Newport began to appear out of the haze. From the end of the causeway the port faced south like a huge wishbone. Each arm, like the causeway itself, was a great long pyramid of gravel stretching from its broad base on the floor of the Bay to the surface of the water and then above it to a height of thirty feet above high tide. The top of this great structure, 400 feet wide, carried the road, rail and pipes that had been built for loading and off-loading, and around the entire inner edge were huge docks made of cement which had been floated in and sunk.
The President pointed and said, “Do you see those big cement caissons, Mike? They’re built like that because of the ice. If an ice-breaker has to be used to open the port, it could ram its way past those things, and because their walls are sloped rather than vertical, the ice would ride up instead of jamming.
“It’s ingenious, isn’t it? You have to hand it to them. They’ve thought it all out. They’ve even got a system inside that pre-fab port to keep the water from freezing. They drive compressed air through a series of pipes laid under water, and if that’s not enough, they pump heated effluent from the town of Churchill to keep the water above freezing point. Between that and the fact that the new port faces south away from the prevailing winds, they should be able to prolong the shipping season well beyond the normal period.
“When you consider all this, you can see why I think this is so important for the United States and why I want to take a good look at it. I can sit on my can in the White House and have people tell me all about it, but I’m the one that has to deal with the energy crisis and I’ve got to know what I’m talking about.”
Col. Wypich nodded in agreement. “I get the picture now, Mr. President, and you’re dead right.”
“I only wish I’d been able to come up before,” the President added. “I would have if I’d been able to shake myself clear. When the native people began blowing up the Mackenzie Valley pipe ten days ago I knew that the time had come to get hold of the situation before it was too late.”
He brought the aircraft out of the turn and said to Wypich, “O.K., Mike, if you’ll plug in the latitude and longitude of Resolute Bay on the INS and get clearance from Churchill tower I’ll set her up for the climb to 40,000 feet, and tell the fighter boys we’ll meet them on top.”
Leaving a trail of black smoke and diminishing noise, Air Force One climbed sharply and disappeared into low gray cloud just north of Churchill Newport. The faithful Canforce CF5’s fell in behind and entered the cloud cover at the same time.
Ottawa / 2:13 p.m., EDT
As his driver slowed to pass through the narrow entrance gate of Rideau Hall, the Prime Minister reflected on the close relationship which had existed for many years between the Governor-General and himself. As a law student, Robert Porter had articled in the large Calgary law firm of Simpson and Crane. Alexander Simpson, the senior partner, had taken an immediate liking to the bright, aggressive young man, and the fact that Porter was deeply involved in the work of the same political party that Simpson supported only served to increase his interest. When he was called to the bar after heading his law school class, Bob Porter accepted a generous offer to join the law firm and work with Simpson as his junior. In large measure, he became the son that Alexander Simpson had never had, and during the years in which they worked closely together, the two formed a strong bond of mutual respect which had continued.
On his appointment to the Senate six years after Porter joined the firm, Simpson decided to retire from the practice of law to devote his time to work of the Senate and to the interests of the University of Alberta, of which he had become Chancellor. As well as being a distinguished lawyer, he was known for his deep concern for the cultural, social and physical development of Canada and its people. He had established a Chair of Nationology at the University and gave an annual lecture there on the state of Canada. This yearly event had become an occasion of major importance in the life of the University.
Soon after entering the Senate Simpson was chosen as its Speaker. His fluency in the French language and his knowledge of French-Canadian culture, combined with a remarkable sense of fair play, and an equitable perception in dealing with the sittings of the Senate, made him universally regarded as one of Canada’s most distinguished and respected citizens. He had never fought to uphold the hard party line. In point of fact, he was looked upon by many of his peers as being above politics, but at the same time his allegiance to his party was never in question.
Consequently, when the previous Governor-General, an able French-Canadian, retired from office, Robert Porter’s predecessor had reached across party lines and recommended to the Queen the appointment of Senator Simpson. As is the custom, she accepted the Prime Minister’s advice and made the appointment, one which was well received throughout Canada, and particularly in the West.
When Alexander Simpson had left the firm to take up his duties in the Senate, Porter decided to make his move into the Northwest Territories. Simpson’s work had been in the field of corporation law, chiefly on behalf of the oil and gas firms engaged in exploration and development in Alberta and the Arctic. With the considerable experience he had gained in dealing with these companies and the service firms which supported them, it was not long before Robert Porter’s decision to practise in Inuvik, the centre of the oil and gas finds in the Mackenzie Delta, proved to be a rewarding one.
When Bob Porter became Prime Minister, both he and Simpson were delighted to be able to work together again. Porter found the Governor-General unfailingly kind, wise and helpful during the days when he was getting his bearings in office, but never had he needed the counsel and understanding of his old friend more than he did today.
The car swung around the circle in front of Rideau Hall and stopped under the porte-cochere. The Prime Minister got out of the car and acknowledged the salute of the RCMP officer on duty. He mounted the few steps to the front door, which was opened by a young Canadian Forces officer, one of the aides-de-camp to the Governor-General. He said, “I’m Capt. Robillard, sir. His Excellency is expecting you. He’s in the drawing room at the end of the hall, if you’d be good enough to follow me.”
With the aide leading the way, the two of them left the entrance foyer of Rideau Hall and walked through the reception room and down the long hallway past the formal dining room, reception and writing rooms, to the drawing room which His Excellency used as an office. It was a large, comfortable room lined with bookshelves. At one end there was an ornate, carved stone fireplace, before which a settee and chairs had been placed in a semi-circular arrangement around the coffee table. At the other end, between two windows, there was a beautifully-carved desk at which the Governor-General was sitting.
As the Prime Minister was announced, the Governor-General got up immediately and moved around the desk toward Robert Porter, his hand outstretched in welcome, clear delight and pleasure beaming from his face. He was a man who showed few signs of his age. His piercing eyes and firm chin conveyed strength and authority, and brought warmth and confidence to the Prime Minister. As they shook hands, he said, “I can’t tell you how glad I am you’re here, sir. If ever I have needed your help and advice it’s now.”
“Well, Bob, as you know, one of the great delights of my life is to be of service to you. Whether or not I can be in this instance remains to be seen. I’ll do what I can, but remember my gratuitous advice is probably worth what you pay for it.”
Both men laughed lightly and easily.
The Governor-General took Porter by the arm and said, “Come and sit down over here by the fireplace. I’ve ordered some tea—or would you prefer a glass of sherry?”
“As a matter of fact, Your Excellency, I would prefer the sherry.”
The instructions
