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The ailing belong in hospitals, not jails Weekend Yellowknifer - Friday, April 8, 2011
The RCMP recently accepted several recommendations to prevent in-custody deaths. Those recommendations were made by a coroner's inquest jury following the death of Raymond Eagle, who was found unconscious and heavily intoxicated downtown by the RCMP in 2006. Eagle was taken to Stanton Territorial Hospital, examined and quickly released into police custody after treatment. Eagle later became unresponsive after vomiting in a detachment cell, and he was taken back to the hospital. He was flown to Edmonton, where doctors found and operated to stop the bleeding in his brain. After surgery he entered a coma and stayed that way until his 2010 death. A person who is drunk may be dazed, confused, unbalanced and nonsensical, or completely unconscious. The symptoms are similar to those of a serious concussion, and if a person is drunk enough to be unsteady, it's possible they've fallen multiple times before entering custody to sober up. No matter why a person is arrested, if they are taken to the hospital then they cannot be released unless they are medically sound enough for release. Hospital beds come with straps for those who resist, and sedatives are another option. It is commendable that the RCMP accepted recommendations, such as monitoring prisoners more often and having medical information posters on walls, but the responsibility rests with medical professionals to ensure patients are not released to those with little medical training.
Earth Hour's time is up Weekend Yellowknifer - Friday, April 8, 2011 Mayor Gord Van Tighem can blame the timing all he wants, but even if Earth Hour were held in the bitter dark of January instead of late March it's doubtful Yellowknife would have performed much better. The mayor reasoned that because Earth Hour was held March 26, when clocks have already been moved forward and daylight hours in the North are longer, people were less likely to have their lights on at 8:30 p.m. when Earth Hour began, which he said skewed the results. Had Earth Hour been held in a darker month, Yellowknife's altruistic instincts to use less power would have shone through more brightly, so to speak. Alas, Earth Hour the world over fared miserably this year as it's clear few people bothered to turn off their lights anywhere. The sun was surely still not beaming at 8:30 p.m. in Toronto, where energy use barely dipped. It actually went up in Edmonton, where the Oilers were facing off against the Calgary Flames in a critical race for the playoffs. The fact is Earth Hour, now in its fifth year, is a fad, and like all fads, people eventually tire of them. Most generally want to do the right thing, but unlike the demonstrable results evident in cancer runs and charity fundraisers, most people have a difficult time understanding how spending an hour in the dark on a Saturday night will do the planet any good. Symbolic gestures will only go so far. Northland Utilities must clearly demonstrate how power reduction has saved some customers money, but even that is a dubious claim in a territory where the power corporation has admitted it will have to raise rates if energy consumption dips too much because associated revenues fall in tandem. It's a dilemma that's leaving very few of us in the dark.
Between a rock and a litre of gas Editorial Comment Roxanna Thompson Deh Cho Drum - Thursday, April 7, 2011
Such signs are common in southern centers where there is more than one gas station in a community competing for business. If they were present in the Deh Cho, motorists would probably avoid looking at them. Gas prices, as everyone knows, are on the rise. Signs displaying gas prices would only remind motorists what they'll face when pull up to the pumps. Higher gas prices, however, could be the new reality. The price of oil is rising and with instability in some oil producing countries it shows no sign of returning to lower levels soon. A world of higher gas prices is going to be particularly hard on the North, where many families are already struggling with high costs of living. Driving is a part of Northern life. In small communities that are widely spaced, driving, often long distances, is the only option if you want specialized items or to stock up on supplies such as groceries. Deh Cho residents can't take a transit bus or a subway to the next larger grocery store - they have to drive. They also don't have the option of a bus or a train if they want to travel a few communities away to visit family and friends or just go for a trip. As gas prices rise, residents are going to have to start making choices and changing their habits. Some gas-saving measures are obvious. Cutting down the time that vehicles are left to idle as they warm up in the winter will save money. Drivers will just have to deal with colder steering wheels and seats during their first few minutes of driving. Driving tours, a popular pastime in some communities, will also have to be looked at critically. The number of people who drive around communities seemingly in endless loops in the evening for something to do may have to find other pastimes. Deh Cho residents may also have to call on their neighbors more. Supply trips where one vehicle is shared between a few families will cut down on gas consumption. The same goes for carpooling outside town. Although toughness and durability are favoured in vehicle choices for the Deh Cho, drivers will also have start to looking at gas mileage as a critical factor when purchasing their next vehicle. Rising gas prices will only be an inconvenience for some, but, for others, financially it will mean the difference between turning on a vehicle or leaving it parked. Deh Cho residents need to take note of gas prices now and start making plans for how they're going to cope.
That witty Muskrat MC Editorial Comment Kira Curtis Inuvik Drum - Thursday, April 7, 2011
That's right, it was purely comical for those dozen faces I couldn't avoid as first I went from my focused-adventurous face, to the chewing-on-something-so-tough-I'd-never-get-my-teeth-through face, to finally (and I think the best part), the tasting-the-flavour-of-whale-blubber-for-the-first-time face - sorry you missed it. I know every few years a new editor comes up and experiences Muskrat Jamboree for their first time and just has to write about it, but that's not going to stop me from saying that this town hosts one massive festivity. The excitement of the grand events was obvious, but it was the smaller details that set this Jamboree apart for me. One was the participation from everyone young and old. No teen seemed too cool for nail driving or the egg toss, and couples joined the bush skills competition, moving at a pace as if they were just there to make bannock and tea for the crowd, no big deal. But my favourite part was the never-missing-a-beat, even tone of Gerry Kisoun who'd suddenly drop some sideways joke, half hidden by his calm tone. Twice it took me a moment to register what was just said and by the time I was snickering he had moved on to another tale - all in the same, calm drone.
Dissolve the people? Yellowknifer - Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Brooks wasn't present when the memo was issued March 21, just one week after voters decisively rejected the city's plan to borrow up to $49 million to build a downtown district energy system using wood pellets and geothermal heat from Con Mine. But most of Brooks' council colleagues were at that meeting. Their silence and seeming lack of interest in administration's plot to do away with the need to seek voter approval on multi-million dollar projects is very troubling. Coun. Cory Vanthuyne, while insisting he wouldn't allow the city to proceed with another $49 million borrowing scheme without voter approval, said he didn't think administration "was trying to be devious in any shape or form," which is simply a naive thing to say in light of the glaringly obvious timing, and administration's gall to press forward with it in spite of it all. Fortunately, the memorandum's authors - in their haste to respond to the decision handed to them by voters - assumed too much. The GNWT's Cities, Towns and Villages Act does not, in fact, give the city authority to do away with referendums as administration learned just a day or two after presenting council with the memo. Well, what a relief. Thank heavens there are some checks to administration's petty little schemes because council is certainly not jumping to our defence. It's bad enough that administration would charge ahead with a contemptuous and hastily written attack on our right to vote on major borrowing plans, but council's inability to fully recognize the danger is even worse. No doubt there are some good minds at city hall, and many, if not most of the city's programs, are ably run. But there is also some testiness and impatience showing through when administrators are forced to answer to the public. Late last year a senior public works official lashed out at the perception that the private sector can do a job more efficiently and cheaper than the city; last week another senior official balked at answering Brooks' question on whether referendums would continue should a debt management proposal be approved. Obviously, being put on the spot is not the favourite part of the job for most bureaucrats, especially when dealing with a public that's not always well-informed or well-versed in public policy. The real problem comes when city councillors start empathizing with and internalizing administration's frustrations and annoyances. This leads to council meetings moving behind closed doors with undisclosed discussions. Ultimately, as was the case before the late 1990s, the danger is that council will start voting in secret. City council clearly became very emotionally attached to the Con energy plan and because of that, councillors stopped asking hard questions of administration, except for David Wind. The result was the appearance of city council as pitchmen for city hall rather than guardians of the public trust. If council supports administration in throwing up walls to guard the city from public input, then councillors are cutting themselves off from everyday people, some of them with considerable expertise, who would otherwise be there to give them advice. Sixty years ago German playwright Bertolt Brecht penned a famous retort: "Would it not be easier for the government to dissolve the people and elect another?" It was in response to the exasperated cries from East Germany's rulers regarding a workers' uprising. They were shocked their subjects would be so insolent as to not trust their guiding hand to lead them. From the manner in which city hall has reacted to the voters' rejection of its $49 million borrowing scheme last month, the city's senior bureaucrats aim to follow Brecht's advice. It's therefore critical that council doesn't follow their lead. Aglukkaq could avoid grocery bill in this election Darrell Greer Kivalliq News - Wednesday, April 6, 2011 As this was written on April 1 (oh, the irony), the Liberals - regarded by many to pose the biggest threat to Tory MP Leona Aglukkaq in the upcoming federal election - still hadn't named a candidate. Most Canadians are not looking forward to going to the polls yet again. But, for Aglukkaq, the timing for a federal election couldn't have been better. Aglukkaq has fared fairly well during her time in office, proving herself to be far more than a token appointment to a ministerial position by Prime Minister Stephen Harper. She's avoided the "sexy" issues that have all but claimed the political careers of others, and has shown the instincts of a far more experienced denizen of capital hill than she actually is. On her best days, Aglukkaq comes across as truly pushing Northern issues to the front burners of the Tory agenda, and her openness to consulting on issues with Senator Dennis Patterson is a lot more than window dressing to keep folks happy at home. On her worst days, Aglukkaq can come across as someone who's made the big time and forgotten her roots. And, nowhere is that more obvious than in her unbridled support of the new Nutrition North Canada program that has replaced the old food mail program. Has Aglukkaq's paycheque become large enough that she no longer remembers what it's like to stand in a major Nunavut grocery store with the sick feeling in your stomach that comes from knowing the cash in your purse isn't nearly enough to cover the items on your list? We all know the saying if you want something bad enough in one of our stores, don't look at the price, just put it in your basket. Unfortunately there are many good people in Nunavut who do have to look at the price, no matter how bad they want something. And, as a further memo to some of the good folks in Ottawa, we're not slow on the uptake in Nunavut. We get it. We know the importance of trying to eat healthier foods and we understand your new program is aimed at promoting healthier choices, not lowering that big number staring back at us from the bottom of our grocery bills. But that doesn't change the fact $300 doesn't buy $600 of totally healthy food items to feed a family. Leaving the government's totally ridiculous claim of the pitiful low number of Inuit who own a credit card aside: the old program, at least, offered everyone a chance to use southern retailers to keep their cupboards full without having to build a garage big enough to store a year's worth of items at barge time. And, whether the Tories admit it or not, it is, indeed, subsidizing junk food when you give our major retailers the power to negotiate a flat rate across the board for the items they bring in by air. Second memo to Ottawa folks: this is not rocket science. Aglukkaq may win this election before the majority of Nunavummiut realize how badly conceived the new program truly is (in its present form). But, then again, a strong Liberal candidate still has time to make a good run. After all, they may have more money than a lot of us, but, the last time we checked, shareholders in our major stores (those who actually live in Nunavut) still only have one vote each.
Elders vital to education NWT News/North - Monday, April 4, 2011
As incumbent Dennis Bevington's success has proved over his two abbreviated terms in office, toeing the party line is not necessarily the best approach. Despite constituents knowing the NDP will likely never rule the House of Commons, Bevington has managed to hold on to his seat - with strong support from many communities. That's not to say having an MP who is not sitting with the governing party is the best choice for the territory but it does show that a lot of voters in the NWT consider the candidate and not the party when casting a ballot. And there is no shortage of issues for a federal MP candidate to consider. Increasing our debt limit, as Bevington attempted to do before Parliament dissolved, is one issue that needs serious consideration. But giving the territory more borrowing room doesn't have to mean raising the lending ceiling, a choice that would result in more money spent on interest payments instead of programs. For years the GNWT has argued with the federal government to exclude debt from Crown corporations such as the NWT Power Corp. from the territory's overall accumulated debt. Considering that debt is self-liquidating -- paid for by ratepayers -- it makes sense to free up the more than $100 million for other endeavours. Our territory is in need of improved social programs, especially addictions treatment centres closer to people's home communities. Regional rehabilitation centres in the Beaufort Delta, Sahtu and perhaps Yellowknife would make it easier to access services for those who want to heal. Infrastructure funding is another hot topic. A deal to help finance the Mackenzie Valley pipeline and build the Mackenzie Valley highway would bring jobs to thousands and boost the economies of many communities along the route. For the people of the Beaufort Delta, a reaffirmation of the $150 million in funding for the Tuktoyaktuk to Inuvik highway that disappeared when the government fell should not be forgotten. We need money for policing, nurses and doctors, teachers, and adapting infrastructure to the effects of climate change. Any candidate worth representing us in Ottawa must be prepared to give straight answers on these topics during the campaign period.
Erasmus sends the right message NWT News/North - Monday, April 4, 2011 Edward Erasmus began his first few days as Tlicho grand chief on the right foot. Following his election victory, he spoke to the need for unity among Tlicho leaders and communities. The Tlicho government, like many governments, has struggled with controversy over the years. Chiefs from Behchoko, Whati and Gameti took the Tlicho government to court in 2009 to challenge a decision to eliminate the chiefs executive council -- community chiefs sat on that committee and were charged with overseeing Tlicho law. The Supreme Court rightly ruled that the decision rested with the Tlicho Assembly. Canada's highest court reinforced the message that the Tlicho people have been trusted with the right of self-determination. Shortly after he was elected, Erasmus told News/North his mandate is to build communication and trust among all four Tlicho communities. "It doesn't matter where we are; it's very important to build a good working agreement," he said. We encourage Erasmus to stay true to that course and hope the community chiefs come to the table with similar intent. The Tlicho are the first NWT aboriginal people to achieve self-government and therefore should strive to serve as an example to other First Nations exploring the same path. As a people, the Tlicho have largely succeeded in preserving their culture and language. In 2009, 90.4 per cent of residents in the region spoke the Tlicho language, according to the NWT Bureau of Statistics. The region has the highest rate of traditional speakers in the territory. Maintaining a strong and unified government will ensure the Tlicho continue to maintain healthy ties to their traditional ways while guiding their own future. Co-operation and communication will be vital to those goals and we hope Erasmus's spirit of co-operation leads the Tlicho people to a common goal.
Mining brings opportunities Nunavut News/North - Monday, April 4, 2011 Mining, more than any other industry, has the potential to fuel Nunavut's economy over the next several decades. The territory has vast, untapped mineral deposits that are attracting attention from mining companies around the world. After the global economic meltdown in 2008, investment in Nunavut's exploration sector rebounded faster than many other jurisdictions, including the NWT. Spending on mineral exploration in the territory is expected to increase by 22 per cent this year over last year, to an estimated $322.8 million. Newmont Mining Corporation alone is more than doubling its spending to $300 million this year from $140 million last year on its Hope Bay gold project 90 km south of Cambridge Bay. There are projects ongoing in all three regions, evaluating the mining potential of gold, silver, diamond, iron, uranium, zinc, lead and copper deposits. Gold and iron, in particular, are among Nunavut's hottest commodities at the moment. There are significant benefits tied to welcoming exploration and development of the territory's mineral resources - infrastructure, jobs, training, contracts and other business opportunities. Many people in Baker Lake can attest to that since Agnico Eagle's Meadowbank gold mine opened last year. Mining is poised to be a huge economic driver in Nunavut. However, there are obstacles on this road to prosperity. One is the high costs of doing business in the North, due to the lack of roads, ports or even safe anchorages for large vessels in most communities. Another is getting kids to school and raising graduation and post-secondary education rates so more Nunavummiut will qualify for higher-paying jobs with mining firms. Both Nunavut Tunngavik and the Government of Nunavut have been very clear that they want the opportunities mining can bring. But both are also committed to preserving Inuit culture, and are adamant exploration and development should do as little harm as possible to the land, waters and wildlife which are integral to Inuit cultural practices and identity. These principles have come under scrutiny recently in regards to uranium mining near Baker Lake. Supporting these two contrasting objectives requires striking a fine balance, and some Nunavummiut are concerned the balance is tipping too far in favour of the mining side rather than the socio-economic side. Both governments are now seeking public input before reviewing their policies on uranium mining. Though uranium mining brings concerns not common to other types of ore, the discussion comes at a time when many communities are in consultations with companies seeking to set up operations nearby. We hope the different viewpoints raised at the forums provide Nunavummiut with answers on how to maintain traditional practices and environmental standards while embracing the prosperity associated with extracting valuable elements from Nunavut's ground.
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