Monday, November 8, 1999
All levels of government can learn a lesson from the Deline negotiating team. They are making great inroads towards a self-government agreement.
While still years away from signing an agreement in principle (AIP), negotiators are pleased with the success of the three-way negotiations.
Participants say talks have gone smoothly, largely due to a mutual understanding of the need for non-confrontational dialogue between the federal government, the GNWT and the band.
Unlike other negotiations, which are mired in bad faith, bad feelings, and bad press, this group has had success in working towards their goal.
Some talks, such as Treaty 8 and those in the Deh Cho, have broken down completely, reduced to intermittent tirades through local media where one side fires off a nasty press release, leaving the other parties scrambling to do damage control.
The Deline team has chosen to talk and issue press statements as a group.
We hear lots of talk of "sitting down and working together," and "looking at what's on the table."
This team is doing a lot more than sitting and looking; they are getting results and they should be commended for work on the evolution of our governments.
It's only through a process of trial and error that a high degree of trust has been achieved. But the atmosphere of trust is what allows negotiations to progress.
Talks in Deline have been through numerous negotiators, and sometimes negotiations have broken down to the point where threats of court action have been uttered.
However, these people have learned from their mistakes and we hope others can learn from them, too.
Historically, the spirit, if not the practice, of negotiations and treaty talks has been non-adversarial. It is in the best interests of everybody involved to honour that spirit.
Fledgling Senator Nick Sibbeston's first few weeks on the job represent a four-star performance. He's capitalized on travel opportunities, talked to people, recruited a top-flight assistant and used local media contacts effectively.
Talking Claire Barnaby into working with him was particularly astute. The politically savvy 'Arctic Bear' knows the Ottawa scene like the back of her hand, has worked in all parts of the North and has more contacts than a stray dog has fleas.
If Sibbeston keeps it up, he may well join that select group of hard-working senators who earn their pay, represent sober second thought and speak out for the people they represent. More important, he will be another much-needed voice speaking for the North in the corridors of national power.
Please don't let us down, Nick. The NWT needs all the political clout it can get.
Elections, of course, are the engine of democracy.
In Nunavut, the selection of government for the people, by the people was a big first step towards realizing the goals of our new territory.
And so it is with a degree of well-earned satisfaction that we look at chief electoral officer David Hamilton's report.
While the cost of the election was higher than anticipated, there is a general sense of the election being a well-run event.
Hamilton offers a handful of recommendations that simplify and clarify the process, and we encourage a prompt discussion of those ideas.
Overall, however, Nunavut has demonstrated that elections here work, and that is more than most of the world can say.
On the surface, Alain Faucher of Kudlik Construction acted responsibly when he advised his drivers to slow down on the Road to Nowhere.
The problem began when the Town of Iqaluit decided to build a new subdivision in the area. Used for the last 11 years to camp, picnic and berry pick, townsfolk balked when they learned the fate of their beloved road.
Don't worry, assured the town, there'll still be plenty of space to play.
Enter Kudlik Construction, the contractors hired to build the new lots.
Pressed for time perhaps or cursed with lead feet, residents complained that the drivers were whipping around the precarious bends loaded down with tonnes of gravel and rock.
One resident finally complained to the municipality and giving credit where credit is due, the Town posted speed limit signs and wrote letters to Kudlik, advising the company driving speed would be monitored.
Faucher's order to slow down would have made a lot more sense -- and would have been viewed as a sincere and meaningful one -- had he asked his drivers to slow down while they were still working this season.
In the same breath with which told News/North he'd ordered his drivers to use their brakes, he said his trucks had wrapped it up for the year.
But let's not let the Town off the hook that easy either.
Sure, they jumped to action when they received a serious complaint and a bit of media attention, but why didn't it occur to them to keep a watchful eye on the stretch of road they knew -- they were footing the $4 million bill -- was being used by both the public and industry?
The obvious answer seems to be, once again, safety was compromised for profit at the expense of the little guy.
Nunavut's Department of Justice has to address Kivalliq's desperate legal situation.
There are currently no practising family law lawyers living in the region.
Many Kivalliq residents trying to navigate the often turbulent waters of the family court system are still being represented by legal aid lawyers from Yellowknife.
Perhaps in no other area of law is it more important for a strong relationship between lawyer and client to be developed.
With the well-being of growing number of children at stake, steps must be taken to ensure both parents are being properly represented when such issues as custody and access are being decided.
It's decision time for the Sport North Federation Board of Directors. After three years on the job, current executive director Chris Bergman is stepping down. Here are a few of the things they should be looking for.
Naturally, they need a person with strong management skills. But they also need someone who knows the Northern sporting community inside out.
Without knowing who's who in the communities, delivering the various programs that improve and promote sports won't happen as effectively.
The board needs an aggressive person who will fight to keep Sport North's $2 million plus budget.
Less money can only mean sports in the North is promoted and developed less.