The forgotten territories
OTTAWA (CUP) — I was born and
raised in Yukon. Growing up, I learned
about all the different provinces and territories
of Canada, as did anyone else with a
Canadian elementary school education. I
knew the territories' population represented
less than one per cent of our country and that
we were a demographic minority. Still, I figured
I lived the same reality as anyone else
in Canada.
Then I moved to Ottawa in 2010, in the province of Onterrible. That's when I realized that after Grade 2 social studies, the rest of Canada forgets the territories exist.
In my classes, every time a professor or student referred to Canada, it was always as "the provinces of Canada," forcing me to mutter "and territories" under my breath. This gives me the impression people don't think the territories matter — but they should.
Nunavut, Yukon and the Northwest Territories make up 40 per cent of Canada's land mass, and the mega projects that take place in those non-provinces bring in billions of dollars to the Canadian economy annually. Is that not enough to make them matter? Sorry, Ontario, but you haven't been holding up your end economically for the past 15 years, and we don't forget to mention you.
For a country that boasts about its inclusion and multiculturalism, we seem to forget about the 100,000 people living in the North. If this kind of widespread ignorance were directed at another group, it would be all over the news, House of Commons, radio, streets - everywhere. People would be outraged, up in arms and giving the finger to Stephen Harper.
The territories should not be forgotten. We are lucky to have these hidden gems, just as America is lucky to boast Hawaii and Alaska. Americans see Alaska as their treasure, and even Sarah Palin can't ruin that for them.
Regardless of the fact that few Canadians will ever make their way up to the territories because of how expensive they are to visit, they're part of Canada, they're part of who we are - and we can't leave them out.
Editorial opinions or comments expressed in this online edition of Interrobang newspaper reflect the views of the writer and are not those of the Interrobang or the Fanshawe Student Union. The Interrobang is published weekly by the Fanshawe Student Union at 1001 Fanshawe College Blvd., P.O. Box 7005, London, Ontario, N5Y 5R6 and distributed through the Fanshawe College community. Letters to the editor are welcome. All letters are subject to editing and should be emailed. All letters must be accompanied by contact information. Letters can also be submitted online by clicking here.
Then I moved to Ottawa in 2010, in the province of Onterrible. That's when I realized that after Grade 2 social studies, the rest of Canada forgets the territories exist.
In my classes, every time a professor or student referred to Canada, it was always as "the provinces of Canada," forcing me to mutter "and territories" under my breath. This gives me the impression people don't think the territories matter — but they should.
Nunavut, Yukon and the Northwest Territories make up 40 per cent of Canada's land mass, and the mega projects that take place in those non-provinces bring in billions of dollars to the Canadian economy annually. Is that not enough to make them matter? Sorry, Ontario, but you haven't been holding up your end economically for the past 15 years, and we don't forget to mention you.
For a country that boasts about its inclusion and multiculturalism, we seem to forget about the 100,000 people living in the North. If this kind of widespread ignorance were directed at another group, it would be all over the news, House of Commons, radio, streets - everywhere. People would be outraged, up in arms and giving the finger to Stephen Harper.
The territories should not be forgotten. We are lucky to have these hidden gems, just as America is lucky to boast Hawaii and Alaska. Americans see Alaska as their treasure, and even Sarah Palin can't ruin that for them.
Regardless of the fact that few Canadians will ever make their way up to the territories because of how expensive they are to visit, they're part of Canada, they're part of who we are - and we can't leave them out.
Editorial opinions or comments expressed in this online edition of Interrobang newspaper reflect the views of the writer and are not those of the Interrobang or the Fanshawe Student Union. The Interrobang is published weekly by the Fanshawe Student Union at 1001 Fanshawe College Blvd., P.O. Box 7005, London, Ontario, N5Y 5R6 and distributed through the Fanshawe College community. Letters to the editor are welcome. All letters are subject to editing and should be emailed. All letters must be accompanied by contact information. Letters can also be submitted online by clicking here.
