Avens must be part of bed shortage solutionYellowknifer - Wednesday, March 16, 2016
The territory is facing a shortage of beds for people who require around-the-clock care and the territorial government seems to be throwing its arms up and whispering 'crisis' - but so far, not much else.
This is odd considering Avens - the non-profit organization that houses seniors with a variety of needs - literally has a gaping hole in the ground and is in the market for a partner to create a new building with enough long-term care beds to meet the projected need by half.
While the GNWT has an obligation to consider all options for both taxpayers and the senior citizens and others who will make up this projected 123-bed shortage in the city, Avens is the most logical and viable partner in the equation.
The seniors societies of both the city and the territory presented the case against for-profit care to MLAs earlier this month. This is distinct from Avens, which is a not-for-profit organization. Despite the objections of a for-profit model being put on the table, and the fact the GNWT via Health Minister Glen Abernethy has committed to looking at all options in filling the shortfall, no private operator has expressed interest.
When all options are considered, what will likely emerge on top is Avens. As its CEO Stephen Jackson told Yellowknifer last week, "We have the experience. We have the passion," citing the organization's 30-years of experience operating in the territory.
Plus, it seems, Avens can do it cheaper.
Abernethy told the legislative assembly it costs $130,000 per bed annually to operate a long-term care facility but Gord Van Tighem, chairperson of the Avens board of directors, said the organization operates below what the government or other organizations would in providing a similar service, although he did not offer specific numbers.
It's good the government's antennas have twigged to the projected shortfall in beds, which is expected to happen in 10 years. And it's good an experienced partner with the skills and expertise to fill the shortfall already exists in Avens.
Greatest gender deficit is elected womenYellowknifer - Wednesday, March 16, 2016
There is a fine line between hiring someone based on gender parity and strictly on qualifications.
This debate is being played out as a new commissioner is being sought out for the NWT. George Tuccaro's five-year term ends in May and there has been plenty of discussion over whether the next one should be a woman.
Former Frame Lake MLA Wendy Bisaro's name was mentioned as a replacement but she was quick to say no, insisting she is retired. She added that while she would like to see a female commissioner, one should not be chosen "just because she's a female." We tend to agree. The more the government makes choices based on identity, the fewer choices it is has in staffing positions with strong and able people.
That said there are many women in the NWT who would make great commissioners.
A Facebook post by Yellowknife Centre MLA Julie Green generated the names of 48 women, including well-known figures, such as Gail Cyr, Ethel Blondin-Andrew, Jane Groenewegen, Sharon Firth and Nellie Cournoyea.
Needless to say, there are plenty of good candidates in the territory - both men and women - to fill this mainly ceremonial role.
The greatest gender deficit remains among our elected leaders, including the legislative assembly, where once again only two out of 19 MLAs elected last fall were women. That's something all Northerners should be thinking about next election.
The magic behind the musicEditorial Comment by Darrell Greer
Kivalliq News - Wednesday, March 16, 2016
Regular readers of Kivalliq News realize this old scribe has a tremendous affection for a rock-and-roll band known as the Beatles.
In the Kivalliq, it burns me no end how many dismiss the group these days due solely to Paul McCartney's stance on seal hunting and well, any other form of killing an animal to produce meat for supper.
But that is the personal opinion of Macca (McCartney's nickname), and has nothing to do with the Beatles collective.
First and foremost for me is my love for their music, which changed the popular music scene forever.
And I could fill this edition with stories on the number of firsts the four lads were responsible for.
The stories would range from their dealings with record labels, their techniques in the studio, to George Harrison being the grandfather of "music-cares" fundraisers such as Live Aid and Farm Aid with his Concert for Bangladesh in 1971.
The Beatles were the perfect storm of happenstance, from the musical genius of Macca and John Lennon to the brooding undertones of Harrison and the play-exactly-what-the-song-needs drumming of Ritchie Snare (Ringo Starr).
But, make no mistake about it, the eye of the musical storm was their producer, the late George Martin.
The happenstance of fate that brought The Beatles to Martin and the Parlophone label is music legend, as is his ability to translate what McCartney and Lennon -- who had no formal training to be able to express their ideas in musical terms -- heard in their heads into musical reality.
While McCartney at least, could suggest sounds from numerous sources, Lennon's genius was far more abstract, and he often spoke of the sounds in his head in terms of colours, emotions, sensations and dreamscape-like progressions.
Lennon would tell Martin he wanted a song to sound like an orange or, in the case of Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite, he wanted to be able to "smell the sawdust on the floor" (The Complete Beatles Recording Sessions).
Lennon -- who Martin referred to as an "aural Salvador Dali" -- also held little regard for the "laws" of music and relied on his producer's genius to make the musically impossible, possible.
Arguably, the most well known example of Lennon's technical indifference (some would say insanity) came during the recording of one of his best-loved efforts, Strawberry Fields Forever.
Lennon was torn between two different arrangements of the tune, one being a little too brash for what he heard in his head, and the other a little too lush with its cascading string section.
To Lennon, the answer was obvious. He'd have Martin splice the two versions together and, voila, an instant musical masterpiece!
Of course, it was of no concern to Lennon that the two versions were recorded in different tempos and keys!
With the help of longtime Beatles engineer Geoff Emerick, Martin created his own brand of studio magic and pulled it off.
If you listen to the song closely today, you can still hear the splice at about the one-minute mark of the song.
The music world lost a true legend with the passing of Martin, 90, this past week and, like millions of others, I lost one of the main architects to the soundtrack to my life.
Somehow, "Thank you George," just doesn't cut it.
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.
