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Too much rubber stamping Yellowknifer - Wednesday, December 22, 2010
During final deliberations on the 2011 budget last week, Wind lamented council's apparent inability to influence the budget outcome. "I can't recall one item that we were successful in shepherding a reduction for," said Wind, who added they have done little better in past years. Mark Heyck, who's been a city councillor three years longer than Wind and can recall years when there wasn't a tax increase, took aim at Wind and two other dissenting councillors, Paul Falvo and Cory Vanthuyne, for not taking a stand earlier in the year on items such as the new Fieldhouse and Curling Club maintenance costs. Regardless, no matter how much some councillors argue that budgeting is a year-long process, it's hard to ignore that after three weeks of deliberations, council couldn't find one cent to cut, not from next year's budget nor from the raft of user fee hikes coming into effect Jan. 1. Coun. Bob Brooks somehow managed to define next year's tax increase as some sort of victory - that we should be happy it's only 3.99 per cent and not 4.2 after council voted in favour of a $50 increase to business licences and a nine per cent hike to tipping fees at the dump. All councillors applauded administration for presenting them with the aforementioned 3.99 tax increase and not the truly outrageous 7.2 per cent hike predicted during last year's budget deliberations, seemingly forgetting all together that 3.99 per cent is still the second highest property tax increase foisted upon ratepayers since 2005. Since then, taxes have gone up by a combined 24.57 per cent; spending at city hall has more than doubled to $61 million from $30 million 10 years ago, even though the city's population - at 19,700 - has been at a virtual standstill for the last seven years. Residents have, by and large, supported most of the building projects in recent years, including the Fieldhouse, the Multiplex, and Somba K'e Plaza, but it's becoming increasingly difficult to rationalize spending that's often two per cent higher than the inflation rate, and with municipal wage hikes that far outstrip those even in the territorial government. At some point city council must say no, if just to safeguard the investments already made. Was there nowhere council could find savings in next year's budget? Does the city need to spend $35,000 to replace three-year-old cameras in bylaw patrol cars, or hire four more employees? Is there really no other way to fund repairs to the historic Wildcat Cafe, which the city says will cost $500,000 to complete? If city councillors bristle at the suggestion that they're merely rubber stamping administration's yearly wish list, they ought to do more than rubber stamping budgets and fee increases. This perception isn't helped when administration goes ahead and announces hikes to garbage and tipping fees before council even has a chance to vote on them. Or, as Brooks did, make preposterous arguments that to do so was necessary so people had "as much notice as possible." There's a wide void to fill if council colleagues want to prove Wind wrong. Right now council appears as helpless as a babe alone in the woods when it comes to controlling costs and reducing expenses at city hall.
Total team effort needed to bring new complex to Rankin Darrell Greer Kivalliq News - Wednesday, December 22, 2010 First, valued readers, since this is the final edition of Kivalliq News for 2010, let me wish everyone a very merry Christmas, and peace and prosperity for the new year. It's hard to believe I'm now starting my 13th year as editor of this newspaper. It's been my pleasure to serve you since 1998 and, hopefully, there's a few more years remaining in the tank. I'll see you in 2011. On another note the excitement was rekindled in Rankin Inlet earlier this month, when members of the consultant group, FSC Architectures and Engineers, leading the feasibility study on an indoor sports and recreation facility, were in the community from Nov. 29 until Dec. 1. The study will look at a host of issues for the new facility, including the wants and needs of everyone in the community who would use it. Once completed, the study will also attempt to identify groups interested in partnering with the Nunavut government to develop the facility and a host of other issues, such as site selection, conceptual designs and of course costs, among others. Representatives from numerous sports and organizations had a chance to meet with the reps to discuss what the complex could house to help support and develop their particular interests. All in all the experience was very positive, but Rankin residents are reminded of that one key word in all of this - feasibility. There are few, if any, residents walking around who do not realize the community desperately needs this facility. And that could be truthfully said under current conditions, let alone taking into consideration the projected growth of the community during the next decade. But, as we in Nunavut know all too well, need does not always translate into acquisition. A number of things have to happen for the recreation complex to progress from study to reality, not the least of which are viable partnerships and the hamlet itself taking a lead role. We've identified the need as a community, and we must pull together as a community to make it happen. If we wait for others to go the extra mile in making this facility a reality, we'll be waiting a very, very long time. And that's where the hamlet must play an integral role in leading the quest. From continued lobbying, to co-ordinating, planning and providing as much capital and in-kind labour as it possibly can, mayor-elect Pujjuut Kusugak, hamlet council and staff members must be front and centre in continually trumpeting the need for, and benefits of, the facility, and identifying sources of revenue it can generate once constructed. We've seen this project progress from the dream of former administrations to the point where an actual feasibility study is being conducted. But we can't afford to rest on our laurels. The community must continue to pound away at the necessity of having such a facility, and be prepared to do anything and everything within its power to make it a reality. Just as applies to many of those who will eventually use it, only a real team effort will lead to success.
Poor foresight NWT News/North - Monday, December 20, 2010
The closure of the Arctic Tern Female Young Offenders Facility will mean 13 staff members and their families will have to decide to leave the community they call home or look for other work. If they do decide to relocate to Yellowknife their length of stay will be unknown as they wait for the government to build a new youth correctional facility in Fort Smith. Nine other positions will be eliminated all together. Although the government will endeavour to find new government jobs for those laid off, there are no guarantees. For Inuvik, the closure means a loss of income in the community, fewer people paying for goods, services and paying taxes and a smaller pool of potential volunteers. The Department of Justice has demonstrated poor foresight and planning when it comes to Arctic Tern. Since 2003, when the new Youth Criminal Justice Act came into effect, the facility has been underused. In fact, when the new act was passed, the 14 offenders housed at the facility were released. Considering the new act emphasizes community rehabilitation over jail time, it should have been obvious Arctic Tern was at the end of its short life. We could argue the territorial government should have been aware of the possible changes to the act and held off on construction of the $6.2 million facility, but as they say, hindsight is 20/20. At the time, a young offenders facility for girls was needed. Unfortunately, since then Arctic Tern - a 14-bed facility - has become a money pit, costing the territory's taxpayers upwards of $2 million each year to accommodate few inmates. This year the average has been fewer than one per day. We have to ask what has the government been doing for seven years? While departments have been struggling to find cost savings, including controversial proposals such as cutting respite care funding; encouraging the mergers of health, housing and education boards; and creating a user pay system for supplementary health benefits, the GNWT could have acted to save nearly $14 million over seven years. Better yet, that money could have been reinvested into services the territory actually needs. Mayor Denny Rodger's request for a rehabilitation facility -- the territory only has one such facility located on the Hay River Reserve -- is an excellent recommendation. Locating a rehab centre in the North would allow people in the Beaufort Delta and Sahtu regions to access addictions services closer to home. It would also open up jobs, maybe even a few positions that would allow some Arctic Tern employees to stay in the community. Even now that the Arctic Tern facility is set to be closed the GNWT has no definite plans. Bureaucrats could not say if a new building will be constructed in Fort Smith or if the existing women's jail will be renovated to accommodate both youths and adults. According to Colin Gordon, director of corrections for the department, there isn't a guarantee the new facility will be built as it has not been granted building approval from the GNWT. There are also no definite plans for how to use the soon-to-be vacant Arctic Tern facility. We wonder if our government's elected officials and bureaucrats would handle their personal affairs with similar disregard? Allowing millions to be wasted every year and not developing a solid plan to make use of a multi-million facility is a blatant waste of taxpayers' money. Moving young female inmates to the young offenders facility in Yellowknife -- built to house boys -- will mean more money spent on upgrades to separate the two. Our government must demonstrate better planning when spending our money or we fear what will happen once it gains access to resource dollars.
Senseless seal slap Nunavut News/North - Monday, December 20, 2010 The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is proposing to list as threatened two populations of bearded seals and four subspecies of ringed seal, including one found throughout Nunavut waters. The NOAA cited diminishing sea ice and reduced snow cover as a reason for the listing. But ringed seal populations are healthy and abundant, the territorial government stated in a press release, adding it disagrees with the logic of listing ringed seals as threatened without data showing the population is declining. The import of seal products into the U.S. is already prohibited by the Marine Mammal Protection Act, so the proposal, should it go forward, would not have direct implications on the sale of Nunavut seal products. But, as Environment Minister Dan Shewchuk pointed out, the proposal would provide ammunition for animal rights groups opposed to seal hunting of any kind, and might affect sales in other seal product markets. As Qikiqtani Inuit Association President Okalik Eegeesiak said, "It's just another indication that somebody far away who doesn't eat seal or depend on seal is making decisions that affect our lives once again." Such a proposal doesn't harm the U.S., while allowing them to pretend to be concerned for fluffy photogenic Arctic wildlife. (It's unlikely we will ever see an international campaign to save the sculpin.) Of course, if the U.S. were truly concerned for the fate of wildlife dependent on Arctic sea ice, it would take action to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions and help alleviate climate change. Instead its senseless idea to declare seals threatened and further harm a source of income for cash-strapped hunters only adds insult to the injuries of climate change Inuit face every day.
New faces take charge Nunavut News/North - Monday, December 20, 2010 Last week, new mayors were elected in Pond Inlet, Taloyoak and Gjoa Haven. Madeleine Redfern, former executive director of the Qikiqtani Truth Commission, takes over the Iqaluit mayor's office from Elisapee Sheutiapik, and there's a new president for Nunavut Tunngavik. All have big shoes to fill, and a lot of work on their plate. New NTI President Cathy Towtongie is tasked with restoring confidence in the office, especially where it concerns spending. She's off to a good start by taking a voluntary $20,000 pay cut and declining the use of a company car. We wish them all the best of luck in their new jobs in the new year, and remind them that being accountable will put them in good stead.
Time for a city work audit Weekend Yellowknifer - Friday, December 17, 2010
There are differing views on who can do it most efficiently and at the best price. Yellowknife is certainly no stranger to this argument, which came to a head during budget presentations to city council last week. Dennis Kefalas, the city's director of public works, was visibly upset after Warren McLeod, president of the Yellowknife Chamber of Commerce, requested an audit to help determine what services the private sector could provide in a more cost-effective manner. "You should ask the actual members of the Chamber of Commerce how many ... of their companies have actually decreased their costs over the years," Kefalas countered. In actuality, the private sector already provides many services to residents on behalf of the city, from road construction to garbage pick-up to water delivery in Old Town. The city ensures taxpayers get the best bang for our buck by putting contracts for these services out to tender. City council provides oversight by choosing the companies for these contracts - typically the lowest bidder. It's not a perfect system. For example, only one company bid for the city's paving program this year. An engineer's estimate put the project at $2,051,686; NWT Construction's bid came in at a slightly higher amount, $2,077,844. If we look at other public works, such as snow removal from streets, they are handled mainly by the city's public works department with its own fleet of vehicles valued at $13 million. City administration contends the city's 10 heavy equipment vehicles each save taxpayers $45,000 a year for doing the work instead of contracting it out. This may well be true, but it would hardly seem a bad idea for the city to take up McLeod's request for an audit. Maybe a company could do some of these other jobs cheaper, or perhaps not. Taxpayers would probably like to know. Ultimately, deciding who carries out the work should come down to who can do the job, cheaper, better and quicker.
Citizen patrols need help Weekend Yellowknifer - Friday, December 17, 2010 It's easy to laud others for volunteering their time driving home drunks or hanging around in the dark to keep an eye out for crime. It's not so easy to do these tasks themselves, which is largely why it's been so hard to keep afloat two volunteer-based community watch programs - Citizens on Patrol (COP) and Citizen Patrol Services (CPS). COP began in 2004 as a citizens' crime watchdog group; CPS started two years later as an idea to help people get somewhere safe when too intoxicated to do it themselves. Both groups helped take a load off the RCMP. CPS allowed police to concentrate on policing rather than babysitting drunks, and COP provided them with an extra set of eyes. Both have been out of commission since March after running out of funding and volunteers. There is hope for the revival of CPS now that Lydia Bardak of the John Howard Society has expressed an interest in running it through the society. Anything that helps substance abusers get off the street is helpful to the community-at-large. It's also worth noting a ride home is better than a night in jail where prisoners risk getting assaulted by cellmates. Lea Martin, senior co-chair of the Yellowknife Homelessness Coalition, says there is also interest in reviving COP by a yet to be disclosed party. A lack of interest is often accompanied by a lack of profile. Hopefully, now that governments and potential sponsors and volunteers know these groups need support, people will come forward to revive them.
Providing direction Editorial Comment Roxanna Thompson Deh Cho Drum - Thursday, December 16, 2010
These simple pleasures are a lot easier to enjoy now and less draining on bank accounts thanks to changes to the territory's electricity system. As of Dec. 1 residents in the Deh Cho have 300 more kilowatt hours per month from September to March subsidized to the Yellowknife rate of approximately 26 cents per kWh. This means households using a lot of electricity have more leeway in the months when more power is required. People in five Deh Cho communities will be spending less due thanks to Northwest Territories Power Corporation implementation of a single rate thermal zone. Residents in that zone will pay 49 cents per kWh for residential customers. Savings range from a decrease of 70.6 per cent in rates in Nahanni Butte to 33 per cent in Fort Simpson. These are substantial numbers. Credit for the changes, which are a great holiday present, can be given to the territorial government but should go to NWT residents first. For years residents in the communities with higher electricity rates have argued with, begged and cajoled authorities to find ways to drop electricity rates. The concept of one power zone for the whole territory, which the new system hearkens towards, was one publicized option. The call for the changes that have been implemented clearly came from the grass roots level and percolated upwards. While the battle for lower power rates has been won to some degree there is no time to rest on laurels. The next campaign will be centred on alternative energy sources. The price of diesel fuel, which thermal generated communities rely on, is unlikely to fall in the long term. The territory needs to prepare alternative ways to keep the lights on. Fort Simpson got a glimpse of what this future could look like over the summer while an in-stream hydro-kinetic turbine was being tested in the Mackenzie River. The pilot project revealed there are still hurdles to overcome with this technology but results could improve if the right location is found. The important thing, is for the territorial government to continue to receive the message that people want to see progress on this front. In the search for continued power rate reductions alternative energy sources need to be fully explored and adapted for Northern conditions.
Not much of a Christmas present Editorial Comment Aaron Beswick Inuvik Drum - Thursday, December 16, 2010
Six full-time positions will be moved to Yellowknife and then to Fort Smith, while another three will be eliminated. Seven relief positions will be moved, and five will end with the facility's closure along with a term manager position. That's 22 families directly affected in a small community. It's a lot to stomach. What else is a lot to stomach is that the facility was destined to close well before the building's lifespan from the day it opened. While the territorial government was constructing the Arctic Tern facility to house under-age women in trouble with the law for its 2002 opening, the federal government was preparing a new Youth Criminal Justice Act. The new act, with good reason, changed the way young offenders are dealt with by the state - preferring in-community punishment and programs over sending them to jail. This makes sense and since the act came into effect in 2003, occupancy at the Arctic Tern (designed to house 14 young offenders) has dropped to an average of less than one occupant over the past year. During the 2006/07 year, when it averaged five residents, the facility cost $2.5 million to operate. During the 2009/10 year, it cost $2 million for an average of three residents at any given time. According to the numbers, and what can be read between the lines of the press release announcing Arctic Tern's closure, the territory should have built a combined adult/young offender facility in 2002. That's what they're planning on doing now - aiming to have it open in Fort Smith by 2014. If only the territorial government had known that a year after opening a young offenders facility, Canada's laws would change the way young offenders are dealt with. Should it have known? Yes. It can be assumed the federal government was working on the new Youth Criminal Justice Act in the years leading up to the changes. It's a very expensive case of one hand not knowing what the other was doing. The consequence was a multi-million dollar blunder and an essentially new facility that will be closed as of March 31. Mayor Denny Rodgers makes a good point when he said the building is here, the money is spent, and a need remains in Inuvik for a drug and rehabilitation centre. This should be given some serious thought. A facility to serve Inuvik and its surrounding communities would fit the same train of thought that resulted in 2003's Youth Criminal Justice Act - people in trouble with the law or with their own addictions are better served near their circles of family and friends.
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