Unknowns remain in power dealNorthwest Territories/News North - Monday, March 14, 2016
Good for Hay River town council on securing what appears to be a better deal for power distribution in the community.
With residents and businesses screaming about the high cost of power the town's leaders decided they would try cutting power distributor Northland Utilities out of the equation in an effort to lower power bills. Both the town and GNWT-owned NWT Power Corporation, which will now generate and distribute power in Hay River, say customers can expect a 20 per cent reduction on the cost of electricity.
If that actually occurs then that is good news.
But for reasons still not fully understood today, power corp. has been charging Northland Utilities 30 per cent above the cost of providing power in Hay River. News/North asked the Public Utilities Board, which regulates power rates in the territory, for an explanation last year but never received an answer.
Fort Resolution, meanwhile, which is fully serviced by power corp. was only paying 51.7 per cent of what it cost to provide the community with power.
A cynical person might suggest it's easy to promise a 20 per cent reduction in the cost of power when the community is already overcharged by 30 per cent.
These questions deserve answers. Why was Hay River charged so much more for power than neighbouring communities? When Hay River put out a request for proposals for a new power distributor in May of last year, Northland released its proposal publicly so anybody could read it. NTPC did not. Why? How is it that a government-run corporation would be able to provide power at cheaper rate than its private sector counterpart? This question leads quickly to another question: how much will it cost the taxpayer for NTPC to provide power at lower rates in Hay River? Also, how much will it cost the taxpayer to acquire the power infrastructure in Hay River, as it has committed to do in its proposal?
Transparency is key, especially when dealing with a Crown corporation bidding against the private sector. The government-run agency holds all the chips and the government-appointed Public Utilities Board sets the rules. It's only fair then that all the cards are laid out on the table.
While News/North is genuinely happy the residents of Hay River have been promised a reprieve from the inexplicably high rates they've been paying for power, the most important question still unanswered is, at what cost comes this discount?
Mactung discount is not a good dealNorthwest Territories/News North - Monday, March 14, 2016
A final price has come in on the tungsten-rich real estate the territorial government decided to acquire less than a week before last fall's election.
Instead of the $4.5 million it was estimated to cost at the time, the GNWT will pay $2.6 million. While it seems like a bargain, the government actually struck a bad deal years ago, when government leaders were negotiating devolution.
This is what they agreed to, regarding the remediation of mine sites approved by Ottawa pre-devolution: If the territorial government "maximizes the value" of assets corporations have posted in lieu of cash required to pay the remediation of their mines, the federal government will remain responsible to do the job.
Wait a minute. Who accepted collateral instead of cash for remediation of these sites in the first place? It was federal government, via the Mackenzie Valley Land and Water Board. This means the territorial government has put itself in a position where it is responsible to maintain the value of security the federal government accepted from corporations in lieu of cash in the first place.
So this is why cabinet put forward an emergency spending measure days before it was set to dissolve in the wake of an election, to acquire mineral rights to a property in the hopes somebody, someday will eventually pay what the feds deem it must be worth.
The 17th Legislative Assembly did not get a good deal by acquiring Mactung for a discount. Those leaders got the shaft, for having to bid on it in the first place.
Don't be satisfied with small slice of fundingNunavut/News North - Monday, March 14, 2016
With almost half its population under the age of 35, Nunavut communities count on their sports and community facilities to provide opportunities for physical activity, outdoor adventure, organized sports and competition -- all essential ingredients for a healthy lifestyle.
Arenas, gymnasiums, sports fields and properly-equipped playgrounds are all responsibilities of government to build and maintain, ensuring they are kept in good condition and capable of passing safety, cleanliness and occupancy tests.
It has become clear the various levels of government are shirking their responsibilities to provide adequate facilities, not so much because of a lack of will but largely because of a lack of funding amidst the challenges of construction in remote locations and maintenance in the harsh climate of the North.
One case in point is the situation in Hall Beach, where officials are poised to pull out two playground structures after they were deemed to be unsafe. Residents and hamlet administrators are trying to raise about $125,000 for their replacement, launching a GoFundMe page and getting a commitment of $30,000 from the hamlet.
Of the federal infrastructure dollars announced by Nunavut MP Hunter Tootoo for Nunavut Feb. 29, less than $1.3 million will go to playgrounds, plus $425,000 (or 25 per cent) from the Government of Nunavut as a requirement of the Small Community Building Fund. There are 10 other communities besides Hall Beach scheduled to lose their playgrounds because of safety issues and the Government of Nunavut says the highest need playgrounds will get priority for replacement.
That's outrageous when one considers how much money is required for a place that is constantly in use by children who swing, climb and slide outdoors at recess as well as after school with friends, relatives and siblings.
In a look at the bigger picture, it seems obvious Nunavut is being shortchanged because of its small population. Overall, the Small Communities Building Fund, carved from the New Building Canada Fund, has $1 billion available to all communities in Canada with less than 100,000 people. And Nunavut only gets $25 million?
Not to sound too ungrateful but the Iqaluit Aquatic Centre is receiving $4 million toward a $40-million project. The Kenojuak Cultural Centre in Cape Dorset will get $2 million toward a $10-million project to replace a firetrap that has long passed its best-before date. And the Government of Nunavut has to find $6.54 million from its already tight budget to meet the 25 per cent matching funds requirement.
Building communities is about the small things taken for granted in big cities -- proper playgrounds for children, community halls for feasts, safe arenas for sports, an actual swimming pool, and arts and cultural centres for people to create.
Nunavut, and the other territories, deserve a larger slice of the community funding pie and special consideration because of location and conditions.
Out in the cold Weekend Yellowknifer - Friday, March 11, 2016
There's a drunk guy staggering about the street in minus 30 temperatures.
A passerby calls the emergency line. An ambulance is called but when it arrives the patient is being uncooperative and unruly. So the paramedics call the police but this time they don't come. That's because a change in policy enacted last fall means RCMP will generally only respond when people who are intoxicated are a threat to public safety. Drunk guy staggers into snow bank, passes out and never wakes up.
While it doesn't appear this has happened yet, the groundwork has been laid.
E-mails obtained by Yellowknifer show RCMP fear the potential liability in detaining intoxicated people when it comes to "public inquiries and internal investigations" should these people get hurt while in custody or an allegation of police misconduct arises.
The policy was also enacted in part to free up resources to do other police work.
The e-mails are an expression of a very valid frustration on the part of RCMP, which has been left to deal with the lack of support for addictions. The shelters, which are at the front of the front lines, are themselves dealing with the implications of this, having to take in more people at greater levels of intoxication.
When will the territorial government, which pays about $40 million for RCMP services, wake up to the true cost of downloading such responsibility onto the resource meant to be dealing with crime and ensuring public safety?
It's unacceptable for the GNWT to sit idly by while RCMP grapples with how to deal with a population where the consequences for inaction are grave. Nobody should have to freeze to death as a catalyst for change and it's up to government to ensure its vulnerable population is taken care of.
In the past, citizen patrol groups have served to fill the gap in services for this population, with some success. Citizen Patrol Services - a volunteer effort -- ran a van and received financial support from both the city and the territory. The vehicle, equipped with volunteers, would drive city streets on the watch for intoxicated people and help them by bringing them home or to a shelter. It missed a city funding deadline in 2010 and was unable to make up for it through other funding possibilities. This is the sort of program that could be effective again, and deserves funding - even actual staffing by people trained in social services.
Either way, inaction on the part of the GNWT is unacceptable.
The current situation has deadly consequences and must not perpetuate.
Not all is dark and gloomy Weekend Yellowknifer - Friday, March 11, 2016
There are dark clouds hovering over the city's economic forecast but that doesn't mean it's all doom and gloom.
The loss of Snap Lake and overall downturn in the global economy certainly makes it seem like the city is sliding into the abyss. The territorial government's dire warnings about the need to trim $150 million in spending over the next five years make the picture all the more darker. Feelings of economic malaise played a major part in city council's rejection of the 2023 Canada Winter Games.
However, it's worth taking stock in these troubled times of all that is good.
The Gahcho Kue diamond mine is expected to start production later this year, bringing the territory's number of operating diamond mines back up to three. The approval of Ekati Mine's Jay Pipe project is expected to extend mine life there for another 11 years.
Giant Mine, as much as its legacy of environmental degradation continues to trouble Northerners, presents a major economic boost with the announcement of $600 million worth of contracts for its eventual cleanup.
There is another solid pillar in the foundation - tourism. The Northern Frontier Visitors Centre reported 36,000 tourists made the trek North last year to watch the Northern lights and those numbers are expected to grow, ironically, due to the country's slumping economy and lowered dollar.
And while questions remain about the need and cost for the $350-million rebuild of Stanton Territorial Hospital, it is a major project bound to benefit the city for years to come through economic spinoffs and more advanced health care.
While the present situation is undoubtedly precarious, there are still plenty of areas around the city one can find potential for economic growth. It is how well we exploit these opportunities that will determine Yellowknife's trajectory through the dark clouds ahead.
A time of cheerDeh Cho Drum - Thursday, March 10, 2016
Every once in a while, one must stop to appreciate how great it is to live in the North.
It is not always seen as such, but the North is truly a land of opportunity. Those opportunities take the form of competition - many youth from the Deh Cho are overseas in Greenland, pouring their hearts into various sports for the Arctic Winter Games.
Opportunities also take the form of building ties with friends and family. This week, the Beavertail Jamboree is in full swing in Fort Simpson, while annual sled dog championships are bringing racers to Fort Providence. Meanwhile in Fort Liard, community members are looking forward to Cabin Fever Days.
All of these events are coinciding to make the Deh Cho a place of warmth, friendship and festivity as spring approaches. That will last throughout the month of March as people turn their attention toward Easter, Acho Dene Koe First Nation's ice fishing derby and Nahanni Butte's upcoming Spring Gathering.
Between the Arctic Winter Games, the Beavertail Jamboree and all the other events happening this week across the Deh Cho, it is important to remember another opportunity some of us have in the North: the opportunity to reach out and impact someone's life in a very real way.
March 7 to 11 is Social Work Week. In Fort Simpson, that week means different things to different people, as social workers take on a variety of tasks from paperwork to community support.
Currently across the Deh Cho, there are nine social workers who travel between communities to give care where they can.
They represent the bones that hold our communities together because they support those in need, especially the young.
Social workers are responsible for advocating for people, helping them obtain services and building relationships with the community.
Much of the job focuses on child welfare as workers manage the foster care system and look after children at risk.
Each of those tasks are important and should not be forgotten.
In the words of Fort Simpson social worker Emilia Leroux, the job is synonymous with helping people.
Social work brings the community together as a support system and lets residents know they are not alone as they struggle.
With all the Deh Cho has to be thankful for, it is important to remember those who work behind the scenes to make communities a better place.
Restorative aspect a welcome changeInuvik Drum - Thursday, March 10, 2016
Making a system by which people make complaints against organizations, individuals and governments more accessible to those people whose human rights may have been violated seems like a pretty easy decision.
The NWT Human Rights Commission was in town last week, seeking to make connections with Inuvik organizations and reach out to people, as well as talk about the proposed changes to the current system. That system involves something more like a courtroom setting, including lawyers and vast reams of paper going back and forth. The proposed changes would see that process take a more restorative and -- dare we say it -- human character.
From our perspective, there is no drawback to this. Restorative justice has proven time and again to be more effective in the long term versus the court system, so much so that jurisdictions are rushing to implement legislation to allow for it.
It is cheaper, overall, than a normal judicial process, freeing up courtrooms and everyone who works in them, despite an initial cost for implementation. It also has a proven track record of reducing recidivism, especially among young people.
Now, a human rights case isn't necessarily similar to a criminal trial, and it really shouldn't be, but there are some parallels. It involves someone who feels wronged in a profound manner by another party that typically has more power than the person making the complaint, such as an employer. Anyone who ever disagreed with their boss can understand how difficult making their voice heard can be, nevermind when a human right has been infringed upon.
Adding lawyers to the process -- which chairperson former MLA Charles Dent has said was never the original intention -- makes it so very much worse.
Beyond the cost savings to the system and massively increased ease with which the people most needing it could access the process, a restorative approach could very well see improved outcomes for all concerned. No one likes spending money on lawyers and people on either side of the table no doubt want to get it over with as quickly as possible.
We talk a lot about the importance of getting together to hash things out and we laud organizations that host roundtables, conferences and summits on any number of topics. This is an opportunity to bring that value right down to the individual cases faced by people in our territory.
Making the human rights process more accessible to more humans is a no brainer.
Big cash-in from GiantYellowknifer - Wednesday, March 9, 2016
With $600 million worth of contracts up for grabs as part of the Giant Mine remediation project, there is a rare opportunity to make something positive out of what went so horribly wrong.
To Yellowknife, Giant Mine was critical to the city's economic prosperity over the 56 years it was in operation. To the Yellowknives Dene, it is viewed by many as a disastrous scourge that brought ruin to the land they called home since time immemorial.
As recently as last year, residents in Ndilo had dust blowing off of tailings ponds at the mine site into their yards, stirring up concerns over arsenic exposure - arguably the gold mine's darkest legacy.
And it's for this reason that the announcement of the federal money on offer for cleaning up the scarred site should benefit those people most affected.
Contractors will be required for drilling, blasting, environmental monitoring, as well as mine work and construction management. The jobs will be long-lasting and well paid, and no one deserves to be first in line for them more than the Yellowknives Dene.
Even through the mine's life, when many saw the benefits of a paycheque, few Yellowknives Dene were comfortable working underground, exposed to the hazards of the mine, Johanne Black, director of Yellowknives Dene land and environment department told Yellowknifer. And for those who were employed at the mine, there were no training benefits for First Nations to advance into management positions.
Now, with the site cordoned off and 237,000 tonnes of arsenic trioxide buried below to be frozen in perpetuity, an opportunity has opened up. These contracts could mean a significant boost to the local economy where such a benefit has not yet been seen.
And what's good for Ndilo is good for Yellowknife as a whole.
The environmental degradation that resulted from Giant cannot be fully remediated and its impact on the fishing, hunting and harvesting in the region will not be rectified with any sort of official apology - though one is certainly in order.
These clean-up contracts are an opportunity to work toward not only rectifying what was done to the land used by Yellowknives Dene but to its people. The money belongs in the hands of those who lost the most. And then, finally, the Yellowknives may see a golden lining on what for the First Nation has been a black pit of controversy.
Twin Pine Hill trails an important resourceYellowknifer - Wednesday, March 9, 2016
People heading down to Old Town during any given day will likely see tourists marching up to the top of Pilot's Monument by the busload.
Every snapped photo proves its value as a tourist attraction and the same may be true of Twin Pine Hill if it is similarly developed to encourage pedestrian traffic.
Last year, broke records in the number of aurora visitors, according to the Northern Frontier Visitors Centre, with 36,000 tourists flooding into the city to crane their necks up at the Northern sky.
The latest dollar figures available from the 2012/2013 aurora season show visitors spent $15.2 million in the territory, most of which was likely spent in the capital.
Compared to the value tourism brings to Yellowknife, the $500,000 the city has set aside for developing trails near condos being built on Twin Pine Hill is peanuts. The question now is what to do with it.
The view the hill offers of the surrounding lake and landscape from this elevated position makes it an ideal place to view the Northern lights a stone's throw from downtown, and who better to offer advice than the tourism operators who have already learned how to use the Northern lights to draw in business?
While the value of consulting the public is a must, the city should also consider what tourism operators have to say to ensure the city gets the biggest bang for its half-million bucks.
This will ensure the proposed trail system offers the best possible attraction for tourists and residents alike.
Nothing noble about Okalik stanceEditorial Comment by Darrell Greer
Kivalliq News - Wednesday, March 9, 2016
I've long been a supporter of former premier Paul Okalik.
One careless mistake of a sexist profanity, spoken out of a combination of frustration and anger, brought a brilliant run as Nunavut's first premier to a screeching halt.
Okalik brought a quiet, confident demeanour to the table during his run as premier, and he put an open, friendly, but no-nonsense face on the territory in general.
While whispers of a dictator's mentality did slip from behind closed doors once and awhile during his tenure, I never once sensed that in my dealings with the man.
And, to this day, he remains the best we've had at the top for openness and accountability when dealing with the media.
That, at least, is the experience of this scribe.
There were few times during Okalik's time as premier that I didn't buy into his "vision" of where Nunavut was and where it was heading.
And I respected the man for overcoming his battle with alcohol.
Okalik owned up to his mistakes and never came across as a victim.
He took responsibility for his missteps, fought to correct them, and resisted pointing a finger of blame at this, that or the other thing for putting himself in the position of having to fight one of the most difficult battles of his life.
However, I do not respect his decision to resign from cabinet this past week over the possible opening of a wine-and-beer outlet in Iqaluit. I suppose, one could argue it was a display of my way or the highway (read: dictator's mentality) from the now former Justice minister.
One thing it most definitely was not was respectful to the very foundation of this great nation of ours - democracy!
The people of Iqaluit had spoken on the issue. And, at 77 per cent in favour, they did so in a very loud voice.
It was also a slap towards the traditional Inuit way of consulting with the people and accepting the majority's voice.
Yes, we have problems with a small percentage of the population in Nunavut when it comes to alcohol and yes, we have a sad lack of addictions treatment in this territory.
But let's not pretend there's not all sorts of alcohol readily available in Iqaluit to anyone who wants it now.
From licensed establishments, to illegal gambling dens and bootleggers a plenty, it's a relatively moot point with two exceptions.
First, it's been proven time and again having a liquor store puts a huge dent in the amount of illegal hooch being peddled.
Second, you cannot fight alcohol abuse by making it unavailable through a legal outlet.
Do our politicians close their eyes and ears when they visit dry communities, or are they simply that naive?
With no legal outlet, the criminal element rakes in the profits.
And what do criminals do with large amounts of profits? They reinvest it into other criminal activity that brings even more temptation into a community.
There was nothing noble about Mr. Okalik's stand on this issue.
It was a horribly outdated and overly-emotional response that did nothing but weaken our government by removing an experienced and effective minister from its ranks.
