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NWT not generous? Humbug to that Yellowknifer - Wednesday, January 12, 2011
These are just some amounts Yellowknifers donated toward charity last year.
It therefore may stick in the craw for some people to learn that the NWT ranks near the bottom of the list of provinces and territories comparing each jurisdiction's generosity, according to a recent report by the Vancouver-based Fraser Institute.
"My impression is generally people in the North are generous," said Wayne Balanoff of the Yellowknife Association for Community Living, who said he was surprised by the report's conclusion.
The Fraser Institute stated the NWT has the second smallest percentage of people making charitable donations out of 13 provinces and territories. Prince Edward Island is the most generous; Nunavut is the least.
The institute's findings are based on the number of people who reported making donations on their tax filings. The NWT is third last in terms of the amount given to charity by percentage of income.
The report naturally flies in the face of conventional wisdom. This newspaper encounters stories of great generosity almost weekly - like the outpouring of support for the Westman family, whose house was badly damaged in a fire two days before Christmas. Residents and businesses donated furnishings, food for their dogs and a huge turkey dinner. They would have been given a place to stay if they had needed it.
In today's Yellowknifer we have a story on page 3 describing how members of a local church continue to help people in Haiti rebuild their lives following a devastating earthquake one year ago.
It's no secret that NWT residents, especially here in Yellowknife, are generally well-off. In fact, at $98,000 per household according to Statistics Canada, NWT residents have the highest incomes in Canada - $12,000 higher than Alberta, fifth on the generosity list.
While it doesn't hurt for us to step back and examine how we might be able to give a little more, it seems likely that NWT residents aren't all that careful about filing away their charity receipts, or just don't bother. Getting a small portion back, after all, usually isn't their motivation for giving.
For decades Yellowknife was known for its two booming gold mines - Con and Giant were pillars in the foundation of this city's prosperity and growth.
The history of gold mining is forever rooted in Yellowknife and the move by the city's heritage committee to preserve it is worthwhile.
The committee is seeking original art inspired by the historic Con Mine site for the 2011 Heritage Week Celebrations art show next month.
Planting the seed in the arts community, as committee chair and city councillor Mark Heyck put it, is a sure-fire way to document Con Mine's history.
Yellowknife has a vibrant and passionate arts community that encapsulates the city through painting, music - like Pat Braden's ode to the defunct Mine, Hangin' with the Con Kids - and theatre. It's through this creative flow that Yellowknife lives on in a visually appealing manner, creating lasting memories and teaching future generations where they came from.
Longtime resident Bill Braden said the opportunity this call for submissions brings has the potential to be better than gold.
The arts community has a big task ahead, and we look forward to the imaginative sounds and images that will emerge.
The fallout from Team Canada's epic meltdown in the third period of the world junior championship against Russia this past week has been somewhere between incredible and downright unbelievable.
Russia storming back from a 3-0 deficit after two periods to claim gold was the talk around almost every coffee machine in the Kivalliq for days after the defeat, not to mention on most of the local radio airwaves as well.
There was the odd voice of reason trying to reassure everyone that once we win three or four straight gold medals again these dark days will melt into hockey obscurity, but not many were buying it.
The problem in Canada is too many fans truly believe it's our God-given right to win every international tournament we play in.
To these folks, winning is paramount and the game, itself, a distant second.
Compounding the problem is our hockey nation's penchant for making like chicken little every time we lose a major championship and screaming for change in the face of the falling sky.
After the Americans beat us on home ice in 2010 and the Russians showed us why the games are played for 60 minutes this year, you can almost hear speed dials being hit across the nation calling for the next hockey summit to fix our ailing Canadian game.
The truth of the matter is, the days of the U.S.S.R.'s big red machine and Team Canada steamrolling over everyone in their paths on the way to hockey glory are gone forever.
The playing field has been levelled and the formats in today's biggest tournaments are designed for high drama, with no second chances.
At the highest level, goaltenders such as Henrik Lundqvist (Sweden), Roberto Luongo (Canada), Ryan Miller (U.S.A.), Miikka Kiprusoff (Finland) and Tomas Vokoun (Czech Republic) can send any team home almost single-handedly in a one-game showdown.
Anyone remember a certain Dominik Hasek with the Czech Republic at the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano?
Hasek put on one of the most dazzling displays of goaltending ever seen to lead his team to gold.
Yet Hasek's goaltending wasn't why Team Canada finished a disappointing fourth.
It was coach Marc Crawford's decision to use Ray Bourque in the semifinal shootout against Hasek with a certain Wayne Gretzky sitting dejectedly on the bench.
And that's the problem with being the type of fan who sees anything less than victory as absolute failure.
Everything becomes an excuse and a never-ending string of could have, would have and should have.
You rob yourself of truly enjoying the beauty, power and heart-stopping emotion of the world's greatest game while you scamper around looking for a little cheese to go with your never-ending whine.
Canada will win plenty of gold medals, at every level, in the years to come. And it will also lose its share.
That's the beauty of the game and what keeps us coming back. Anything can happen and often does.
The Canadian game is doing just fine.
It's a large number of our fans who could use a little work.
Budgets are presented and approved annually at council meetings, but the number of residents who attend those meetings is sparse and few could probably say if budget items are truly reflective of the costs.
Watchdog groups such as the newly-formed Hay River Ratepayer's Society are an excellent way to police municipal spending. That's not to say that communities are being unscrupulous when it comes to taxing their citizens -- although mismanagement and mistakes are not unheard of. But, members of the public generally have short memories. Many may recall last year's tax increase, but not the year before.
For example, most everyone in Fort Smith knows taxes will be increasing five per cent this year. But how many remember what last year's tax increase was? Would you be shocked to know Fort Smith has increased taxes by nearly 13 per cent over the past two years?
Tax increases are not necessarily a negative. Small Northern communities generally experience very little population growth while their citizens continue to demand additional services.
Perhaps the most poignant example is in the NWT capital: Yellowknife's taxes have increased by a combined 24 per cent in seven years. In comparison, the city's population as risen by a mere three per cent over those seven years, according to Statistics Canada.
So where is additional tax money spent? Municipalities point to the increased cost of doing business, such as staff salaries and utilities as major components of their budgets. With each new service or building a community adds to its assets, both those areas of the budget increase -- not to mention the natural increases caused by inflation and cost of living. Unfortunately if costs rise but populations don't, then rising expenses are spread across a stagnant population and a tax hike results.
Councils are in a tough spot. While people abhor tax increases they are constantly demanding additional services, new facilities and their sidewalks fixed.
A public oversight group, like the Hay River Ratepayer's Society, could act in an advisory capacity to help councils determine their spending priorities.
Traditionally, we tell elected governments how we feel about their performance and their spending choices at the polls. But choosing to deny a councillor re-election doesn't negate the choices that might have you paying more on your tax bills. It's easy to complain. Instead, we should all take a more active role in our municipal governments. Electing the right people for the job is one thing, ensuring they stay on track is quite another.
A new year is a new opportunity to make things better, and the past year brought to the fore a number of problems that have plagued Nunavut for a decade.
The GN's housing survey compiled hard numbers on the extent of overcrowding and disrepair of the territory's units, and it was revealed the government had allowed severe cost overruns in its housing construction projects through lack of oversight. Canada's auditor general also found the Government of Nunavut was falling behind on its Inuit employment goals, which are outlined in Article 23 of the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement.
Also among the unfortunate news from 2010, the territory recorded its highest number of new tuberculosis cases since 1999.
A few new worries emerged as well. Two tankers and a cruise ship ran aground in Arctic waters, raising concerns about our capacity to handle maritime emergencies.
The federal government did not renew funding for the Aboriginal Healing Foundation, forcing many community programs for residential school survivors to cut back or seek alternative sources of money.
However, there were also a few bright spots this past year. Nunavut made a splash at the Vancouver Olympics; not only was the Games' symbol an inuksuk, Northern House - the showcase for all three territories -- had lineups around the block.
We brought home 49 uluit from the Arctic Winter Games in Grande Prairie, Alta., -- nine gold, 16 silver and 24 bronze, continuing to excel in Arctic games, table tennis, wrestling.
The federal government apologized for relocating families from Pond Inlet and Inukjuaq, Que., to the High Arctic in the 1950s with little support and breaking the promise to take them home after a year or two. Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated unveiled monuments commemorating the trying relocation.
Nunavummiut also demonstrated their characteristic generosity, starting the year by raising money for relief efforts in Haiti, ending it by donating food, clothes and gifts to those in need in their communities, and spending the rest of the year contributing to the usual array of community feasts, loonie/toonie sales, craft and bake sales, raffles, bingos and radio appeals.
There are a number of developments expected this year. The new correctional centre is scheduled to open in Rankin Inlet, easing perennial overcrowding at the Baffin Correctional Centre; and Pangnirtung's small craft harbour is expected to be completed, a beacon of hope for Nunavut's emerging fishing industry.
Production at the Meadowbank gold mine should increase to 362,000 ounces, and interest and spending in mineral exploration continues to increase. The new Nutrition North program that replaces Food Mail takes full effect April 1, though it remains to be seen whether it will bring down the cost of food. Athletes will soon be heading down to compete in the Canada Winter Games, and we wish them all the best.
Here's hoping Nunavut makes progress this year on its challenges and problems while maintaining the values we hold dear.
The decision has been long awaited considering the project's proponents submitted their major application for the pipeline six years ago. Those years have concluded with a green light for the project.
Instead of jubilation and mass celebrations, however, in Fort Simpson at least there's an air of quiet acceptance. The decision is good news, the project is still alive, but there are serious questions about how long that status will be maintained.
A lot of large obstacles stand between the dream of a pipeline and a working conduit for natural gas not the least of which are economic feasibility and the current low price of the commodity. There are also the 200 conditions that the board's approval is dependent on and the thousands of permits.
While some are holding out hope many people are taking a realistic view about the chances of a pipeline bringing economic prosperity to the Deh Cho region. As Fort Simpson Mayor Sean Whelly said, no one is holding their breath.
It's good, therefore, to see groups taking steps to ensure whether or not the pipeline is built they have a plan for their economic future. Dehcho Regional Helicopters is a perfect example.
The 100 per cent aboriginal owned company was formed in 2004 by the investment arms of Acho Dene Koe First Nation, the Fort Simpson Metis Nation, Nahanni Butte Dene Band, Sambaa K'e Dene Band and Jean Marie River First Nation. The organizations wanted to capitalize on the exploration and seismic activities that were taking place.
Since then the company has prospered. In 2008 the business purchased its first helicopter for $1.6 million. The NWT Chamber of Commerce named it the 2010 Business of the Year.
Most recently the company's ownership base has expanded to include the economic arms of Pehdzeh Ki First Nation of Wrigley and Liidlii Kue First Nation of Fort Simpson. Every First Nation in the Nahendeh region is now part of Dehcho Regional Helicopters. The company is an example of what can be achieved when First Nations come together and work co-operatively on a solid business plan. While Dehcho Regional Helicopters would benefit if the Mackenzie Gas Project went forward it has other contracts to supply revenue.
If the optimists are right, however, and the pipeline becomes a reality, strong partnerships like Dehcho Regional Helicopters will allow the region to draw economic benefits from the Mackenzie Gas Project.
You've lived with the pipeline's hope of economic improvement, discussed the possible consequences to the environment and how to leave a smaller footprint on the land for decades.
So if you see me around town, I'd rather hear about the pipeline from you. I've got a lot to learn.
The greatest pleasure of my job is being invited into people's lives and communities. At no time is the honour felt more keenly than at Christmas - a time when communities are in full bloom celebrating family and friends and when I'm missing my own on the East Coast. I had the pleasure of feasting and dancing with you at the Midnight Sun Complex, hearing your songs at the Community Christmas Concert in the lovely igloo church and seeing a thoughtful play at the Baptist Church.
The play, Miracle on Mackenzie Road, discusses the consequences of a future in which the Christmas season has been stripped of religion and how the message of Christ is critical to keep it from becoming just another consumerist holiday.
Christ is inseparable from Christmas.
So are children.
While I'm not qualified to talk to you about God or children (I don't have any), I do know the latter's importance to communities. It's often in something's absence that we see its real value, so with that in mind I'll share a story of Christmas from another coast.
Croque is a community drawing its last breaths among rotting fishing boats at the tip of Newfoundland's Northern Peninsula. Youth left with the cod and two years ago Croque's K-12 school had three students. The principal/teacher/secretary had to join the three boys, aged 10, 11 and 13, to make up a doubles match in the school's main sport - ping-pong.
The wooded and well-protected little harbour, around which the three boys travelled to school by foot and snowmobile, is beautiful and quiet. But one evening a year something very special happens in Croque.
All foot prints and snowmobile tracks lead to the community hall, glowing with light and laughter over a frozen harbour. It's the school Christmas concert and every soul from Croque and neighbouring Grandois, whose residents keep an axe by the pond from which they gather their water, are there.
The boys don disguises as they go through their elaborate skits and warm all hearts in a conspiracy - for one evening they pretend there are more than three boys and they all still live in a busy little harbour where swarms of children jig rock and outnumber the gulls.
It's not true and most return home to remember their children are in Alberta and the proud traditions and culture formed over a century in their little corner have little place in the modern world.
But the play and a few moments of wonderful make believe, crammed shoulder to shoulder in a little hall, is as great a Christmas gift as any.
The memorandum basically amounts to a "rules are rules" dissertation of why the garden collective must pay the city $3,009.25 in property taxes for 2010, plus $109.31 in late penalties.
Six other registered societies in town don't get a property tax exemption, so why should the garden collective get a break? So the logic goes, never mind that the gardening group with a membership of 120 has never been asked to pay taxes in its 15 years of existence, and the modest amount it collects in membership fees -- $2,400 - is not enough to cover the taxes.
Give the garden collective a break and the floodgates will open to demands for more tax exemptions. And so what? The list of societies that are forced to pay property taxes includes the Yellowknife Women's Society, Yellowknife Playschool Association, and the Great Slave Yacht Club. Together these six groups provide the city with $26,000 in property taxes. It seems unlikely their exclusion from the tax roll - were they to make a convincing argument to be taken off it - will break the bank on a spendthrift $61 million budget.
And the garden collective makes some strong points. It offers a place for people - particularly apartment dwellers without yards - to grow cheap food. A quarter of what they grow goes to local charities.
City councillors often talk about the high cost of living in the city; one of the city's objectives is to "improve quality of life by promoting healthy and active lifestyle choices."
The city itself acknowledges that were the garden collective to start paying taxes, yearly plot fees would have to be raised to $45 from $20. On top of other expenses, like seeds and gardening tools, some members are bound to feel it's no longer worthwhile if their fees double.
And as letter writer Lorraine Hewlett points out - her letter is on the next page - what's the rationale for deciding some organizations, like the ski club and Yellowknife Golf Club, provide "municipal services" and thus are tax exempt, but the garden collective is not?
Some city councillors -- Bob Brooks, Cory Vanthuyne, and David Wind and Lydia Bardak -- are trying to push the gardeners into seeking a special grant from the city, which could then be used to pay off the tax bill.
But as garden collective spokesperson Dwayne Wohlgemuth said, it seems pointless to pay city property taxes with money collected from city revenue. Besides, there is already a mountain of competition for city grants and not enough money to cover all the requests. It would be irresponsible for councillors to prod one more group in that direction.
It's within council's power to grant the collective an exemption, and there are not enough good reasons to insist it pays taxes. Demanding that community gardeners do so would paint another portrait of council following administration's rules for rules' sake alone.
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