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Proceed with caution Weekend Yellowknifer - Friday, January 28, 2011
So says the man holding the purse strings for the City of Yellowknife, director of corporate services Carl Bird. He was referring to the possibility of the city borrowing $49 million to build the Con Mine community energy system.
While we admire the vision and goals of the project, we don't share Bird's confidence in what he calls the "business case." There are many unknowns. Imagine if Gord Van Tighem were back at his banker's desk where he sat for so many year before becoming mayor. He'd scan the business case asking: "Where are your customers?" All downtown. "Have they signed on with firm commitments?" Not yet, but they will. "Why will they?" Because we will offer them a better price than they are getting now for their heating costs. "How much are you going to charge them?" We won't know until the cost of the project is known. "How will you know that before it's complete?" We won't. But we can make them sign on whether they like it or not. "Sounds like a great project. Come back when they sign on the dotted line." Of course, the city won't be borrowing any money based on the business plan. Any loan will be based upon the ability of the taxpayers of Yellowknife to pay no matter what happens. Another unknown is the so-called private partner the city says it is in the process of selecting. Why would a private partner invest with so many unknowns? Perhaps they too will be relying on the paying power of Yellowknife taxpayers. That's precisely what the city's private partners did in the development of Phase 1 and 2 of Niven Lake subdivision in 1995. The lots failed to sell and no profits were made by 2000. The private partners - Volker Stevin Contracting, Reid Crowther Engineering and M.M. Dillon Ltd, who only wanted to share the profits and not the risk - invoked their escape clause and the city's taxpayers had to buy them out for $3.1 million. The community energy project is the passion of a significant number of Yellowknifers. Overconfidence has been the death of many a worthy project. Better to proceed with caution.
A foundation for women's transition home Weekend Yellowknifer - Friday, January 21, 2011 The need to help women experiencing violence at the hands of their partner is a pressing issue in Yellowknife. The court system is riddled with incidents of assault against women and the cases overseen by judges are likely just the tip of the iceberg. The federal Standing Committee on the Status of Women visited Yellowknife last week to address abusive acts against women - a problem the Yellowknife Homelessness Coalition is trying to deal with. The coalition's goal to build a transitional home for women and children faces difficult financial needs - a projected $6 million is required to construct the facility on a piece of land across from Aurora College on 54 Street - a hefty amount of cash to pull together. However, organizations like the Yellowknife Community Foundation are stepping up to the plate. That group donated $50,000 last week to the homelessness coalition, to help women and children escape violence. It's generosity like that which will gradually put the goal within reach. Foundation president Daryl Dolynny said the organization hopes its donation "serves as a catalyst for organizations and business to recognize the need" for a transitional home in the city. Some women in Yellowknife are desperately counting on his optimism to prove correct.
Fraternity of drivers Editorial Comment Roxanna Thompson Deh Cho Drum - Thursday, January 27, 2011
The code likely developed out of necessity as roadways began to spread across the region. Drivers had to help each other to ensure they got to their destinations. The long distances that separate communities and the challenging conditions that can still be found on the highways have kept the code alive. The code itself is a simple one, help fellow drivers whenever possible in the same manner that you would like to be helped if your fortunes were reversed. True to the code drivers in the Deh Cho are almost always willing to go out of their way to assist fellow motorists in need. Whenever I hear a story about someone who had mechanical trouble on the highway or worse yet had an accident there always comes the part in the retelling where a good Samaritan motorist happens along, stops to see if the driver is all right and then helps in what ever way possible. Levels of assistance range from helping to change tires to getting people out of wrecked vehicles and driving them to get medical care. Father Wes Szatanski knows about the kindness of motorists. When Szatanski collided with a parked semi-trailer outside of Fort Providence the two truck drivers who witnessed the accident leapt into action. Szatanski remembers that the men quickly came to his truck to see if he was okay. They tried to open the truck's doors to reach Szatanski but realizing that the extent of the damage made it impossible, one of them drove to the nearest telephone to contact emergency services. Szatanski's story also highlights how thankful motorists should be for the dedicated training that volunteer firefighters in the region undergo. Members of the Fort Providence Volunteer Fire Department withstood temperatures of approximately -30 C for more than three hours while undertaking the delicate work necessary to free Szatanski from his crumpled truck. What Szatanski remembers is their calm demeanor, their professionalism and their close attention to his needs. Although Szatanski survived the collision with remarkably few injuries the outcome could have been much different without the immediate assistance of first the two truck drivers and then the emergency responders. They all deserve to be recognized. Drivers in the Deh Cho share many things in common including the long stretches of roads that need to be traversed and the challenging conditions that change with the seasons. Hopefully divers will also continue to share the code that keeps them looking out for each other and lending a hand where needed.
Let kids mush Editorial Comment Kira Curtis Inuvik Drum - Thursday, January 27, 2011
Many of us find it much easier to slip into the ugliest, warmest polar fleece PJs and turn on a video game. What? I'll get Wii fit. Don't judge. So when I met seven-year-old Jazelle Pokiak and 17-year-old Rebecca Baxter, who man-handle energetic dogs to their leads, grip the bar of their sled and mush off into the wilderness for hours a day, I was impressed. The balance, awareness and co-ordination needed to control a team of powerful dogs would put a Call of Duty player's skills to shame. But the night before I met them, sitting in the public hearing to amend the Dog Act, something was brought up that just may send these girls to the couch. The proposed section 6(b)(ii) of the act states dogs in harness must be "under the custody and physical control of a person who has attained the age of 16 and is capable of ensuring that the dog will not harm the public or create a nuisance." Now I understand what it's saying, we have to be responsible for our children's safety. Those 16 years and older are stronger, have more experience and hopefully better judgment. There is a healthy limit to the adventures we should expose our kids to. For example, controlling a space shuttle or an armed tank would be extreme for a seven-year-old. But if we become overly worried about any possibility of danger, how strong will this next generation grow to become? Baxter and her brother Jason both started mushing as tots. Now as teenagers, these siblings have won numerous championship titles in the Worlds, the North American Championships and the Arctic Winter Games. Both Inuvik teens have defeated highly-sponsored racers from the U.S. and Europe. If this wording is put through on the Dog Act, the NWT would have no young racers, and come on, if there's one sport we should claim over the rest of Canada, it's dogsledding. We have to trust that mushing parents wouldn't throw their infant on a sled and yell "Hold on!" That falls under a whole other issue. There's many activities children do that could be way more dangerous, but you teach them and watch them until you know they're comfortable. I mean you wouldn't turn on the sprinkler, soap up a trampoline, throw your kid on and tell him to be careful and keep his knees bent while you go to get the mail. Now that's dangerous. Power corp shell game Yellowknifer - Wednesday, January 26, 2011
The judge found the accident to be foreseeable and preventable. The hefty penalty was handed down in on Jan. 19 and it prompted the corporation's chief operating officer Brian Willows to that the expense "will not be passed on to our customers." While that promise sounds like a relief, there is a pressing question that remains unanswered: how can he be so sure? The power corp. has filed an insurance claim. If successful, the insurance company would likely get taxes off the hook, other than potentially higher insurance premiums in the future. However, if the insurance claim is rejected, then Willows said a reserve fund for failed equipment will be tapped. That leads us to ask - where will the money come from to replenish the reserve fund? To the corporation's credit, its bonuses to upper and middle management were reduced to $96,400 in 2009, well below the rich $600,000 paid in bonuses in 2006. If there is no other option than to saddle the ratepayer, then bonuses for 2011 should be nil. The utility should also examine its internal reporting procedures very carefully. In the Snare Lake hydro incident, the power corp. blamed the inaction of one of its own engineers. They said the employee was in possession of a critical report from an independent consulting engineering firm in August 2005, close to 10 months earlier. The power corp's engineer failed to forward the reporter to supervisors, leaving the door open for catastrophe. "The person forgot about (the report), did not review it, did not pass it on," said Bill McNaughton, the power corp.'s lawyer. But this engineer had a boss, and his boss has a boss. Why didn't any of those people come looking for the report on a crucial piece of infrastructure? This is unnerving considering what's happening with Bluefish dam. In October 2009, the power corp. threatened court action against an NWT regulatory board if it had to wait for an environmental assessment before replacing the 70-year-old, rapidly deteriorating Bluefish dam. The board deferred, agreeing the dam is in "critical condition." According to the power corp. leakage from the dam's wall had increased 400 per cent from 2007 to 2009 and its collapse was "imminent." Sound alarming? Well, the work has yet to be done. The power corp., while still intent on replacing the dam, now says the situation is manageable due to lower water levels and daily inspections. That work cannot be done soon enough. The last thing ratepayers need is another date in court.
A lasting impression on one man's legacy Darrell Greer Kivalliq News - Wednesday, January 26, 2011 When it comes to the late Jose Kusugak, I am so glad the old adage of you never get a second chance to make a good first impression isn't always necessarily true. I got off on the wrong foot with Jose more than a decade ago, when I was still fairly new to the Kivalliq and didn't really understand the methods he would sometimes employ to get one's attention. He had made a remark about how caucasians tend to train their children rather than simply allowing them to be kids, and I took offense to his words. To say Jose and I had a rather colourful private exchange over the remark would be one heck of an understatement. But, if nothing else, as the past century came to a close, the man had my attention. From that point on, I really started paying attention to everything the man said in public. And, you can believe me when I say that took up a lot of my time because Jose was rarely lost for words. I don't mind admitting my intentions at that time weren't exactly honourable, as I was still upset with Jose and was paying attention to his words more to find something to take him to task on than anything else. But a funny thing happened to me on my way to philosophical retribution. The more I listened, the more I found myself nodding in agreement with what he said. Darn the luck, I was starting to get really impressed with this guy. Still, most of what I knew about the man was being gathered from a distance through the written word and radio airwaves. We all know public personalities as large as Jose can often be quite different when they're away from the spotlight, so maybe my feelings would change again if I ever had the chance to really know him away from the public eye. Most regular readers of Kivalliq News realize I have somewhat of an affinity for a little game called hockey. And it was through hockey I got to know, and understand, a lot more about Jose Kusugak. A number of years ago Jose began being the public address announcer at the Avataq Cup and a few other Kivalliq hockey tournaments, as well as the Rankin senior men's league. As time went by, we began to talk a lot more and Jose would sometimes come into our little ref's room to get warm between games. During one tourney, I was officiating the first of back-to-back games which ended after the second period due to the seven goal mercy rule. My partner was off for the next few games, so I was sitting alone in our little room when Jose came in and sat down with the little kit he carried his music in. During the next 45 minutes, or so, I had the man all to myself and we engaged in the best conversation on the music and social impact of the Beatles that I've ever had. His knowledge and interpretation of the Beatles' music simply blew me away. Those 45 minutes will always be among my fondest memories. Believe it! Hockey was also responsible for the best example of Jose's courage and willingness to call it like it is that I saw in real life, as it happened. He had been the guest announcer at a Kivalliq tournament outside of Rankin, which the home team won. During the awards ceremony - as hometown player after hometown player came up to accept a most-valuable this or that award, while the other teams stood in silence and politely applauded each selection - Jose interrupted the proceedings for a moment to address the fans. In a jam-packed arena filled with adoring hometown fans delirious with victory, Jose told the crowd in all his years of following Nunavut hockey, he had never seen another community give all the awards to their own players. He said he would just like the community, and the tournament organizers, to think about that. The arena fell into stunned silence for a moment and then erupted with applause. I was bursting with pride and admiration at the man's words. That took balls of courage the size of watermelons. The world is less of a place without Jose, but far better for having had him for 60 years. Hopefully, his legacy of dedication to his people and positive change will last a very, very long time. And, just maybe, some of those changes will one day lead to a brotherhood of man, with all the people, sharing all the world. Imagine, eh Jose?
Dog legislation not black and white NWT News/North - Monday, January 24, 2011
Proposed changes to the NWT Dog Act have sparked passionate debate. But the factions aren't divided between those who want to protect animals versus those who want to do them harm. Instead, it has become a case of defining harm. Much of the debate centres around a clause that make exceptions for traditional practices. This clause is anticipating differences of opinion between an animal rights activist and a trapper, hunter or dog musher on the matter of humane treatment. Animal cruelty is a problem in the NWT. In fact, we were voted one of the best places in Canada to be an animal abuser by the Animal Defense Fund -- two years running. But who defines cruelty, especially in remote communities? Obviously, leaving your animals to starve, die of thirst or succumb to the cold is cruel and deserving of punishment. But is leaving your husky outside in -35 C weather with a well-built and insulated doghouse nearby cruel? We'd say no and so would many others. Dogs used for hunting, trapping and in sport mushing operate in extreme conditions where injury is possible. Punishment for such harm should only come in cases where the injuries are caused by negligence. The legislation should refer to guidelines -- written in consultation with mushers and traditional users -- for best practices when using dogs in sport or as work animals. The dog issue becomes even more clouded when discussing euthanasia. Dog culls are not uncommon in small Northern communities. Access to veterinarian services is limited or non-existent, which means dog populations can balloon due to a lack of neutering and spaying programs. Therefore, for public safety reasons, bylaw officers, if there are any, have been forced to shoot dogs. A periodic, territory-wide spay and neutering program would go a long way in reducing problems caused by too many stray animals or unwanted pets. Although the NWT SPCA does offer a rebate or interest free loan program for sterilization, paying back a loan is not financially feasible for some living in the communities and most do not have access to a vet to qualify for the rebate. Lack of veterinarian services also becomes a problem when an animal is sick and tough choices need to be made. No matter how much a dog owner may love or care for a pet, the financial burden of shipping the animal to a veterinarian in Yellowknife or another community can be too much to bear. In such a case, the only avenue for the owner might be to have the dog put down. Great Slave MLA Glen Abernethy has asked that a euthanasia clause be added to the Dog Act to outline humane ways to dispose of an animal. We agree. Such a clause would create an avenue to punish abusers such as the owner who left puppies at the Behchoko dump with their throats slashed. NWT veterinarian Dr. Tom Pisz has said the new act should improve the way we treat animals. We agree with that as well. It's a worthy goal but we must ensure the law both protects animals while at the same time doesn't make criminals out of ordinary people acting as humanely as conditions allow.
$800,000 is not a cure Nunavut News/North - Monday, January 24, 2011 It's good that the federal government is taking some action after a record 100 new cases of tuberculosis were diagnosed in the territory last year. On Jan. 13 Health Minister and Nunavut MP Leona Aglukkaq pledged $800,000 for a campaign providing information to Nunavummiut about prevention, diagnosis and treatment. But $800,000 is just a drop in the bucket of what it will take to eradicate TB from Nunavut. TB loves poverty. It thrives where housing is inadequate or overcrowded. It preys upon those who don't get enough nutritious food to eat. Public health is not just a matter of providing information, diagnosing cases and treatment. It includes fighting the circumstances that lead to poor health such as overcrowding and poor nutrition. There's a reason Nunavut's tuberculosis rate is 62 times higher than the Canadian average. According to last year's Nunavut Housing Survey, over a third of homes in Nunavut are overcrowded and one in five is in need of repair. It would take hundreds of millions of dollars, if not a billion, to provide adequate housing for Nunavummiut currently in need of it. Also, a study published last year on food insecurity among Inuit preschoolers found two thirds of the households surveyed, within the previous 12 months, had run out of food and didn't have enough money to buy more. More than half of households reported not being able to afford to eat healthy food, and reported having fed their children cheaper food to stretch their food budget. It's unknown whether the upcoming changeover of the food mail program to Nutrition North instigated by the federal government will do anything to alleviate this. Overcrowded housing helps tuberculosis and other respiratory infections spread. Lack of good health, including good nutrition, makes people vulnerable to infection. The $800,000 might reduce the number of new cases from record levels, but it certainly won't erase TB as long as poverty prevails.
Seal deal for real Nunavut News/North - Monday, January 24, 2011 The opening of a new market for seal meat is the first good news we've had in a while when it comes to exports of Nunavut's wildlife resources. China has agreed to buy edible seal products exclusively from Canada. This would include smoked and cured meat, terrine and omega 3-rich oil supplements. It's hoped this deal will make up some of the income lost due to the ban on import of seal products passed by the European Union, and lead to additional markets opening up elsewhere in Asia. Now if we can only get the Chinese interested in big game hunting. . .
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