Wednesday, June 20, 2001
In underground vaults at Giant mine lie the poisonous residue of 51 years of extracting gold from the ore that Yellowknife's miners tore from the ground. It's arsenic trioxide, 237,343 tonnes of it to be precise.
In most cases, cleaning up such a toxic legacy would be left to the company that operated the mine.
| Corrections
There were errors in three stories that were printed in the June 15 Yellowknifer. In "Joe Handley to the rescue," the story should have emphasized that it is the Department of Health and Social Services that sets policy for medical travel, not the Stanton Regional Health Board. As well, Raven Pub does not hold a meat raffle (Raffle crackdown) but instead runs a regular 50/50 draw. Dr. Tom Pisz is sole owner of North Country Stables and the boats, Noacha 1 and 2, skippered by Alexander Temes (On the Job), are owned by Raven Tours. Both boats have been used as tour boats for many years. Yellowknifer apologizes for any confusion or embarrassment that may have resulted from the errors. |
Last week, a report outlining four multi-million-dollar alternatives for dealing with the mess was released. To those who think the arsenic can just be forgotten, the report highlights the chance of "significant impacts on aquatic and terrestrial wildlife" on at least the area immediately around Baker Creek and as far as Back and Yellowknife bays.
Simply put, something must be done.
Whether it's spending up to $69 million to freeze the dust in underground vaults, or as much as $409 million to remove it altogether, there are no inexpensive or easy solutions.
While freezing the material seems the cheapest alternative at first glance, there are serious long-term consequences associated with this approach, which has been considered -- and rejected -- before. Water must be collected and treated and the residual sludge -- up to 60 dry tonnes a year for the first 20 years -- must be landfilled in a secure site.
That requires a long-term financial commitment by a level of government that has difficulty looking past the next election.
That's not reassuring, especially considering that none of the four solutions currently under consideration amounts to a permanent fix. There will always be something left to handle.
What's important now is that government not become paralyzed by the report's options. They must choose a plan and act before any of the "worst-case scenarios" become reality.
When a bartender serves an underage patron, and gets caught, chances are the bar will lose its licence to serve liquor for at least a few days.
So why doesn't the same apply to shopkeepers who sell cigarettes to minors? The principle, and the economics, are the same.
Perhaps it would be helpful to remind those responsible for enforcing our laws that there's a very good reason why society has agreed to prohibit the sale of addictive drugs like alcohol and nicotine to our youth.
The costs to our cultural fabric in terms of destroyed lives and to our economy in wasted health-care resources are too great to treat these violations as anything less that serious offences.
Editorial Comment
Jorge Barrera
Kivalliq News
Forty-one new students will walk through the halls of Alaittuq high school next year. The future of Rankin Inlet, the Kivalliq region and Nunavut depends on them.
This is not just another grandiose and meaningless statement that usually accompanies scholastic rights of passage across the country. In the Kivalliq region and Nunavut as a whole, this message is an indisputable fact. Every high school drop-out in this region saps strength from this fledgling territory.
In the majority of Canada, with a higher population density, a drop-out here or there is a ripple in a huge sea. Here, with Nunavut's population of just 28,000, no bigger than a medium-sized town in the south, every drop-out means one person fewer to fill the many government jobs the Nunavut government is scrambling to fill with Inuit.
Every drop-out means one less Inuit doctor, lawyer, carpenter, welder. One less teacher, nurse, dentist.
This part of the country faced a whirlwind of change in the last 50 years. A whole nation went from living off the land to surfing through cyberspace and flipping through the thousand channel universe. The world is suddenly at the doorstep of every home in Repulse Bay, Whale Cove and Rankin Inlet, and with it comes the threat of a cultural dilution.
This was part of the urgency driving the creators of Nunavut. Nunavut is here so Inuit culture perseveres.
But borders on a map do not save a culture. History cannot be reversed, but no one has staked the future and education gives people the tools to shape the future in their own image, to use the evolving world for their own means.
That is the importance of education. And unfortunately a 60 per cent graduation rate (admittedly a generous estimate) in the Kivalliq will not be enough to save a culture in a world rapidly evolving.
That is why Donald Clark, principal of the high school, said he hopes to see all 41 junior high grads make it through high school.
The graduation of 15 high school student last year is good, but not good enough.
The future depends on you, the Grade 8 class of MUI and all Grade eight graduates throughout the Kivalliq.
Nunavut depends on you.
Editorial Comment
Malcolm Gorrill
Inuvik Drum
A town is more than just a collection of buildings and roads.
And a community is more than just a place to live, it can and should be a place worth living in.
Those who gathered at a special meeting last week at the Midnight Sun Recreation Complex know that. They came to hear from, and talk with, officials charged with devising a long term vision plan for the town.
A number of proposals were put forth to make Inuvik a better place to reside in. Some, such as cleanup of garbage throughout town, are being implemented already or could be set in motion quickly.
Other proposals, such as adding to existing trails and parks in the area, might take longer to implement.
However, where there's a will, there's a way. It was pointed out at the meeting that companies and various levels of government could help fund projects.
Plus, never underestimate volunteer power. That can make pricey or seemingly hard to achieve goals possible.
Sprucing up the town, and creating a more pleasant environment, will help draw more tourists but, even more importantly, it'll benefit residents and create more community pride.
This process also is important for allowing and encouraging residents to have a big say in how their community might look five or 10 years down the road.
Having fun with nature
Enthusiasm abounded last week at the Inuvik Ski Club, as many Sir Alexander Mackenzie students paid a visit.
The occasion was the third annual Nature Day, put on by the Gwich'in Renewable Resource Board.
Kids got to take part in many fun activities, including a scavenger hunt. Along the way they learned about things such as the long migration fish go through, and other important facts about the environment.
Such events can instill into children a respect for the world around them, and a greater desire to learn more.
A fun trip
Adults can have fun too.
About 30 people took part last weekend in the Inuvik Ride for Sight's annual trek, so as to raise funds for the Foundation Fighting Blindness.
The trekkers couldn't go as far as usual, since the ferry wasn't going yet at Peel River, but from all accounts a good time was still had by all.
Secretary Jo Whiteside explained that the society raises funds throughout the year, but that this is their big annual event.
Those involved should be congratulated for managing to tie in riding along the Dempster Highway on motorbikes during this time of the year, with raising money for a good cause.
Editorial Comment
Derek Neary
Deh Cho Drum, Fort Simpson
Why is the issue of safety emerging as the debate heats up over whether all of Fort Simpson's air services should be located at the Department of Transportation airport?
Would the government have allowed the privately-operated airstrip in town to operate for decades if it wasn't safe all this time? That would be completely irresponsible. And if the in-town runway is safe, then the issue is a red herring.
Nobody wants to see lives at stake -- and there haven't been any lives lost to accidents to date -- but nobody wants to see local businesses get trampled either.
Interestingly, there were two airport infrastructure items mentioned as priorities for government investment during last week's village council meeting: paving the runway and upgrading the airport terminal building. The runway tender has already been awarded, so that much is being done regardless of the final airport development plan. Consultant Kevin Hodgins said the paving is necessary for safety purposes and therefore has to be done as soon as possible.
If the only other order of business is a new terminal building, that's a questionable priority. The existing structure certainly isn't on the verge of collapse. Perhaps only renovations are necessary to the existing terminal building. A white elephant isn't necessary, especially when the consultants admitted to council that their research indicates only seven per cent growth is anticipated in Fort Simpson's population over the next 18 years. If that turns out to be true, what currently exists is adequate. If a boom occurs, surely the increased air traffic will necessitate an updated or revised airport development plan.
It seems that the threat to shut down the Transport Department's airport, should the status quo continue, is an empty one.
There is supposed to be one more public consultation session before the airport development plan is finalized. If residents of Fort Simpson really care about this matter, they would be well served to turn out at that meeting and make their feelings known.
Getting feedback
While other NWT regions may have been disappointed with the Deh Cho First Nations' decision to withhold its signature on the proposed Mackenzie Valley pipeline agreement in Hay River last week, it was only to be expected. Decisions such as this one have major implications. Being in the midst of self-government negotiations, the DCFN feel compelled to give the people of the region a say in whether or not the impact of signing the agreement is acceptable. Does the deal include the best possible terms? Grand Chief Michael Nadli has asked. These are the details that must be analysed.
It's not the time for a snap decision, but too much foot-dragging will also elicit contempt. An extension to the Deh Cho Assembly equates to a few more weeks of reflection. With so many people waiting on their decision, the DCFN should then have the courtesy to make a statement either in favour or against the pipeline rather than leaving things in limbo.