On Santa Claus and Arctic sovereignty

Posted by Joanna Smith, Ottawa Bureau

Immigration Minister Jason Kenney offered his Christmas wishes to Santa Claus on Friday, teased him about his old-fashioned navigation ways and then capped it off, just in case one was tempted to think this was entirely innocent and adorable, with some political spin.

Minister Kenney Offers Christmas Greetings to Santa Claus

Ottawa, December 21, 2012 — During a week when an empty Parliament gave way to mirth-making and gift-wrapping, Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Minister Jason Kenney took the opportunity to wish Santa Claus all the best in his Christmas Eve duties.

“We are honoured that Santa begins his annual journey in Canada,” Minister Kenney stated. “And, as a Canadian citizen living in Canada’s North, he may re-enter the country freely at the end of his international trip.

“Personnel at Nunavut’s Alert Airport will run the control tower lights throughout Christmas to guide Jolly Saint Nick southward on his departure and northward on his return,” Minister Kenney said.

Situated at the northern tip of Ellesmere Island, 817 kilometres from the North Pole, Alert is the first landmark for Santa and his reindeer as they make their way to the homes of millions of children. A well-known traditionalist, Santa has not yet adopted GPS technology, preferring the instincts of his reindeer, with a helping hand from the Alert Airport workers.

“The Government continues to invest in measures that exercise Canada’s sovereignty and create more economic opportunities in the North,” said Minister Kenney. “We want to ensure that Santa, and all Canadians, benefit from the potential of the North, making it a prosperous and secure region within a strong and sovereign Canada.”