people and hear from them directly. We must jump on this bandwagon to tell him about the need for a highway in the isolated Sahtu region.
Talking about highways, on the plane yesterday, a woman approached me and wanted to know if I could write about the late Eddie Gruben Sr. and prime minister Pierre Trudeau. I remember when Trudeau just got elected prime minister in 1969 or so. He flew up north and everyone came out to meet him at the Inuvik airport. I guess when he went to Tuktoyaktuk he met Eddie Gruben and found out they were the same age. Not only that, they were born on the same year SA国际影视传媒� 1919. It was during their conversation that Trudeau told Eddie to be ready SA国际影视传媒� this place is going to develop. And so Eddie Gruben started one of the biggest transportation companies in the region, E Gruben Transport Ltd.
Family members are still part of the company and I understand they were the first to dump a load of gravel for the new Tuk highway. Now, people are saying that the Tuk highway should be named the SA国际影视传媒淓ddie Gruben Highway.SA国际影视传媒�
Somebody should write a book on EddieSA国际影视传媒檚 life. One story I heard: when Eddie Sr. was expanding in Tuk he needed more and bigger machinery. So, he went to Edmonton. When he was in one of the big equipment shops wandering around looking at the machines, a salesman finally asked him if he needed help. Eddie said yes as he pointed to a Caterpillar loader, a truck and other equipment. I guess he finally had the salesmanSA国际影视传媒檚 attention. Very surprised at a Northerner ready to buy machinery, the salesman asked him how he was going to pay. Eddie simply answered, SA国际影视传媒淲ith cash.SA国际影视传媒� And I guess he did. Yes sir, there are many stories to tell about the famous Eddie Gruben Sr. So, name the Tuk highway after Eddie!
I must run now for my eye appointment. I must take good care of my eyes. I donSA国际影视传媒檛 want to stop writing and besides, you might miss me. Ha, Ha, Ha.
