Monday, November 27, 2000
Now that Ethel Blondin-Andrew has been sent back to Ottawa for a fourth term, we hope she jumps on the plane with a big empty shopping bag.
Because she has a pretty big shopping list for the NWT.
From transfer of power to revenue sharing and new roads, Northerners have high expectations of our veteran Member of Parliament and cabinet insider.
While many of these issues have been on the agenda for years, what makes this election different is the timing.
The NWT is on the cusp of an economic explosion. Up to now, Ottawa has tied help -- whether it be for health or infrastructure -- to population. We're only 42,000 strong in the NWT, tiny in comparison to provincial populations.
The potential of the North, however, is huge.
The diamond mines alone stand to pump billions into the national economy. Factor in other mining interests and the huge pool of oil and gas waiting to be tapped and piped south. The benefits that Canada as a whole, not just the NWT, stands to gain are enormous.
To do that, however, we need appropriate investment.
That means Ottawa has to recognize our special needs. It costs more to provide health care here. It costs more to build roads and bridges. It costs more to live here.
We also need new roads to get to those resources waiting to be tapped. The NWT needs Ottawa to recognize how valuable Northern Canadian oil and gas is and that a pipeline down the Mackenzie Valley must be built.
Ottawa also needs to transfer a greater share of control over our land and resources, through devolution, self-government and revenue sharing.
So, Ethel, you have our list. Let's get to work at filling it.
City workers might want to credit Coun. Ben McDonald for any public support for privatization.
At the same time he is pushing the Smart Cities Internet project in next year's budget ($250,000), he's telling Yellowknifers their causes can't be better funded ($48,000) without a tax increase.
The connection to privatization is direct. McDonald quotes city administration as gospel: "Any new money will require a tax increase."
Taxpayers, mindful that city managers and councillors can lose sight of proper priorities (eg. Smart Cities), start to demand cuts at city hall before increases in householders' expenses.
With anticipated revenue of $34 million for city coffers, there should be no talk of raising taxes. Just a better, more efficient city hall.
It says something about a company when it doesn't shy away from the challenges of the North.
Low literacy rates among mine workers is one of those challenges.
It's a problem at Ekati Mine, owned by one of the world's largest mining companies, BHP. Although Ekati managers found they were able to exceed their Northern hiring target -- 62 per cent of workers are from the NWT -- the majority, 60 per cent, fill entry level positions because they have trouble reading and writing.
Now, the company is offering an in-house program aimed at boosting both literacy and numeracy skills. Workers who want to sign on will be schooled during work hours.
For BHP to take on this initiative is worth noting and something other companies can certainly learn from.
We hope Kivalliq Student Services has its public meeting in Whale Cove before the Dec. 11 election.
The point must be made, and accepted, during the meeting that Kivalliq teachers must be able to provide a safe and comfortable learning environment for both their students and themselves.
It's hard to understand why District Education Authority (DEA) members in Whale Cove would contest suspending a student who was physically aggressive to teachers and/or other students.
Surely these members realize violence in our classrooms is totally unacceptable -- no matter who the child or the parents involved!
Many positive initiatives at Inuglak school stand to be overshadowed by the unacceptable acts of a few.
Hopefully, candidates for the upcoming DEA election will attend the meeting and voice their support for teachers.
It's hard enough to entice good teachers without running the risk of losing them to intolerable acts and a lack of support at the local level.
Not only do the teachers deserve the support, but each and every student at Inuglak school has the right to a safe, comfortable, and orderly learning environment.
Just a suggestion
Regular readers of Kivalliq News may not have been surprised to learn the promised phone call from Community Government Minister Jack Anawak never arrived.
The silver lining in Anawak's dark cloud was that the person appointed as the "official spokesperson" for artificial ice in Rankin Inlet is highly regarded as a straight- shooter throughout Kivalliq.
We would, however, like to make a small suggestion to Premier Paul Okalik this week, if we may.
It might be in the best interests of Kivalliq residents -- all Nunavummiut in fact -- if our premier were to photocopy the pages in the dictionary containing the words: open, accountable and accessible.
Okalik could pass the pages out during the next legislative assembly and conduct a question period on the parts our honourable members don't comprehend.
We're sure the same words can be found in an Inuktitut dictionary, and the meanings don't lose much in the translation.
But, then again, they'd still be just words. Maybe we should add "action" to the list.