So you want to be an MLANorthwest Territories/News North - Monday, November 16, 2015
Forget Christmas – the territorial election period is the best season.
The great ship Northwest Territories Government is moored, incumbent MLAs must defend their records, newcomers have a chance to propose a whole new course for the territory and cabinet ministers, no longer required to show solidarity with the executive council, can share their personal views with the public.
Consider the referendum on fracking proposed by Yellowknife Centre Robert Hawkins during the 17th assembly. While regular MLAs explained their views on the subject and voted individually, cabinet voted as a block to shoot it down.
But now, because it's election period, we know how a few MLAs serving on cabinet actually feel about this initiative. Industry, Tourism and Investment Minister David Ramsay, Premier Bob McLeod, Transportation Minister Tom Beaulieu and Health and Social Services Minister Glen Abernethy indicated they were against a referendum but Lands Minister Robert C. McLeod said he supports the idea. The other members of cabinet, Michael Miltenberger and Jackson Lafferty, did not respond to the questionnaire.
Of the 60 candidates running for MLA across the territory's 19 districts, 44 answered News/North's questionnaire. Readers can find answers to the questions on a few of the territory's most pressing issues in this edition of News/North.
While some MLA candidates have responded to the questionnaire with radio silence, two would-be MLAs gave reasons for not answering. Mackenzie Delta hopeful William Firth told News/North he "didn't believe in adding (his) voice to the issues until after the elections are held" and Nunakput candidate Ethel-Jean Gruben said she will not answer because she is too busy meeting face-to-face with constituents in her district.
The territory's lone expected acclamation is Monfwi's Jackson Lafferty.
He didn't acknowledge the questionnaire, a shame because not only are the people of Monfwi not able to vote for a representative but he also won't have to defend his record or his ambitions as a leader. Perhaps Lafferty will have a rival if he chooses to run in the next election and perhaps the people of Monfwi will remember this.
Now is the most crucial time for a would-be MLA to be as open and honest about his or her platform as possible because the Northwest Territories, like the rest of Canada, is a representative democracy.
If voters don't have a clear idea about where candidates stand on issues such as economic development, addiction, mental health and cost of living, they have no grounds on which to make an informed decision.
It's arguable that those candidates who neglect to fully participate in the campaign process have no business representing the constituents in their ridings.
Momentum building for University of NunavutNunavut/News North - Monday, November 16, 2015
Efforts by the territorial government to gauge the need for a university in Nunavut are not only commendable but potentially set the stage for great things to happen.
The report from the Inuit Nunangat University Workshop, which brought almost 20 experts together earlier this year, expresses a strong desire that the Government of Nunavut press forward with plans to establish a university and locate it in Iqaluit.
One interesting conclusion by the workshop participants is that the university be tailored to meet the needs of Inuit and that it be open to all Inuit from across Canada. The report also concluded that the university be housed in a free-standing building.
The question of establishing a university came up in the legislative assembly late last month, with one MLA questioning whether there are a high enough number of high school graduates to justify a post-secondary institution in Nunavut.
Grade 12 graduates currently have no choice but to leave their home communities and go south, where they often feel home sick, sorely miss country food and struggle without the support system of family and friends. Education Minister Paul Quassa called high school graduates "precious" in the legislative assembly Oct. 28.
The territory has struggled to keep young people in school and efforts to increase the number of graduates has been a priority, with some schools creating incentives to increase attendance rates. Some graduates go on to study at Nunavut Arctic College or sign up for training to work in the trades. But more options are needed for graduates wanting to pursue other fields of study.
Agnico Eagle Mines Ltd. board chairperson Jim Nasso is a passionate proponent of creating the University of Nunavut, not only by pledging $5 million toward construction of a bricks-and-mortar facility but also by meeting privately with politicians, administrators, business leaders and ordinary people to talk about his vision which, ultimately, will empower Nunavummiut.
Nasso estimates there are 350 students from Nunavut currently attending post-secondary institutions in the south. Perhaps not all would attend a university in Nunavut. Conversely, students from across Canada and international students would likely be interested in course offerings at a university in Nunavut.
The Government of Nunavut's latest action to commission a quarter-million-dollar feasibility study by Toronto auditing firm KPMG is to look at what legal or legislative steps need to be taken, what governance and oversight structure would be needed, what types of programming would most effectively meet the needs of Nunavummiut and what physical and technological infrastructure would be needed.
Logically, the next step is to investigate further sources of funding. The $5 million from Agnico Eagle Mines is important seed money but much more support will be needed from government, corporations and other sources to make this worthwhile project a reality.
Between the workshop, the feasibility study and support from many individuals, we're impressed with the significant momentum that is building toward the establishment of a university in Nunavut.
Giant Mine's dark legacy Weekend Yellowknifer - Friday, November 13, 2015
'Sorry' is sometimes just not good enough.
Such is the case with Giant Mine and its relationship to the Yellowknives Dene First Nation.
There is no doubt Giant Mine, which began production in 1948 and ran until 2004, has had a positive influence on the growth and prosperity of Yellowknife. Indeed, there likely wouldn't be a Yellowknife as we know it without Giant Mine. But for the Yellowknives Dene, long ignored while the gold bars poured, there are not a lot of fond memories to count on. For them, the arrival of Giant Mine marked the destruction of their land and way of life.
In closing part three of a Yellowknifer series on the infamous mine, which coincided with the deconstruction of its iconic C-shaft headframe, Ndilo Chief Ernest Betsina called for a public apology from the federal government for "all the legacy, all the wrongdoing that happened with the mine."
As Yellowknifer learned in exploring the legacy of the headframe, it's representative of a gamut of emotions. At one time, about 100 people lived at the mine's town site and the fond memories are undeniable – Ken Hall remembers playing there as a child; Cynthia Creed remembers fun social events at the mine's rec hall. Giant Mine was the second pillar – Con Mine was the other – rising from the foundational underpinnings of a burgeoning city that provided a decent living for many people coming from across post-war Canada who were looking for a better life than the one they had during the Great Depression.
But long before the mine was even an inkling in the minds of the prospectors who originally laid claim to it, Johnny Baker and Hughie Muir, there was the Yellowknives Dene First Nation, who had much to lose but not a lot to gain by the mine's presence.
There were once blueberries so ample it was dubbed the 'sea of blue', according to Betsina, plus good fishing and moose hunting. Now the land is a scarred moonscape with a poisoned stream running down the middle and 237,000 tonnes of arsenic trioxide buried beneath it.
Because of a complete absence of environmental regulations, a consistent spewing of arsenic trioxide from the mine polluted the snow that members of the community used to make tea; oral history tells of multiple deaths of children because of just that, with one officially recorded.
Ultimately, Giant Mine demonstrates what happens when a group of people are relegated to the sidelines while everybody else enjoys the profits.
If people wonder why it is that aboriginal governments today take such a dim view toward mining Giant Mine provides us with the clearest example.
The Yellowknives are owed more than just an apology but an acknowledgment that their land was alienated and the mine posed a real threat to their existence. These are lessons learned from Giant Mine.
A surplus of candidatesDeh Cho Drum - Thursday, November 12, 2015
With the territorial election less than two weeks away, there is no deficit of qualified candidates in the Deh Cho and Nahendeh ridings.
Candidate experience covers a broad spectrum, from clerks to councillors and from gardeners to educators. Making the race in both ridings more interesting is the fact both incumbents are also running to retain their seats.
On Nov. 23, constituents have a tough decision to make. It is one they should not take lightly.
When considering who to vote for, constituents must understand the winds of change that have been moving throughout the territory.
A Liberal MP in a majority government has been elected. Decades-long negotiations are nearing their final chapters with both the Dehcho Process and negotiations with Acho Dene Koe. In Fort Simpson, a new mayor and almost entirely new council, save for two, have taken the helm.
If there was ever a season marked by electoral change in Canada and the NWT, this is the year.
For incumbents, that brings up a challenge. They must weigh how they can tackle changing political climates in a way that best represents their constituents.
They must convince voters of the strength of their track record.
Likewise, voters must weigh the benefits of political experience in an MLA against the benefits a fresh face could bring. The question they must ask is, is it time for a change in perspective, or is it time for a new MLA altogether?
Regardless of who is still standing once the Nov. 23 election concludes, the next crop of MLAs must realize that sitting in the Legislative Assembly is not a time to mince words, nor a place to make friends. Furthering their political career is something that should not enter into the equation.
The electoral districts need representatives who will vote for things the constituents need - people who are passionate and even angry about the issues their constituents face.
We need someone who is as angry about the lack of housing as those without homes themselves, and as frustrated by infrastructure deficits as the people who have to make do with inadequate resources at the health centre while driving over bad roads each day.
Luckily for both ridings, many candidates fit that bill.
The true test will be whether they can bring that passion to the legislature each sitting for the next four years.
Vote once more to make voice heardInuvik Drum - Thursday, November 12, 2015
This fall has certainly been a long slog for anyone following politics but it's not over yet.
The territorial election is coming up in just over a week and after months of federal campaigns and municipal wrangling, some residents may be feeling some voter fatigue. They need to, however, rally their strength and attention one more time this season before the holidays and make sure to go out and vote in the territorial election.
Like the federal election, there will be a chance to cast ballots in advance polls before the official election date of Nov. 23. Hopefully, as in the most recent election, we will see an increase in turnout for those, as well as an increase in overall voters.
The NWT as a whole increased its voter turnout by 35 per cent last month, which is really, truly impressive. It would be a remarkable thing to keep that momentum going.
If nothing else, territorial politics are perhaps the best place to make your voice heard.
If the Government of Canada is largely a distant grandfather with the money, it's the legislative assembly in Yellowknife that acts as the parent to dole out that money as it sees fit.
The Government of the NWT is responsible for all those frontline services that seem to be the biggest topics of conversation, whether an election is looming or not.
The GNWT administers health care and oversees the people who run the hospital. The territorial government is in charge of the NWT Housing Corp. and the executive council and MLAs are the ones who decide how mental health issues are dealt with.
It is the territorial government who is largely in charge of highways and other major infrastructure projects. It is this level of government which keeps bailing out the Northwest Territories Power Corporation to keep rates down.
The GNWT is in charge of education and is responsible for funding (or not funding) daycare programs that prepare children for that education.
The territorial government, in keeping with the latest devolution developments, is now tasked with creating legislation to balance development in natural resource extraction with environmental concerns. These, along with responsibilities left unlisted, are no small burden for the 19 representatives elected to the legislative assembly.
There have been some commonalities in interviews with the candidates running in the two Inuvik districts. They all care about giving Inuvik a voice at the table, making residents' concerns heard.
The flip side of the campaign promises to represent the people is that Inuvik residents have to speak up so their voice is heard and carried to Yellowknife, where the decisions are made.
Honouring today's fallenYellowknifer - Wednesday, November 11, 2015
Today, the eyes of the country will be on a Yellowknife woman as she lays a wreath at the National War Memorial in Ottawa.
Sheila Anderson was chosen to be this year's National Memorial Silver Cross Mother representing women who have lost children to combat.
Her son, Cpl. Jordan James Anderson, died in 2007 along with five other soldiers and an Afghan interpreter when their vehicle was struck by an explosive device on patrol southwest of Kandahar City.
Decades later the spotlight tends to still shine most brightly on the heroism and sacrifice of soldiers from the First and Second world wars but Sheila Anderson reminds us that sacrifices are still being made by Canadians today.
This is a debt that will never be repaid but nonetheless should be honoured by helping the veterans who do come home.
Veterans Affairs Canada has seen a 10 per cent increase in the number of soldiers seeking mental health care since 2002. As of 2012, 12 per cent of Canadian veterans are seeking mental health care.
A 2014 auditor general's report showed one in five ex-soldiers seeking mental health care need to wait up to eight months for their applications to be reviewed. In general, people are reluctant to seek mental health care until the problem cannot be ignored. Such long waits make problems worse, making it more difficult for veterans to find new careers and return to normal life.
Hopefully, the newly elected Liberal government will do a better job meeting their needs than its predecessors. The Liberals, including new Veterans Affairs Minister Kent Hehr and NWT MP Michael McLeod, will likely wear poppies today as will politicians here in Yellowknife.
Those who see them should ask themselves -- is that poppy a token gesture or a meaningful acknowledgment of the debt owed to veterans?
The treatment of veterans is particularly important to Yellowknife residents living alongside Joint Task Force North members, many of whom are returning from a tour of duty in Afghanistan and elsewhere.
In the meantime, fellow Yellowknifers should take pride in sharing their city with a woman whose son's sacrifice should not be forgotten.
No easy answer for addictions issueYellowknifer - Wednesday, November 11, 2015
With excitement around the new Stanton Territorial Hospital winding down, talk has turned to what to do with the old building.
During an election forum last week, Kam Lake incumbent David Ramsay suggested re-purposing it as a new addictions and mental health facility.
The idea of a Northern treatment centre captures the imagination but what good does bricks and mortar serve when the current hospital is already having trouble staffing two psychiatric positions and the health department continues to experience a 10 per cent vacancy rate? The NWT has had two treatment facilities fail within the past 12 years - Somba K'e Healing Lodge near Dettah and Nats'ejee Keh in Hay River - largely over staffing issues and under-utilization.
Earlier this year, the department conducted a review of withdrawal management services and found large gaps in the delivery of detox programs. A new mental health and addictions facility could accommodate a withdrawal treatment centre but many of the more pressing issues would not be remedied.
If proper support systems are not in place in the communities, any treatment received in Yellowknife becomes null and void. In some communities, such as Hay River, there remains a three to four-month wait to see a counsellor and this problem is compounded the remoter the community lies.
Wait times for services are critical when it comes to treating mental health and addictions - those who cannot receive assistance immediately often become a risk to themselves and others. Their first point of contact becomes the RCMP and jails quickly reach their capacity. Likewise, for those with addictions, the decision to seek help is often a temporary desire - brought on by withdrawal, exposure or lack of money.
Health Minister Glen Abernethy, while saying he is open to new ideas, argued last month that sending people south for treatment currently gives the territory the best bang for its buck. This may not be an ideal situation for residents hoping to remain closer to family and their supports but nothing realistic to date has been presented as an alternative.
Any candidate who puts forward addictions and mental health issues as one of their top priorities should be questioned on what exactly they intend to do about it. Beware easy answers.
All patients deserve medical treatmentEditorial Comment by Darrell Greer
Kivalliq News - Wednesday, November 11, 2015
There was a time when the mention of a two-tier health program in Canada summoned images of the country's rich receiving better care because they could afford to pay for it.
Today, however, a storm continues to brew over the delivery of some forms of care, with a number of doctors appointing themselves God when it comes to who receives help and who doesn't.
The mess began when a small number of doctors began to refuse to treat patients who were heavy smokers.
Then, heavy drinkers were thrown into the mix when it came to liver transplants and a moral dilemma was born.
Our health-care system traditionally sees the sickest among society receive treatment first, then it's a first-come, first-serve basis.
But what's the sense in treating the lungs of a heavy smoker if they aren't going to throw away the cigarettes, or performing a liver transplant on a patient who is going to continue drinking heavily and risk damaging the organ?
Shouldn't the benefit of treatment be the determining factor in who gets treated and who is left on their own?
After all, if we're going to attach blame to the equation, shouldn't those who brought the condition onto themselves through negligent or overtly risky behaviour be the first refused treatment so those
living healthier lifestyles can
benefit from it?
If so, who, ultimately, gets to make the call and does the process carry over into the Non-Insured Health Benefits Program that assists Inuit and First Nations?
Far more importantly, where are the boundaries set to determine the definition of blame?
It's one thing to say heavy smokers don't deserve to have health resources wasted on them when the chances of improvement, or survival, have been greatly diminished by their own behaviour.
But does the same rule of thumb apply to someone grossly overweight through nothing more than the complete lack of willpower?
How about someone hit by a truck and seriously injured while knowingly riding their bicycle on the wrong side of the road or highway?
Or, how about someone who willingly caused harm to themselves by unsuccessfully attempting suicide?
How do we weed out the physicians who are just prejudiced against anyone who smokes cigarettes or is a heavy consumer of alcohol?
Do we completely ignore the fact we know in the vast majority of cases these people suffer from addiction?
And surely any system rife with the spectre of doctor discrimination hovering over it would have lawyers licking their lips from coast to coast to coast in anticipation of the lawsuits being launched.
It's no surprise to see this denying-health-care sentiment gather steam during this era of political correctness gone stark-raving mad.
But doctors should always be willing to do their duty in treating a patient to the best of their ability, not imposing their own beliefs and punishing people for ill-advised lifestyles.
At no time should they be given the right to play God in determining who receives treatment.
