Speaking Notes for Steve Hindle

Gold Medal Award Presentation

July 5, 2000

Good afternoon, Premier, ladies and gentlemen, and welcome to this ceremony honouring an outstanding public service professional. It is a privilege for me to be with you today in this fine province.

Allow me to explain the objectives of the Gold Medal Award of the Professional Institute. Established in 1937, the award

< recognizes and rewards professional public service employees whose outstanding work has led to the improvement and enhancement of public well-being; and,

< promotes a greater awareness of the role and value of professional public service employees in Canada and globally.

Our Gold Medal Award is presented on a yearly basis:

< in even-numbered years for work in a field outside pure or applied science; and

< in odd-numbered years for work in pure or applied science.

The list of recipients since 1937 is very impressive. Their names are included in the brochure in your kits. Some recipients have received a Nobel prize; others have made fundamental discoveries which have saved thousands of lives or developed new industries; while others have salvaged entire crops. Their contributions have had a major impact on quality of life, not only in Canada, but around the world. This year's laureate continues this fine tradition.

Our Gold Medal Award program is growing in prestige. These past few years, we have noticed that word is getting around - we are receiving numerous requests for information. This year, we received 23 nominations - from all levels of government.

The nominations were assessed by an independent panel of judges. Although they were unable to join us this afternoon due to conflicts in their schedules, I would like to thank our Gold Medal Award judges for volunteering their time and expertise in making this program a success:

< Peter MacKinnon, President of the University of Saskatchewan, who chaired this year's selection panel;

< Judith Maxwell, President of Canadian Policy Research Networks; and

< Raymond McFeetors, President of Great-West Life Assurance Company.

I am honoured to announce the recipient of the Professional Institute's first Gold Medal of the new millennium - Mr. David Allan Vardy. This outstanding public service professional has made important international contributions, in addition to those benefiting Canada, and Newfoundland and Labrador. Mr. Vardy is a shining example that, without a competent and dedicated public service, Canada would not be one of the best countries in which to live.

Mr. Vardy is currently Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Board of Commissioners of Public Utilities for Newfoundland and Labrador. With this award, we also honour a CAREER of dedication to public service by recognizing his remarkable contributions to labour relations, economic development, resource management, and education.

Before I share with you some of Mr. Vardy's achievements, I would ask Premier Tobin to say a few words - Premier.

(Premier Brian Tobin speaks.)

Thank you, Premier Tobin.

At this time, I would ask the Clerk of the Executive Council, John Cummings, to speak about why he and Leslie Dean, Deputy Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture, nominated Mr. Vardy for this award.

(Mr. Cummings speaks.)

Thank you, Mr. Cummings.

I now call upon Alphonsus Faour, President of the Public Service Commission to say a few words.

(Alphonsus Faour speaks.)

Thank you, Mr. Faour.

Permit me to highlight some of Mr. Vardy's notable achievements during his long and distinguished career. During the

1990s, David Vardy took on a major challenge facing the fishing industry. At that time, the $1 billion industry was

seriously disrupted by labour and price disputes. These disruptions led to major economic and social instability. They

also impacted negatively on the industry's presence in the international marketplace, resulting in a lack of consistency in

the supply and delivery of high-quality product. If allowed to continue, the damage to the industry's reputation in

international markets would have had a long-term negative economic impact.

As Chair of the Task Force on Price Settlement Mechanisms in the Fishing Industry, Mr. Vardy championed an innovative collective bargaining model which has been virtually unique in the industry in gaining the acceptance of both the processors and union representatives. This was truly a milestone in the advancement of fisheries policy. Mr. Vardy continued to work with industry and government to successfully enshrine the new collective bargaining process in legislation.

As Deputy Minister of Fisheries, Mr. Vardy addressed the largest resource crisis in Canadian history - the crisis facing the Atlantic fishery - involving moratoria on all major groundfish stocks, including cod. He negotiated federal-provincial adjustment programs to respond to the social and economic impact of major quota reductions. He directed a major review of foreign overfishing and managed a plan to bring it to an end. He consolidated provincial agencies to create a new resource management capability.

Under Mr. Vardy's leadership as President, the Marine Institute became an international centre of excellence, known for education and applied research in the ocean industry sector, including the new and expanding offshore petroleum industry.

Concrete examples of his long-term vision include:

< a world-class Shiphandling Simulator and Offshore Survival Centre;

< the reorganization and creation of new programs in Fisheries Technology, Aquaculture, Marine Transportation, Offshore Safety, and Engineering Technology;

< the establishment of the Chair in Fisheries Conservation at Memorial University;

< a process of professional accreditation for fish harvesters (in conjunction with the Fish, Food and Allied Workers' Union);

< the formation of the Seafood Management Education Association with members of the fish processing industry and with Memorial University's Business School;

< the establishment of the Canadian Centre for International Fisheries Training and Development;

< the creation of the Canadian Centre for Fisheries Innovation; and

< the formation of the Canadian Centre for Marine Communications.

Obviously then, Mr. Vardy personifies the dedication of public service employees, and his achievements speak volumes to Canadians who, all too often, question the value of the public service. Mr. Vardy, I am honoured to present you with the Institute's Gold Medal in this, the first year of the new millennium. Congratulations.

< present gold medal

< present certificate

< unveil plaque

Mr. Vardy's name has been added to our Gold Medal Plaque which hangs in the lobby of the Institute's National Office.

(Mr. Vardy speaks)

Thank you, Mr. Vardy, and thank you Premier Tobin and all our guests for attending this presentation.

Please join us in the Cabot Club for lunch, which is about to be served.

[Media questions may be handled now.]