Siddon retiring from politics

Tom Siddon never aspired to be a politician — he originally wanted to lead a simpler life as a rocket scientist.

“I wanted to be a rocket scientist or professional engineer for all my life and somehow I went down a different path,” Siddon said.

After serving under multiple prime ministers and literally putting Nunavut on the map, Siddon is saying farewell to politics.

Currently the director for Area D in the Regional District Okanagan-Similkameen, Siddon said he is not seeking re-election this fall after serving two terms.

“You get to the age where you’ve got to start considering what you’re going to do with the rest of your life. In the case of many people I know, I’m lucky to have lived as long as I have without too many problems. So I think it’s time,” Siddon said.

Siddon was Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development in 1990 where he would leave arguably his most lasting legacy, the 1992 creation of the new territory of Nunavut.

“I think the creation of Nunavut was historically significant to our country and it was accompanied in a time where we had to deal with major issues affecting the Aboriginal people,” Siddon said. “And now the emerging court rulings from the Supreme Court of Canada are finally recognizing some of the injustices in past history.”

Indian Affairs minister during the Oka Crisis in Quebec, Siddon said there are still issues stemming from that time that have yet to be resolved.