Features

When the Arctic Winter Games began in 1970 the intent was to create a forum where Northern athletes had an equal and greater opportunity to compete. Although competition is one of the primary goals of the games, participation has always been an underlying theme.

Every year the NWT has striven to find ways to increase community representation on NWT teams and in some years has come close to having athletes compete from each NWT community. In 2006 the NWT had 22 communities represented at the games in Alaska.

With that in mind, it is disturbing to hear the Yellowknife soccer community protesting selection methods outside of the capital. Yellowknife coaches are arguing that selecting players for regional teams outside regional boundaries does not jive with the Arctic Winter Games policies.

This year a Sports and Recreation Council arbitrator ruled that the Arctic Winter Games handbook does not give regions the ability to select players across regional boundaries.

Some may find it hard to believe considering the large number of soccer players in the territory but each games year small communities have struggled to find players for certain events because of the competition from other sports.

Regardless, MACA overturned the ruling and allowed the selection of players across regional boundaries.

Kate Cannell, from Yellowknife, who is chair for both indoor soccer territorial trials and Indoor Soccer 2008 Arctic Winter Games, issued a press release stating she "regrets and respects the decision of Minister McLeod."

When considering the amendment only involved three players it seems inconsequential in the grand scheme. One player from Fort Smith, in the South Slave region, was moved to the Mackenzie region, and two players, one from Paulatuk and one from Aklavik, were moved from the Beaufort Delta to the Sahtu region.

We understand Yellowknife's position. They are following the rules and expect the same from other regions.

But, when it comes to team sports Yellowknife has an advantage. Unlike other regions all Yellowknife's players live in the same community and have an opportunity to practice together regularly. Communities outside Yellowknife don't have that luxury.

Perhaps the entire selection process should be changed for future games. Instead of holding team trials for territorials the selection should be done in a skills camp format.

Similar to the selections for Western Canada Games players would be assessed by an independent evaluator and the eight person team decided based on those recommendations. The down side is the selected team would have very limited opportunity to train together. On the bright side regions couldn't be accused of 'stacking' their teams.

Maybe we should take a moment to reflect on the intent of the games and be more concerned about representing not only your sport but the territory. Infighting and rules that could prevent athletes who have dreamed about attending the games from doing so seem a bit too elitist for what the Arctic Winter Games are intended to be.

Finance and Economic Development Minister David Simailak says he's done nothing wrong.

He holds an interest in three companies that were each approved for $1 million loans through the beleaguered Nunavut Business Credit Corporation (NBCC).

Two of those loans were approved while he was minister of Finance, the other while he held the Economic Development post in July.

Following auditor general Sheila Fraser's highly critical report on poor management practices and record keeping at the NBCC -- and the public release of all companies approved for financial aid through the lending institution -- Simailak appeared before the Government of Nunavut's Standing Committee on Government Operations and Accountability.

He disclosed that he was affiliated with three ventures to be approved for hefty loans, but he maintains that there was no conflict of interest because he had no knowledge of the loans until the information was publicly distributed on Nov. 26.

Simailak asserts that he is in the clear because he disclosed his business interests to the government upon being elected in 2004, but it turns out one, Kangiqliniq Developments Ltd., was overlooked.

He also argues in his defence that his businesses were operated through a blind trust.

After the loans came to light, the minister said he sought advice from Nunavut's integrity commissioner on how to avoid the appearance of a conflict of interest.

The problem is that it was too late.

The impression of a conflict of interest cannot be avoided. On the latter occasion, the elected official with the ultimate authority over a public lending institution was connected to a business that was granted one of the largest loans available through that lending institution.

Even if legitimate, it just looks bad.

In addition to the terrible perception in regards to the loans, the minister is the one who oversaw the NBCC over most of the past three years while it was mired in mismanagement. He cannot excuse himself of this.

Being the minister of Finance and Economic Development, Simailak obviously understands numbers.

Then it shouldn't be difficult for him to grasp the growing opposition to the Economic Development portfolio remaining in his hands.

Last week's Nunavut News/North web poll had 31 people calling for Simailak's resignation while five threw their support behind him.

He ought to do the noble thing and resign. Should he fail to do that, his MLA colleagues should call for his removal.

The Canadian Rangers embody some of the best qualities of the North including self-sufficiency, on-the-land knowledge, practical problem solving skills and a willingness to help others.

Members of the Trout Lake patrol displayed these qualities while out on a recent field training exercise. Ten members of the patrol camped on the land for five days during the exercise.

Self-sufficiency was easily displayed on the traditional skills day when the female members of the patrol snared five rabbits and the male members returned with a number of chickens and a ptarmigan to supplement their diet.

Practical problem-solving skills were also in demand during the exercise when five of the group's 11 snowmobiles suffered malfunctions.

Repairs that could be made easily while on the land were accomplished and the patrol cut their exercise short a day and returned to the community. The next day some Rangers made the trip back out to recover the broken machines and toboggans.

Canadian Rangers were formerly established as a group in 1947. They are responsible for protecting Canadian sovereignty by reporting unusual activities or sightings, collecting data of significance to the Canadian Forces and conducting surveillance and sovereignty patrols as required.

Members of the Canadian Rangers are a particularly valuable part of Canada's defenses for reasons that most Rangers take for granted.

Simply by growing up in areas that are considered remote to most Canadians, Northerners possess knowledge of their local surroundings that are valuable to the Canadian Forces. This local expertise is put to use giving guidance and advice to the Canadian Forces and providing assistance to search and rescue activities.

In addition to helping the Canadian Forces, Rangers often help younger members of their communities.

The Junior Canadian Ranger program is under the supervision of the Canadian Rangers. The program is designed to give youth the opportunity to participate in a variety of fun activities in a structured setting.

Last month in Fort Providence, Rangers led a group of Junior Rangers from the community and Taloyoak on a bison hunt. The trip gave the youth a chance to learn about each other and about the skill of hunting and skinning a bison.

People join Canadian Ranger patrols for a number of reasons. They might be looking for something fun to do to get them closer to the land or they might see Rangers as one of the few activities available in their communities. People also join so they can use their daily lifestyle to be part of something bigger.

No matter what reason draws a person to the Rangers, their contributions are an important part of keeping our country strong and free.

With another holiday season upon us, we're faced with many emotions.

Being together as a family makes for a lighter mood and everyone can be happy.

However, there are families who might need assistance over the coldest months of the year. Over the last few years, Inuvik has had a strong resource for hungry families: the food bank. Since the program started a few years ago, there have been countless volunteers who have made the food bank a success.

Every year, the Christmas season takes a heavy toll on the workers and clients of the food bank.

This is a chance for the rest of our community to step up and help someone who needs it.

Helping someone else could be the key to Christmas spirit. Like all those old movies that inspired hope in humanity, this could be the shining light we need to bring into 2008.

As a community, we've managed to make something great from what we have in the North.

Our community programs are strong, we have a solid recreation program in place. If we continue to help the food bank the way it needs, we're one step closer to a fully functioning healthy town.

A group of dedicated people have been holding up the food bank for far too long. If we assist them by taking a few shifts, I'm sure they would appreciate it.

In the beginning, the food bank's the hours resembled that of a regular store. Five days a week, with four hours per day to use their services. The only problem was that clients are only allowed to use the food bank once every two weeks.

It left staff members with too many hours and not enough to do.

The Inuvik Works program helped to alleviate the manpower shortage, when it gave the food bank a worker for no cost.

Now the bank is on volunteer hours and is only open one night a week, for two hours.

While I agree that it seems to be more efficient, it may prove difficult for someone who wants to use the food bank's services.

The food bank's annual general meeting was last week, and the program has a few new board members and a new challenge: to grow.

With a new chairperson on the board and some dedicated members of the community, the bank should be back and better than ever.

So before you start planning your Christmas dinner, remember those who might not be able to provide such a feast for their family.

Sharing is the biggest part of the holiday, so be sure to extend your arms out really wide for a few more at the table this year.

The odious stench left behind by the dealings of the Nunavut Business Credit Corp. thickened this past week when Finance Minister David Simailak appeared before the standing committee on government operations and accountability in Iqaluit.

Until proven otherwise, we must take the minister at his word that he knew absolutely nothing about three companies he has an interest in applying for loans to the Credit Corp.

That being said, anyone who has spent any amount of time in the North would have a hard time disagreeing with Cambridge Bay MLA Keith Peterson's contention that it's almost impossible for anyone living here not to know something of this magnitude is taking place, especially when we're talking about millions of dollars.

Two companies Simailak has an interest in, Ilagiiktut Ltd. and Kangiqliniq Development (owned by Ilagiiktut), each received $1 million loans from the Nunavut Business Credit Corp.

A third business the minister has an interest in, the Qamaniqtuuaq Development Corp. in his home community of Baker Lake, was also approved for a $1-million loan by the Credit Corp.

All of this begs the question who, in the Nunavut government, really knows what's going on in their department?

Are we to believe auditor general Sheila Fraser is the only one to have actually examined the books of the Nunavut Business Credit Corp. since it was formed?

Has Simailak himself, during the two times he's been the minister responsible for the Crown corporation, never taken the time to look at its financial documentation and realize this isn't going to look so good when it comes to light?

Former Arviat MLA Kevin O'Brien's lease arrangements with the Nunavut government look almost beneficial when compared to some of what, apparently, was going on with the Credit Corp.

Maybe it's time to give Housing Corp. president Peter Scott a little more responsibility in the capital.

If there's one reason to believe no one in the Nunavut government had any idea about the mess at the Nunavut Business Credit Corp., it's that far too many things are slipping through the cracks with this government.

Accountability has become a bad joke in too many areas of this government and it's time for Nunavummiut to stop putting up with the same old tired punch line.

Ignorance is not an excuse in Nunavut. It's become a standard defence for too many people earning high salaries who are paid for being on top of important issues, not blissfully unaware of them.

A handful of people are more than a little nervous about the RCMP going through the sad state of affairs at the Credit Corp., hoping nothing criminal, whether intentional or not, is uncovered.

But what's truly criminal is that a Crown corporation could ever be allowed to reach this point and mishandle millions of dollars in a territory where people do without so much.

However, those same people have the ability to dole out appropriate justice to those who have not been doing the job they're being paid for.

Their judgment will be handed down on the next election day in Nunavut.