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Just plain spiteful Yellowknifer - Wednesday, November 17, 2010
This is essentially the sort of dysfunctional relationship that developer Mike Mrdjenovich and his company Nova Builders have shared with the City of Yellowknife for years, and it's not getting better. City council does not, of course, have the option to give Mrdjenovich a pink slip but they certainly can, and should, force his hand since he's dragging his feet on turning the rotting Bayview Estates condo site into anything other than an eyesore. The Edmonton-based developer bought the failed 7.6-acre condo lot for $5.6 million late last year after Bond Street Properties, also of Edmonton, lost it to foreclosure. Mrdjenovich told Yellowknifer in June he planned to transform the skeletal wooden frames and cement foundations just off Niven Drive into 30 condos, with work getting underway during the summer. Yet nothing of substance has changed at the Bayview site. He blames it on another long-running dispute with the city. Mrdjenovich remains in a fierce battle with city hall over an illegal fence standing almost two metres high that surrounds his School Draw Avenue lot, a place where his company deposited piles of unsightly construction debris. He's so fixated on this test of wills with the city that he is refusing to budge on the Bayview property. "Those guys (council) took a pipe belt to me," Mrdjenovich said last week, insisting that council must "smarten up" and then proceeded to call them a bunch of unsavoury characters in rather off-colour language, as he is wont to do. All this comes after city council backed away from a court case in hopes of resolving the fence squabble amicably. Mrdjenovich seems determined not to let that happen. This businessman has run out of chances. City council must follow through with penalties, either through a derelict buildings bylaw or a court judgement. To permit the Bayview site to remain a safety liability and a blight on the city's landscape is irresponsible. Mrdjenovich, despite his feisty and defiant nature, has done the city some good over the years by providing needed apartments and office space. He has also done himself some good, or he wouldn't keep coming back. However, if he has reached the point where he refuses to keep building while continuing to flout bylaws and throw tantrums, then the city should make it clear his intimidation tactics will not be tolerated.
Good news ventures come with some strings attached Darrell Greer Kivalliq News - Wednesday, November 17, 2010 It was nice to finally get some good news the past few weeks, even if some of it came with strings attached. A number of students have been rejuvenated with the strengthening of the drama club in Arviat this year. Not all youth are into sports, and extracurricular activities such as drama-and-music clubs give them a place to develop their talents and feel a part of something special. And the importance of belonging cannot be overstated in the Kivalliq, or across Nunavut for that matter. News out of Arviat concerning the development of an ecotourism industry for the community is also a step in the right direction. We can only hope the region's ability to attract tourists through booking outfits isn't too badly damaged by the actions taken against an outfitter this year. But, to be honest, the concerns posted worldwide, thanks to the modern technology of the Internet, could do significant damage to our future tourism prospects if the Nunavut government doesn't respond soon. We can also only hope when the government does pull its head out of the snow, it will respond in a way that shows tangible evidence of caring about those who would like to visit our region, not continued idyllic ramblings about the future effectiveness of its policy making. There is a solid professional-development team behind the Arviat initiative, quite skilled in marketing. The group will need all its skill to combat the growing voice of caution and dissatisfaction, if something isn't done to diffuse the situation soon. Few industries are more vulnerable to the power of word of mouth than tourism. Meanwhile in Rankin Inlet, organizations are gearing up for the trade show in that community this coming week. The timing for such an event couldn't be better, and word has it the organizers are doing a great job in planning the show. The response has been almost overwhelming, as every hotel room and spare bed in the community has been booked for the event. The Kivalliq region seems to be finally pulling together in a way that promises to benefit the most people, as the promise of more mining activity becomes brighter on the horizon. There have also been worries expressed on that front, as it's still not entirely clear what direction the Kivalliq Inuit Association (KIA) is leaning in its plans to revisit the Meadowbank Inuit Impact Benefits Agreement. Any change to the contracting provisions in that pact would, no doubt, set precedent for future agreements. There are more than a few business personalities in the region who are worried over what the KIA will ultimately decide constitutes true Inuit control or benefit in constructing criteria for either Inuit-controlled firms, or firms providing significant benefits to Inuit. Others may yet even question the KIA's ability to objectively make such decisions, especially in view of the fact its investment arm, Sakku, is a passive participant in a number of joint ventures. Hopefully, the strings attached to some of the Kivalliq ventures taking place won't tangle up the whole ball of yarn.
Bad faith bargaining NWT News/North - Monday, November 15, 2010
Ottawa's decision to remove subsurface protection from 14,000 square kilometres of land known as Edehzhie in the Deh Cho region is further evidence the federal government will only support the wishes of aboriginal groups as long as they do not conflict with its own. Indian and Northern Affairs Canada told News/North it decided not to renew the subsurface protection in the region because it deemed it appropriate to allow for a greater balance between conservation and development in the Deh Cho region. Really? The Dehcho First Nations, who are in the process of negotiating a land claims agreement, believe otherwise. The Deh Cho have put an emphasis on environmental protection on their land and the interim land withdrawl agreement the First Nations signed with the territorial and federal governments was designed to protect those interests until a final land claim can be penned. Ottawa may be correct in its assertion that too much land is being protected and barred from mineral development. However, the decision to open environmentally, culturally and spiritually sensitive land to development should not be unilaterally in the hands of the federal government. The move jeopardizes more than a decade of work that was about to culminate in designating Edehzhie a national wildlife area and makes a laughing stock of the NWT Protected Area Strategy. According to the strategy's website, its mandate "outlines a community-based process to establish a network of protected areas across the NWT. It recognizes the need to balance conservation and economic development, while respecting aboriginal rights, third party interests, and land use planning processes." It seems contradictory to emphasize a process as community-based if the federal government can undermine 10 years worth of work with one ill-advised, unilateral decision. Removing sub-surface protection without consulting the Deh cho obviously shows no respect for aboriginal rights nor land use planning processes. It appears now the NWT Protected Area Strategy did no more than give the federal government an opportunity to discover mineral wealth in the region and create a loop-hole in any future protection efforts to exploit it. In an e-mail to News/North, INAC stated resource development "is not necessarily inconsistent with protecting the conservation values in Edehzhie." Not only is that statement insulting, it demonstrates yet again the federal government's failure to bargain in good faith and displays complete disrespect toward the rightful land owners.
Destructive negotiations Nunavut News/North - Monday, November 15, 2010 What's 1.25 + 1.5 + 1.5? That's the percentage increase Nunavut's teachers received in the past three years through their last collective agreement with the territorial government. What's 0 + 0 + 0 + 0? That's what the Government of Nunavut is reportedly offering Nunavut's 740 teachers in terms of a salary change for a four-year period. It's also an equation that does not make sense. How can the territory recruit and retain teachers to improve a notorious 25 per cent graduation rate and strengthen Inuktitut and Inuinnaqtun in schools if it won't improve its financial incentives? In its quest to save money, the Department of Education is also looking to axe a benefit paid to teachers that speak a second language - primarily an Inuit language - an amount that can total $1,200 to $5,000 annually per individual - or close to $880,000 per year overall. That cut would hinder the GN's goal to expand Inuit languages to high school by 2019. There has been pressure on the territorial government to bump that date back, but former education minister Ed Picco kept insisting that there are not nearly enough qualified Inuktitut and Inuinnaqtun educators. So how is this offer to freeze salaries and reduce benefits going to help? Clearly, it's not. Teachers in Nunavut who have earned a university degree make $61,565 to start. That jumps to a maximum of $96,533 after 11 years. That's not peanuts, but it trails the NWT, where their counterparts make $75,500 to 111,000, respectively. Yet the cost of living in Nunavut is higher. Education Minister Hunter Tootoo has been uncharacteristically silent on the wage freeze. Daniel Shewchuk, the minister responsible for human resources, is the lead minister on contract negotiations with the teachers. Tootoo, as a regular MLA, was well known for directing stinging questions at Picco while Picco was education minister. Now that he has assumed that same portfolio, Tootoo must be trying to keep his head low, hoping that none of the other MLAs confront him over repeating well-worn phrases about striving to improve education while Shewchuk acts as the henchman against the teachers. Both of them surely know that no education system can thrive when they are taking actions to demoralize or drive away the very people who deliver the critical lessons. If this is the government's idea of hard bargaining, they would do well to begin from a more reasonable position.
Remembrance Day Weekend Yellowknifer - Friday, November 12, 2010
Harman wrote a poem read aloud in front of his school titled War, which reflects on the horrors of battle and the sacrifices made by our troops.
The cadets, as usual on Remembrance Day, held a 12-hour vigil at the cenotaph on Veterans Memorial Boulevard and took part in yesterday's Remembrance Day parade. And for an added touch, a group of four cadets visited Lakeview Cemetery Wednesday night and lit candles for the 64 veterans buried there.
War is not something our youth would be expected to know much about. Sure, everyone is aware of the war in Afghanistan; some young people might even know that 152 Canadian soldiers have died there since 2002.
But we would have to go all the way back to the time of their great-grandparents during the Second World War to know a time when war affected everybody.
And for these young people to want to honour Remembrance Day shows us they understand it's not about paying tribute to war and glory, it's about the sacrifices made by people who came before them, and that is what made our country great.
While for tourists bison make great photo opportunities, most residents have a very different view.
It doesn't take long to become acquainted with the down sides of living with bison. They include giant bison patties, hoof printed lawns, dead trees, mangled fences and vehicles that have been damaged by bison using them as licking blocks. Flower and vegetable gardens also aren't safe when bison enter communities.
All of those issues, however, are relatively minor compared to what some residents fear may happen. Concerns are often raised about the possibility of a bison injuring or killing a human, maybe a child.
This summer Dianne Nelson of Fort Liard watched in shock as her pet of four years was killed in front of her by a young bison. At 100 pounds her dog was larger than most children.
Complaints about bison, many of which originate from Fort Liard, have elicited a number of responses from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.
Now in Fort Liard the department wants to try a new tact, teaching the bison to stay out by allowing residents to hunt an increased number of the animals in close proximity to the community.
This plan has some obvious benefits.
The plan allows the community to have an active role in solving what has long been a problem. If changes are made to wildlife legislation community members will be able to harvest up to six bison a year.
From the department's perspective if it works it will make their jobs easier. If the bison learn to avoid Fort Liard renewable resource officers won't have to spend time chasing bison out of the hamlet and will be able to avoid the task of culling problem animals.
The plan, however, will take long term commitment from both sides. Only one tag has been used in the hamlet in approximately the last seven years. Fort Liard residents will have to embrace the idea of harvesting and eating bison while the department will have to find ways to make the process of accessing and using the tags as easy as possible.
Of all the many bison management plans this one seems to have the best chance of making a noticeable difference. All it will take is co-operation from the community and the department and some healthy fear on the part of the bison.
It's grown significantly from just a few members to about 40. They meet regularly to, among other things, discuss business related matters in town. In fact on Tuesday they had a regular chamber meeting where the president of NWT Chamber of Commerce, Ann Marie Tout, was in attendance.
The philosophy behind the group is admirable. Their mandate is to represent the interests of Inuvik businesspeople on both a local and territorial scale. So it's nice people are still taking an interest. The group's vice-president, Lee Smallwood, showed up at Monday's town council meeting with a proposal for the group to take over administering business licences from the town.
He argued the group could offer the service more effectively than the town. The chamber will provide the staff and in return they'll get the $20,000 to $30,000 in revenue the town usually gets by selling licences. It was just unfortunate Smallwood had to present and justify the proposal by himself. He made a good argument that the group needs the money to get itself going. Only one of the group's members, David Kaufman, showed up in support. It would have been a great opportunity for membership to offer some specific goals the group would like to achieve.
Just after September's blackout several members showed up to a meeting complaining about NWT Power Corp. Chamber president Larry Peckford decided to write a letter to NTPC demanding answers. So a few weeks later, when it came time for a public meeting with power corp. officials, just a few members bothered showing up. Considering how much everyone loves to complain about NTPC, it was surprising to see only a handful of people there.
There's nothing wrong with people getting together to discuss local business. The question is this: Is the group serious about getting down to work or will it be another failed attempt to fulfill an idea of a truly collective business community that's serious about making things happen? We will see.
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