Senator Pamela Wallin has risen from humble roots in Wadena to become a major figure in Canadian society and our world presence. Wallin was recently in the city to speak in support of the Conservative party.
One of the areas on which she touched was the reputation the province of Saskatchewan has outside of our borders. She says Saskatchewan is having an increasing amount of importance on the world stage, as resources are beginning to be used worldwide.
"We have an incredible reputation now. We've always had the resources and we've always had amazing people, but now the rest of the world is starting to see it, appreciate it, and do business with us," she suggests.
"I was in India last summer and we went and met with legislators in obscure places, and I'd be introduced as a senator from Saskatchewan. I'm thinking they won't know where that is, and the first words out of their mouth are 'lentils! Thank you for your lentils, you're saving our people'."
Her political career has taken her around the world, and Wallin says that her appointments have affected the way she views the world and the major issues.
"My trips to Afghanistan have had the most profound effect on me, although living in New York after 9/11 was a daily experience of living with New Yorkers, people who had lost loved ones... You then understand why they are so focused as they are on security issues," she notes.
Of special importance to her is the role Canada plays in Afghanistan, and her influence on the way Canadian forces have been able to get equipment and support is something which Wallin views as one of her most important accomplishments.
"Seeing our men and women in Afghanistan who were sent there without proper equipment, and we had the chance as the panel to say that we have to do something about this and we set about making sure we could get some helicopters into Afghanistan, and we accomplished that and that is one of my proudest moments," Wallin says.
The Afghanistan mission is something which Wallin believes needs to continue, and she believes that the work Canadian soldiers are doing is something which should not be wound down.
"I personally believe that we should stay, and we should stay in a combat role. The Prime Minister has agreed that we should stay in a training role, and I was just at the Pentagon last week and I hear from our allies that they are grateful that we are doing that. What they really didn't want was for Canada to leave... Particularly the American military doesn't give compliments easily, but I met with General McChrystal and he said that 'If I had my way, I would put all American troops under Canadian command,'" Wallin notes.
There have been many moves towards reforming the senate in recent years, and Wallin sees the senate as needing some major changes. She does not believe senators should stay on until they hit 75, and that senate reform is important in order for it to do the job properly.
"I'm a believer in the senate, but I'm a believer in a reformed senate... To have a second pair of eyes and ears on the legislation that comes forward is important... How senators get in their chairs is another question, but I think the senate itself is important," Wallin concludes.
