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Bridge isn't golden just yet Weekend Yellowknifer - Friday, December 3, 2010
Earlier this week Handley gushed that the nine-day period the Merv Hardie was out of action due to low water levels was "exactly" the kind of thing the former premier's government anticipated when he approved the project in 2007. Too bad then he didn't anticipate it would be $35 million over budget (so far) and the company he hand-picked to build it would pack its bags and go home to New Brunswick, leaving a half-finished bridge in the hands of the GNWT and taxpayers on the hook. And we must not forget how Handley's government snuck in the concession agreement with the Deh Cho Bridge Corporation - whose principal employees are now suing the territorial government for $1.3 million in back pay - with only three days left in his term. Or that he comfortably parachuted into a job with ATCON Construction, the failed former bridge contractor, a year after leaving territorial politics. Handley says it will take 35 years for the bridge to pay for itself through tolls paid by commercial traffic. But it remains uncertain whether transport companies won't just build their own ice roads across the Mackenzie River and bypassing the tolls and the bridge. That would hurt Handley's proposed timetable for repayment. Even with the continued use of an ice bridge, consumers will still pay more when transport companies pay the tolls during the summer and pass the cost on to us. On top of that, hundreds of federal employees face a reduction in northern living allowances, making it even more difficult for the government to attract workers to come live here. It's unfortunate some people acted so irrationally, loading up jerry cans and hoarding gas after just a few days without ferry service, but a few days' panic is hardly a reason to gloat. Very little has been shown so far to prove Handley's bridge project isn't just a costly boondoggle.
Hefty price tag on Wildcat Cafe renos Weekend Yellowknifer - Friday, December 3, 2010 Scheduled renovations on the Wildcat Cafe next summer are necessary to preserve an important piece of Yellowknife's past. However, city council needs to ask administration why the cost was allowed to balloon to the hefty price tag of $500,000. The work is to repair the cafe's foundation and restructure the building - built in 1937 - at the estimated cost of $115,000 and $385,000, respectively, according to the 2011 draft budget documents. An engineering report in 2008 estimated the repairs at $140,000, but the city wouldn't move forward with the project because local contractors wouldn't complete the work for fear of damaging the structure. It's important to have the right companies working on such a delicate job, so the city did the right thing by waiting for the qualified contractors to complete work on the log structure, which includes log replacement. It is a shame, however, the repairs weren't less expensive. The beautification work scheduled for Old Airport Road in 2011 has a price tag of approximately $900,000 - a much bigger project by scale than the Wildcat Cafe. In some instances, when renovation work starts, the price tag climbs due to surprises and unforeseen issues with such an old structure. When all is said and done, the cost of the renovations could exceed the estimated $500,000 price tag. Hopefully, the city will guard against that happening. Ratepayers will be watching.
On side with business Editorial Comment Roxanna Thompson Deh Cho Drum - Thursday, December 2, 2010
The lists cover everything from paying employees to finding new customers to tracking invoices. The smaller the business, the more weight that rests on the owner, who is often the only employee.
The Fort Simpson Chamber of Commerce wants to add one more thing to business people's lists -- support the chamber. The organization is trying to gather enough support to stage a revival. The comeback won't be easy. The chamber has been in decline for approximately two years. Despite the fact the village has issued more 100 business licences, membership numbers in the chamber have steadily declined to the point where there are no current members and a membership drive wasn't held this year. The organization also had a low public profile this year, existing almost solely in name only. Many things the chamber has committed to doing, such as creating a website, haven't happened as a result. With all of this in mind any business owner would be right to question why they should give some of their over-stretched time and energy to the chamber. The answer is: if enough people committed to being active chamber members the organization could actually be effective. The cold truth is small businesses, a category that most businesses in the Deh Cho fall under, need all the help they can get. There are a lot of things stacked against them including a limited customer base, uncertain economic times and extra costs inherent in doing business in the North. A strong chamber of commerce can act as an advocate on issues and projects that could positively or negatively affect local businesses. The organization is part spokesperson, part cheerleading squad and part backroom fixer. And the Deh Cho region has a lot of things that could use fixing. Kirby Groat, the chamber's past-president, has continued to lobby for improvements to Highway 7, the completion of chipsealing on Highway 1 leading to Checkpoint and the construction of the Mackenzie Valley Highway. The advancement of Prairie Creek Mine is also high on the list. Making the Fort Simpson Chamber of Commerce work will take a dedicated employee who can work on the chamber's goals and relieve pressure from volunteers as well as sound support from the business community. The end results probably won't be dramatic. Fort Simpson and the region are unlikely to become the economic flagships of the territory but if the chamber can improve conditions for small, local businesses the work it will take to re-establish the organization will repay itself.
Following the curling club's lead Editorial Comment Andrew Rankin Inuvik Drum - Thursday, December 2, 2010
In just a few short months it has gone from near financial ruin and certain collapse to what appears to be a vibrant organization on the rise. Over the summer, club president Nick Saturnino was able to negotiate a fair lease agreement with the town for the use of the club. The lounge has moved from upstairs to downstairs just outside the curling rink. It's actually quite a cozy little setup. Several new leagues have emerged this year. The Friday fun night is a hit, attracting players of all levels and ages, all just to have a good time. The junior league has grown from two to five teams in the last year. If you haven't noticed, this is a good news story showing what a few committed people can do if they believe in a cause. Next year, Inuvik will host the territorial championships and the building appears to be ready and so do a contingent of emerging players. Competing in that tournament will undoubtedly be Team McKay-Saturnino, which is featured in today's Inuvik Drum after winning another curling bonspiel in Edmonton. Curling is slowly catching on among the youth in town, but for the past four years the core of this team has stuck together playing in all sorts of competitions and holding their own. Their success has been well-documented in the pages of the Inuvik Drum over the years, including a junior title in Whitehorse last year that qualified them for the 2010 Optimist International Under-18 Curling Championships. Through it all they continue to work hard and have a lot of fun. They've raised money to fund their trips for competition. Of course they get a lot of support from their parents. A lot of credit is due to their coach, Nick Saturnino, who donates a lot of his time whether it's on the ice or chaperoning for competitions. He's also largely responsible for transforming the curling club. But his efforts and the efforts of others such as Conrad Baetz, who has taken over as president of minor hockey this year and most recently ensured the kids could attend another top-notch hockey school for a discounted price last month, are constant reminders of the good one person can do for youth and other residents in the community. Yes they have help but it starts with them. Currently the future of the youth centre is uncertain. Nobody knows when the new building will be completed and open. The board appears to be in disorder. Perhaps it's time more residents follow Saturnino and Baetz's lead and put themselves out there as youth advocates. Certainly there are many kids around here who could use their help.
Share the risk, share the wealth Yellowknifer - Wednesday, December 1, 2010
On that very subject, Coun. David Wind injected a tower of logic as imposing as Robertson's Headframe during the Nov. 22 council meeting. While discussing the financing of the estimated $60.4 million energy initiative, Wind convincingly argued that if the deal makes economic sense it should readily attract a private sector partner. The idea is really quite simple: if no business venture that is fully reliant on spending money to make even more money can see the merit in using hot water from under Con Mine to heat 39 buildings, then why would the city push forward with the idea? As basic as it sounds, it's an important piece of the puzzle and one that should not be overlooked. Without confirmation that private enterprise is ready to get in the game, the city would be signalling its willingness to borrow the tens of millions of dollars needed beyond what federal grants will cover. Even though revenues are the city's projected source of repaying the geothermal loan, in a worst-case scenario, it would be tax dollars that bail out a project gone bad. Nobody wants to dwell on the worst case, especially when we could be preventing close to 18,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions each year, but it's a necessary exercise. A private partner does not guarantee that things won't fall apart, but it adds some assurance, particularly if the financial deal is signed with an experienced company with a proven track record and solid resources.
Sports field needs fundraising elbow grease Yellowknifer - Wednesday, December 1, 2010 Ryan Fequet seems prepared to forgive those who may be upset with him for suggesting the months-old Fieldhouse that cost $16.5 million to build is not enough. The NWT Soccer Association president told Yellowknifer last week the Fieldhouse, with its two indoor soccer pitches, isn't adequate to fill the demand for recreational field space. His group, along with several other sporting groups in the city, have drafted a letter to the city to look into the feasibility of building a regulation-sized, all-season artificial sports field. Similar fields cost about $775,000 to build and maintain for 10 years. Fequet acknowledged that some people will likely be upset by his pronouncement considering that the Fieldhouse - long touted as a priority fix for sports needs - opened to the public less than three months ago. It seems awfully soon to be asking the city for cash after being handed a state-of -the-art facility to play in. Ironically enough though, it's the Fieldhouse, he says that's leading to higher registration numbers for his group and hence, the need for additional field space. Field sports enthusiasts ought to tear a page out of the fundraising playbook from past efforts by groups like Facilities for Kids and the Yellowknife Gymnastics Club if they want to get both city council and the public on side. Both groups raised more than a $1 million each toward the Multiplex. Their success made it clear that there was wide support for this facility. Taxpayers will be much more willing to support a new field if it's clear from money raised that a large number of people are behind it.
Baker snubs Kivalliq banner Darrell Greer Kivalliq News - Wednesday, December 1, 2010 I'll be first to admit, sometimes I can come across a tad, shall we say, pessimistic. But, then again, when one looks at how many times we've been disappointed by the behaviour of - and decisions made by - a number of those supposedly leading the way in Nunavut, a bit of pessimism is not necessarily a bad thing. In fact, many Nunavummiut have turned the corner and no longer accept what they're told, or promised, simply at face value. And our most recent round of elections showed, in most cases, the majority of Nunavummiut are no longer leery of bringing about change. Both are big steps in the right direction for making Nunavut a stronger and healthier territory. Now, if the day would arrive when more (read: many more) Nunavummiut would break the shackles of silence and not be so hesitant to speak their minds publicly, we'd really be onto something. But, I digress. There were more than a few people who doubted the Kivalliq Trade Show would benefit anyone other than Rankin's hotel industry before it began. But credit earned is credit given, and the trade show proved itself to be a resounding success. The event was well-organized, well-attended and productive. And, we must give further kudos to those responsible for including the youth element in the event. Overshadowed by the main event they may have been, but the youth who took part gained a wealth of experience and, if knowledge truly is power, they're a more formidable group today than they were two weeks ago. With all the positives the show produced, it was still hard to miss the one glaring absentee from the event. Given its regional spirit, and the level of mining activity in Baker Lake, it was astounding the community did not have municipal representation at the show. In fairness to the community, both the mining industry and Baker's private sector were well-represented. However, with so much opportunity present and communities given the chance to network with territorial and regional power-brokers one would think the hamlet at the hub of Kivalliq mining activity would be front and centre. Surely complacency hasn't set in at such an early stage of regional development. It's long been known in the region - and generally frowned upon - that Baker choose to go in the direction of having an economic development officer who resides in the south, rather than living in the community. And, there can be no doubt the absence of municipal representation at the Kivalliq Trade Show is going to have some people questioning the wisdom of that decision, not the least of which should be the residents of Baker Lake. This was an event that bore the Kivalliq banner high and proud. It was for the Kivalliq and about the Kivalliq, and every hamlet should have done its part to project an image of regional uniformity and solidarity. Not many opportunities of this magnitude present themselves in the Kivalliq. And, for the community of Baker Lake, this was an opportunity missed.
Beyond its scope NWT News/North - Monday, November 29, 2010
The governments of the Northwest Territories and Canada took a lot of criticism for rejecting 27 of the panel's recommendations. However, a review of the rejected recommendations clearly indicates the governments were justified in their responses and the JRP travelled well beyond the scope of the Mackenzie Valley Pipeline project. Many of the recommendations the GNWT turned down had the potential to nullify any bargaining power the government has in its dealing with aboriginal governments for future land claims and land use agreements. For those agreements to be fair the GNWT and First Nations must come to the table on relatively equal ground. During these negotiations the Mackenzie Valley Pipeline already provides many First Nations groups suitable leverage. To accept designated timeframes to negotiate agreements and agree to have them in place before pipeline construction commences would be irresponsible on the part of the GNWT. The JRP also demonstrated brash audacity when it made recommendations in relation to the GNWT's ongoing devolution negotiations and health care funding. Deciding how the GNWT will distribute devolution money and its health care priorities is the job of our elected officials and should be guided by the people of the Northwest Territories, not seven overpaid bureaucrats who spent years soaking up the rich honoraria paid to them. Other recommendations relating to future developments, legislation in Alberta and one directing the Canadian government to guide the actions of an agency it has no control over were obviously beyond the JRP's scope. It's time to move the pipeline project forward and determine once and for all its long-awaited fate. The National Energy Board must do a better and more efficient job than the Joint Review Panel did.
Open season on women NWT News/North - Monday, November 29, 2010 We are flabbergasted by two recent court rulings involving violence against women. The first is the case of a man who pleaded guilty to raping two of his sisters beginning when one was nine years old. The abuse lasted for years, violated their childhood and left them unstable and suffering even as adults. Unfathomably, the Crown requested a four-year prison sentence for the crimes. Justice John Vertes was correct when he increased the jail time to nine years and said anything less would cast the justice system into "disrepute." Although nine years seems far too little time to suit the heinous acts this man committed on family members it is far better than the Crown's absurd request. The second case is the sentencing of Terry James Vital to seven years in prison for manslaughter in the death of his spouse. Not only is seven years an insult to the family and the community, Vital, who had a history of violence against Alice Black, should have been charged with murder. In both these cases the courts have failed to protect women of the Northwest Territories and instead have sent the message these disgusting and violent acts are not taken seriously enough.
Nunavut's most vulnerable at risk Nunavut News/North - Monday, November 29, 2010 In 2000 the Supreme Court ruled that section 7 of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms applied to the seizure of children under child protection legislation. In that decision, the judges stated a two-week delay, or thereabouts, between the removal of a child from its parents and the screening of the grounds for it by a judicial officer would be "at the limits of what is constitutionally acceptable." Nunavut's act allows a maximum of 135 days - four and a half months -- between apprehension and a hearing to determine the merit of the application. Other provinces and territories updated their laws to comply with the charter by legislating judicial reviews of the apprehensions be done in a timely manner. Of Canada's 13 jurisdictions, only Nunavut allowed 10 years to pass without addressing its Child and Family Services Act's inconsistency with the charter. That resulted in Justice Robert Kilpatrick having to declare the act invalid, though he has suspended the declaration for one year to give the GN even more time to fix it. Meanwhile Kitikmeot Law Centre defence lawyer Peter Harte warns a lack of intervention on the part of social services is contributing to at-risk youth ending up in the criminal justice system. The Department of Health and Social Services is in the process of reviewing child and family services laws, and has held a number of community consultation meetings to get public input on possible changes. The GN is also planning to create a child and youth advocate position, but Premier Eva Aariak estimates that won't happen until 2013. However, updated legislation alone won't fix the current problems which are an indication the social services workers, like so many other services in Nunavut, are understaffed and overburdened. In the case heard by Kilpatrick, the GN attempted to argue that a longer time between child apprehension and a judicial screening was justified in Nunavut because of a chronic shortage of staff. The judge rejected this argument, stating that Nunavut had other options than to "burden its beleaguered social workers" with legal work. The GN should consider bringing in help from other departments or make arrangements to bring in assistance from outside the territory. That would free up the few social workers Nunavut has to do the work they were trained for.
Get rid of the buoy Nunavut News/North - Monday, November 29, 2010 An old mooring buoy in Iqaluit's harbour has been a hazard for boaters for decades. The rusted, unlit obstacle is hard to see and has caused accidents before. Last month a man was killed and two other people were injured when their boat struck the buoy at night. No matter who put it there or whose responsibility it is, the buoy is a deadly hazard that has been ignored for too long. It needs to be removed or at the very least painted and outfitted with a flashing light and reflectors before another person dies or is injured.
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