Wednesday, April 27, 2005
The on again/off again development project has been newspaper fodder for the better part of a year. Yet, not a single house is ready for purchase.
The plan became a target for environmentalists and some Niven Lake residents last spring when the city authorized a survey company to chainsaw its way through an adjacent nature trail.
Development appeals and court action dogged Phase VI for the rest of the year, effectively putting an end to any thought of getting homes built before winter.
Now, City Hall says they have a problem with Homes North's choice of pre-manufactured housing units. The company's "modular homes," in their view, are actually double-wide trailers - a no-no in Phase VI.
A stop-work order threatens to shut the project down for most of this summer, although the city itself acknowledges there is nowhere else to build and Yellowknife is in the midst of a major housing crunch.
Coldwell Banker real estate agent Rod Stirling all but begged city council to allow Homes North to continue. He said people are lining up at his office looking for reasonably-priced homes but there are none.
Homes North didn't do itself any favours when it went ahead and plunked four of these so-called modular homes on site without a development permit, which is why this stop-work order seems like sour grapes on the city's part.
Homes North has since presented council a mountain of evidence that its homes are indeed modular homes - pre-manufactured units divided into sections and joined together. They have been certified by the Canadian Standards Association.
Whether their steel frames make them easier to move or not seems besides the point.
Does anyone actually believe someone will attempt to move one of these homes somewhere else if they purchase one?
It's preposterous to think the city would actually make that insinuation.
These are not Shangri-La palaces. Modular homes are lower-to-mid-range houses for people who don't have a fortune to spend. Phase VI is where the city planned all along to put this type of housing.
City officials have sought a second opinion, and based on that, may change their minds about these units as early as today.
That would be wise. As for mayor and city council, it's time to put your foot down, and stop letting the bureaucrats run the show.
Editorial Comment
Darrell Greer
Kivalliq News
Those of you who remember the original Gong Show TV series probably enjoyed the airing of the show's lost episode this past Thursday evening, MC'd by Liberal Prime Minister Paul Martin and co-starring the leaders of Canada's other three political parties.
However, those of you trying to rekindle your faith in Canada's current political climate were, no doubt, gravely disappointed.
Martin was the first Canadian prime minister to address the nation on live TV since Jean Chretien's call for national sovereignty in 1995.
The funny part about this particular address, was that Martin and the three leaders were speaking more to each other than the general public.
And, basically, here's what they had to say.
Martin begged Jack Layton (NDP), Steven Harper (Conservatives) and Gilles Duceppe (Bloc Quebecois) to leave his government in power until the release of the (Justice John) Gomery Commission's report on the sponsorship scandal.
In exchange for that, he promised to call a general election within 30 days of the commission's findings and recommendations being tabled.
That would take us to the polls in January or February of 2006.
Harper, basically, told the prime minister his party has had enough and, if they like the vibes they hear on the road this week, they're going to call for a June election.
Layton's message was not so fast, there Steven.
The NDP leader let the Liberals know if they meet them halfway on a few things - among them removing corporate tax cuts from the upcoming federal budget - they could still get the NDP's support in an election call.
Duceppe, on the other hand, simply told Martin that no federalist can be trusted and he wants to be the first premier of the sovereign state of Quebec (no surprise there).
Although the Bloc leader was kind enough to say he does respect Canadians and their institutions (did we miss something in the Canadian province of Quebec?).
So, what does it all mean?
Well, call it a gamble, but we say it means a federal election will be called during the next month.
Harper is a former founding member of the Reform Party and leader of the Alliance Party who embodies the western motif of kick 'em while they're down, and the Liberals can't sink any lower than they are right now.
The Conservative Party of Canada may never have a better opportunity to end the Liberal reign and Harper knows it.
For Duceppe, an early election is a chance to use a lifeless Liberal carcass to trumpet the cause of separatism while, at the same time, standing a very real chance of becoming the next leader of Canada's Opposition party.
Good thing he respects our institutions, eh?
What this means to the North is that we're all going to miss a day of fishing this year, and, not much is going to come our way while the Liberal Party is busy fighting for its political life in the rest of Canada.
But, for regular readers of Kivalliq News, don't say we didn't already warn you
Editorial Comment
Chris Hunsley
Inuvik Drum
"It's all about the kids. It's so great to hear them laugh and give them a place to go. It's wonderful."
Since the moment Inuvik's Family Centre opened, sentiments like these have been heard many times, from many different Inuvik residents.
The countless times elders have said they couldn't have wished more for the kids, have not gone unrecorded by these ears.
The community, council planners, local businesses and designers came together with special effort to build a facility that would seem more likely for a large urban centre or beach-side resort.
Beaufort-Delta residents for generations to come have been given way more than just the resources to be healthy and fit. They will have vivid memories of howling laughter and children's smiles to look back on and cherish.
For this, I say kudos to you all!
This project came about through more than just effort and vision, it required some pretty big personal sacrifices by some pretty special people.
The pool would have been built without their donations, but many of the bells and whistles might be missing now without them.
"For the extras we tried to find extra sources of funding," said Jerry Veltman, Senior Administrative Officer.
Veltman and his wife Antje gave $10,000 to help purchase two chairlifts for the disabled and an aquatic wheelchair.
Longtime resident and businessman Danny Smith lobbed a weighty cheque at the town to the tune of $100,000.
Those are major bucks yet he seemed overjoyed to have been able to sign over the donation.
"The Family Centre is a really positive aspect for the Town of Inuvik," said Smith, who has lived here for 25 years.
Town council puts its sweat and tears into all the programs around the community, be it garbage or paving the streets, he noted.
"They get a lot of negative feedback and it's not always right. Peter and the rest of the council do a great job," Smith said.
Speaking modestly, Smith added that he just wanted to reward them with a little "boost."
All the dollars in that little boost will no doubt go far.
Perhaps the most touching tribute came from the Billingsley family.
The open-spaced foyer with grand mural and flowing walls came courtesy of a $50,000 donation in memory of Doug and Vicky Billingsley, who moved to the community with their family in 1973. Both have now passed on and a plaque near the front entrance explains why the donation was made: "In appreciation to the people of Inuvik for many good times."
The spectacular Playland may not have materialized without the help of Michael Fabijan, whose $20,000 donation went a long way towards the $60,000 cost of the play area.
"A lot more people gave more money than me," he said.
This attitude of dowplaying their contributions to the centre seems to be common among the donors. None of them wanted to make a big deal about their donations or see themselves in the spotlight but how could we simply ignore this amazing thing they've done for their community?
There has to be a way we can express our gratitude.
As I drive by the Family Centre daily and see the parking lot packed with cars and kids with beach towels amidst the falling snow, I can only think, this is exactly the thanks these quiet philanthropists want in return for their generosity.
Editorial Comment
Derek Neary
Deh cho Drum
This isn't a fairy tale by the Brothers Grimm. Nor is it a crazed concoction from the mind of Stephen King.
It is my experience on the Liard Trail in the wee hours of April 17.
With Dakota House and friends coming to town on the weekend, it was a prime opportunity to make a last trip to Fort Liard prior to the road blocks going up at the Liard River crossing.
I was on my way by 8 a.m. on Saturday. The drive was a slow one as the roads were in crappy condition due to the repeated thaw and snowfalls. After close to four hours, I pulled into Fort Liard. The day was eventful and very much worthwhile. The youth empowerment workshop seemed to be inspirational to the teens and pre-teens who got involved.
With a feast and traditional dance performance for the public on the agenda for the evening, I was hoping to head for home by around 8 p.m. Time slipped by and it was actually after 10 p.m. by the time I hit the road. Staying the night was an option, but there was plenty of work to do back in Fort Simpson on Sunday, so I wouldn't entertain the idea of bunking down.
Shortly after reaching the peak of the Liard access road and turning left towards the Mackenzie Highway, the truck's headlights illuminated some tracks in the freshly fallen snow. Being the farthest thing from an authority on wildlife, I couldn't tell what type of animal it was, but it had come up over the snow bank on the right-hand side of the road and it apparently trotted along the highway for several kilometres. As I drove I wondered if I would eventually catch up to this beast. At some point, the tracks disappeared and I never gave it any more thought.
After two-and-a-half uneventful hours, I came to a slight bend in the road about three kilometres from the Mackenzie Highway junction, near Checkpoint. Right there in the middle of the road were three caribou. Then all three of them starting running right toward the truck! Their eyes reflected bright red in the headlights, just like someone in a picture with red eye from the flash.
Let me tell you, it was quite a scene.
Because the roads were in horrendous condition, I was only doing around 80 km/h when I spotted the maniacal hoofed ones. I hit the brakes and got down to about 50 km/h as the distance between us closed fast. I actually slumped down in my seat, bracing for impact. I knew it wasn't likely that they'd turn out to be Dancer, Donner and Vixen and miraculously fly off into the night sky.
Nearly just as incredible, the caribou on the right veered off to the right. The other two broke to the left. The one on the inside was so close to the truck that I don't know how he avoided getting hit.
So it turns out this is a tale of a near miss. But I can guarantee you it's one that I will never forget.