'A wonderful 6 years': George Tuccaro reflects on time as N.W.T. commissioner

He's shaken many hands, given numerous speeches and even escorted Prince William and Kate Middleton through Yellowknife's Sombe K'e Park.

George Tuccaro has accomplished that and much more in his six years as commissioner of the Northwest Territories, a position he stepped down from May 10. 

"The highlight of being commissioner is getting that phone call on a golf course in Kelowna way back in 2010 when the prime minister's office had called, and said: 'the prime minister would like to see you in Ottawa,'" said Tuccaro. 

"And I said: 'now?' 'No, in a couple of days.' I said: 'good, I'm on the golf course right now.'

"I had to make sure I finished that game."

Tuccaro flew back to Yellowknife, where he interviewed for the position — ultimately leaving it up to a higher power.

"After the interview, I walked outside of the Explorer Hotel... and I said: 'hey big guy, I've been doing a lot of work for you in the work of self help, helping people to help themselves. But if you want me to be the commissioner for the next five years, I can handle that. But I'll leave it up to you."

Tuccaro got the call, ultimately having his five-year term extended for another year.

"What an honour, what a privilege, and what a wonderful six years it's been," he said.

"There's a lot of gratitude. There's a lot of good things that have happened in my life and today I reflect on all of those things. I couldn't think of a better way to spend the last chapter of my working life in service of the people of the Northwest Territories."

'It's all taxpayer's money, and we have to spend it responsibly'

The role of the commissioner, as described on the NWT Legislative Assembly's website, "serves a pivotal role in the governance of the Northwest Territories," and is the federal government's representative in the North.

The territorial government allocated $201,000 for the commissioner's office in the 2015-16 budget. That includes salary for one staff person, and operational costs such as office rental.

Tuccaro says he always tried to work within his budget and worked well with his assistant to make sure of that — even cutting corners to save a few dollars. 

"When I was named the 16th commissioner, I had the opportunity of moving into the commissioner's house which was on Matonabee (Street)," he said. "It was in a bad state of disrepair and it was going to cost a lot of money to repair it."

Instead, Tuccaro and his wife decided to stay in his home on Rivett Crescent. 

"I said it would be best to take that money and spend it on the breakfast program for kids going to school."

Tuccaro was also known for hopping on a charter with RCMP or Joint Task Force North to get to the territory's smaller communities in a quest to save money on travel.

"It's all taxpayer's money, and we have to spend it responsibly," he said.

Next commissioner not appointed yet

Tuccaro's replacement as commissioner hasn't been appointed yet. In an email, Canada's Privy Council Office says the new government has yet to decide on a process for selecting territorial commissioners, provincial lieutenant governors and Canada's Governor General.

Tuccaro says he gives his best wishes to whomever it will be.

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"Continue to move in the direction that we've been doing over the last little while," he said, "and that is to bring honour to the job and honour to the people as well."

Until then, deputy commissioner Gerry Kisoun will fill in, most likely opening the 18th Legislative Assembly — a duty held by the territory's commissioner — when it next sits on May 31. 

As for Tuccaro? He says that his plans now include relaxation — and a lot of golfing.