45-465: Port Radium is a mining area on the eastern shore of Great Bear Lake , Northwest Territories , Canada. It included the settlement of Cameron Bay as well as the Eldorado (also called Port Radium) and Echo Bay mines. The name Port Radium did not come into use until 1936 and at the time it was in reference to the region as a whole. The Eldorado mine site at LaBine Point adopted the name for its settlement in
90-524: A governing party . Further elements of governance are outlined in the rest of the Canadian constitution , which includes written statutes in addition to court rulings and unwritten conventions developed over centuries. Constitutionally, the King's Privy Council for Canada is the body that advises the sovereign or their representative on the exercise of executive power. This task is carried out nearly exclusively by
135-765: Is a lake in the boreal forest of Canada . It is the largest lake entirely in Canada ( Lake Superior and Lake Huron are larger but straddle the Canada–US border ), the fourth-largest in North America, and the eighth-largest in the world . The lake is in the Northwest Territories , on the Arctic Circle between 65 and 67 degrees of northern latitude and between 118 and 123 degrees western longitude, 156 m (512 ft) above sea level . The name originated from
180-533: Is at 66°06′N 117°56′W / 66.100°N 117.933°W / 66.100; -117.933 ( Port Radium Airport ) between the two to the north and consisted of a gravel airstrip next to Glacier Lake. During a field trip along the east arm of Great Bear Lake in August 1900, James McIntosh Bell of the Geological Survey of Canada noted evidences of iron , copper , uranium and cobalt in
225-619: Is covered with ice from late November to July. The lake is known for its considerable clarity. Explorer John Franklin wrote in 1828 that a white rag placed in the water did not disappear until it exceeded a depth of 15 fathoms (90 ft; 27 m). Arms of Great Bear Lake include the Smith Arm (northwest), the Dease Arm (northeast), the McTavish Arm (southeast), the McVicar Arm (south) and
270-657: Is located near the Arctic Circle , which means that in December the sun almost does not rise and in June it does not set for 24 hours. The average temperature is −7.1 °C (19.2 °F), the prevailing wind direction is southeast. Between 1950 and 1974, this climatic data was collected at Port Radium: Download coordinates as: 66°05′07″N 118°02′10″W / 66.085168°N 118.036°W / 66.085168; -118.036 Great Bear Lake Great Bear Lake ( Slave : Sahtú ; French : Grand lac de l'Ours )
315-550: Is on the lake, near the headwaters of the Bear River . There is an ice crossing from Délı̨nę to the winter road on the far side of the Great Bear River. On 5 March 2016, a tank truck fell partway through the ice road just a few days after the government had increased the allowed maximum weight limit to 40,000 kg (88,000 lb) on the road. The truck, which was 3 km (1.9 mi) outside of Délı̨nę and close to
360-453: Is paramount in the Délı̨nę peoples' identity, laws and culture. Hence, conserving it is critical for the Délı̨nę people. ɂehtsǝ́o Erǝ́ya, a Dene Elder, is widely regarded as a prophet , making over 30 prophecies which have been interpreted as having come true. His prediction for the end of times claims that, as the world dries up, the little remaining life will flock to, and end on the banks of
405-631: Is personally represented by a governor general (currently Mary Simon ). A prime minister (currently Justin Trudeau ) is the head of government , who is invited by the Crown to form a government after securing the confidence of the House of Commons , which is typically determined through the election of enough members of a single political party in a federal election to provide a majority of seats in Parliament, forming
450-450: The Chipewyan word satudene , meaning "grizzly bear-water people". The Sahtu , a Dene people, are named after the lake. Grizzly Bear Mountain, or Sahoyue , on the shore of the lake also comes from Chipewyan, meaning "bear-large hill". Sahoyue (Grizzly Bear Mountain), a peninsula on the south side of the lake, and Edacho (Scented Grass Hills), another peninsula on the west side, form
495-878: The Kazan Uplands portion of the Canadian Shield and the Interior Plains . It was part of glacial Lake McConnell in the pre-glacial valleys reshaped by erosional ice during the Pleistocene . Since, the lake has changed from post-glacial rebound following the ice melting. Precambrian rocks of the Canadian Shield form the eastern margin of the McTavish Arm. These rocks of the Precambrian are sedimentary and metamorphic deposits supplemented by igneous intrusions forming dikes and sills . The community of Délı̨nę
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#1732837661564540-517: The King-in-Council . On the advice of the Canadian prime minister, the sovereign appoints a federal viceregal representative —the governor general (currently Mary Simon )—who, since 1947, is permitted to exercise almost all of the monarch's royal prerogative ; though, there are some duties which must be specifically performed by the monarch themselves (such as assent of certain bills). In case of
585-573: The Public Service of Canada , and the Canadian Armed Forces . One of the main duties of the Crown is to ensure that a democratic government is always in place, which includes the appointment of a prime minister , who heads the Cabinet and directs the activities of the government. Not outlined in any constitutional document, the office exists in long-established convention , which stipulates
630-503: The Saoyú-ʔehdacho National Historic Site of Canada. The lake has a surface area of 31,153 km (12,028 sq mi) and a volume of 2,234 km (536 cu mi). Its maximum depth is 446 m (1,463 ft) and average depth 71.7 m (235 ft). The shoreline is 2,719 km (1,690 mi) and the catchment area of the lake is 114,717 km (44,292 sq mi). Great Bear Lake
675-502: The Senate ). During its term, the government must retain the confidence of the House of Commons and certain important motions , such as money bills and the speech from the throne , are considered as confidence motions . Laws are formed by the passage of bills through Parliament, which are either sponsored by the government or individual members of Parliament. Once a bill has been approved by both
720-467: The advice of the King's Privy Council for Canada , referred to as the King-in-Council . However, the Privy Council—consisting mostly of former ministers, chief justices , and other elder statesmen—rarely meets in full. In the construct of constitutional monarchy and responsible government , the advice tendered is typically binding, meaning the monarch reigns but does not rule , with
765-527: The federal public service and federal departments and agencies when used elsewhere. This differs from the United States , where the executive branch is referred to as an administration and the federal government encompasses executive, legislative, and judicial powers, similar to the Canadian Crown . In press releases issued by federal departments, the government has sometimes been referred to as
810-586: The 1930s in this area. Eldorado Mine became the first producing venture and it had its own private camp for its employees. There were also operations at the Elbonanza silver property, at White Eagle on the Camsell River, and at Contact Lake. In 1932 prospectors and businesses settled down in a protective cove off Echo Bay, known as Cameron Bay. By 1933 the Canadian Government had surveyed a townsite. At its peak
855-485: The 1940s and it has generally stuck. Port Radium is situated at 66°05′11″N 118°02′21″W / 66.08639°N 118.03917°W / 66.08639; -118.03917 ( Port Radium post office ) on LaBine Point on the McTavish Arm of Great Bear Lake. Cameron Bay is situated 7.25 km (4.50 mi) southeast at 66°04′01″N 117°52′06″W / 66.06694°N 117.86833°W / 66.06694; -117.86833 and Port Radium Airport
900-545: The 1960s Branson's Lodge built a fishing lodge on the site. The Eldorado Mine became the only remaining operation in the Port Radium area after 1942. Port Radium was occupied from 1942 to 1960 while the Eldorado Mine was producing uranium, then again between 1964 and 1982 when Echo Bay Mines Limited produced silver from the so-called Echo Bay Mine, and the Eldorado Mine. When the mine finally closed in 1982, Echo Bay burned down
945-419: The Cabinet ruling "in trust" for the monarch. However, the royal prerogative belongs to the Crown and not to any of the ministers, and there are rare exceptions where the monarch may be obliged to act unilaterally to prevent manifestly unconstitutional acts. The stipulations of responsible government require that those who directly advise the Crown on the exercise the royal prerogative be accountable to
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#1732837661564990-456: The Cabinet, which functions as the executive committee of the Privy Council that sets the government's policies and priorities for the country and is chaired by the prime minister. The sovereign appoints the members of Cabinet on the advice of the prime minister who, by convention, are generally selected primarily from the House of Commons (although often include a limited number of members from
1035-530: The Cameron Bay settlement had 100 permanent residents, and the Port Radium area as a whole probably boasted 200+ residents. But by 1934 all the important deposits had been staked and activity died down. The Eldorado Mine at LaBine Point entered production in 1933 and the Contact Lake silver mine followed in 1936. At Cameron Bay, the government established a post office, a government office, and a radio station. There
1080-465: The Crown must select as prime minister the person most likely to command the confidence of the elected House of Commons , who, in practice, is typically the leader of the political party that holds more seats than any other party in that chamber (currently the Liberal Party , led by Justin Trudeau ). Should no particular party hold a majority in the House of Commons, the leader of one party—either
1125-410: The Eldorado Mine in June 1940, and the general lack of activity, the government closed up the offices at Cameron Bay, and except for a few native families that occupied the abandoned buildings, Port Radium was empty. When the Eldorado Mine reopened in 1942 to supply uranium ores for the effort of World War II , the mine settlement adopted the name Port Radium. Cameron Bay remained abandoned, but later in
1170-466: The Eldorado Mine's alleged discrimination against First Nations and Inuit workers, such as giving them the last priority when establishing safety services. The Native Sisterhood made it a national political issue in Canada, and sparked the more famous native-rights activism in Alaska during the 1940s. The case faded in Port Radium itself after the closing of the Eldorado Mine, however, and did not return to
1215-528: The Great Bear Lake, a lake seen as a physical beating heart to humanity. The Délı̨nę people have followed these prophecies closely, the cultural considerations being a driving force for self-governance and environmental sustainability. Canadian Federal government The Government of Canada ( French : Gouvernement du Canada ) is the body responsible for the federal administration of Canada . The term Government of Canada refers specifically to
1260-478: The House of Commons and the Senate, royal assent is required to make the bill become law. The laws are then the responsibility of the government to oversee and enforce. Under Canada's Westminster-style parliamentary democracy , the terms government and Government of Canada refer specifically to the prime minister, Cabinet, and other members of the governing party inside the House of Commons , but typically includes
1305-707: The Keith Arm (southwest). The community of Délı̨nę is located on the Keith Arm near the outflow of the Great Bear River that flows west into the Mackenzie River at Tulita . Rivers flowing into Great Bear Lake include the Whitefish River , Big Spruce River, Haldane River, Bloody River , Sloan River, Dease River and the Johnny Hoe River. Great Bear Lake lies between two major physiographic regions :
1350-420: The community's fresh water intake, as well as a major fishing area, contained approximately 30,000 L (6,600 imp gal; 7,900 US gal) of heating fuel and was one of 70 truck loads intended to resupply the community. The fuel was removed from the truck by 2 am, 8 March. Three lodges around the lake are destinations for fishing and hunting. In 1995, a 32.65 kg (72.0 lb) lake trout
1395-468: The conventional stipulations of a constitutional monarchy, the sovereign's direct participation in any of these areas of governance is limited. The term Government of Canada , or more formally, His Majesty's Government refers to the activities of the King-in-Council . The day-to-day operation and activities of the Government of Canada are performed by the federal departments and agencies , staffed by
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1440-613: The current prime minister's government (e.g. the Trudeau Government ). This terminology has been commonly employed in the media. In late 2010, an informal instruction from the Office of the Prime Minister urged government departments to consistently use, in all department communications, such phrasing (i.e., Harper Government , at the time), in place of Government of Canada . The same Cabinet earlier directed its press department to use
1485-466: The elected House of Commons and the day-to-day operation of government is guided only by a sub-group of the Privy Council made up of individuals who hold seats in Parliament, known as the Cabinet . The monarch and governor general typically follow the near-binding advice of their ministers. The royal prerogative, however, belongs to the Crown and not to any of the ministers, who only rule "in trust" for
1530-496: The executive, which includes ministers of the Crown (together in the Cabinet ) and the federal civil service (whom the Cabinet direct); it is alternatively known as His Majesty's Government (French: Gouvernement de Sa Majesté ) and is corporately branded as the Government of Canada . There are over 100 departments and agencies, as well as over 300,000 persons employed in the Government of Canada. These institutions carry out
1575-443: The forefront until the 1980s, when some former mine workers developed health problems that were said to have been due to radium toxicity , a result of their failure to receive radioactivity protection coats containing lead. The government finally settled the case by providing treatment for the patients, and working with mine policy to ensure that similar injustices were not happening at the present and would not be allowed to happen in
1620-505: The future. A report was released in 2005 challenging the link between uranium mining and cancer at Port Radium. Dr. Douglas Chambers told the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation that "The potential risk of cancer associated with transporting the ore concentrate is extremely small, and in fact so small it would not be detectable in the variability of natural cancers and factors of effect cancers such as smoking." Port Radium
1665-448: The governor general's absence or incapacitation, the administrator of Canada performs the Crown's most basic functions. As part of the royal prerogative, the royal sign-manual gives authority to letters patent and orders-in-Council . Much of the royal prerogative is only exercised in-council, meaning on the advice of the King's Privy Council for Canada ( ministers of the Crown formed in Cabinet in conventional practice); within
1710-400: The monarch and who must relinquish the Crown's power back to it upon losing the confidence of the commons, whereupon a new government, which can hold the lower chamber 's confidence, is installed by the governor general. The royal and vice-royal figures may unilaterally use these powers in exceptional constitutional crisis situations (an exercise of the reserve powers ), thereby allowing
1755-460: The party with the most seats or one supported by other parties—will be called by the governor general to form a minority government . Once sworn in, the prime minister holds office until their resignation or removal by the governor general, after either a motion of no confidence or defeat in a general election . The executive is defined in the Constitution Act, 1867 as the Crown acting on
1800-430: The phrase Canada's New Government . Canada is a constitutional monarchy, wherein the role of the reigning sovereign is both legal and practical, but not political. The monarch is vested with all powers of state and sits at the centre of a construct in which the power of the whole is shared by multiple institutions of government acting under the sovereign's authority. The executive is thus formally referred to as
1845-517: The programs and enforce the laws established by the Parliament of Canada . The federal government's organization and structure was established at Confederation , through the Constitution Act, 1867 , wherein the Canadian Crown acts as the core, or "the most basic building block", of its Westminster-style parliamentary democracy . The monarch, King Charles III is head of state and
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1890-581: The remaining buildings with few exceptions. In 2007, the Canadian Federal government completed the remediation at Port Radium by removing all remaining infrastructure. A cairn and plaque at Labine Point are the only remains of Port Radium. The old RCMP log cabin post was dismantled log by log in 2007, and rebuilt in Norman Wells by Rick Muyres. An early case in the Aboriginal rights movement involved
1935-431: The vicinity of Echo Bay. Thirty years later, a prospector Gilbert LaBine discovered high-grade pitchblende and silver . His company was Eldorado Mining and Refining Limited , then known as Eldorado Gold Mines Limited. Radium ores were highly valued at the time because the price of radium salts , used in cancer treatment, and which was monopolized by Belgium , was $ 70,000 per gram. Several settlements popped up in
1980-412: Was also a Royal Canadian Mounted Police post and a Hudson's Bay Company post. In 1936, the government facilities were rechristened Port Radium to glorify the nature of the nearby mining operations. The Cameron Bay area was officially renamed Port Radium in 1937. At that time, Cameron Bay had a population of 30. In the 1930s, Port Radium was home to an annual arctic dogsled race. With the closure of
2025-483: Was caught, the largest ever caught anywhere by angling . In 1930, Gilbert LaBine discovered uranium deposits in the Great Bear Lake region. The former mining area Port Radium , site of the Eldorado Mine , where pitchblende was discovered, was located on the eastern shore. Echo Bay Mines Limited leased the old camp and mill at Port Radium to recover silver and copper values from 1965 to 1981. Great Bear Lake
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