GNWT not to blame for headframe's demise Weekend Yellowknifer - Friday, August 19, 2016
The on-again-off-again demolition of the Robertson headframe at the former Con mine is back on track.
The iconic marker that has defined the Yellowknife skyline since 1977 will come down. Or at least that's where things stand as of last week when a Miramar Mining Corporation official said that despite the company's best efforts to develop a working agreement with the GNWT that would save the headframe, those talks have failed.
Representatives of the Winnipeg contractor hired to bring down the headframe were reportedly in town last week for preliminary site work.
If this is truly the beginning of the real end of the headframe (it was to have come down this past spring) some may be looking for a scapegoat.
The natural response is to look to the territorial government. After all, it has the legislative authority to sign on the dotted line and take over responsibility from Miramar for any and all future liabilities associated with the headframe.
But it didn't sign on the dotted line despite the protestations by many that a viable economic solution for preserving the headframe could be found -- would be found -- if only the government would commit itself to taking over what is essentially a large-scale decommissioned industrial site complete with related detritus and the burden of surface and sub-surface environmental remediation.
But fools rush in and the GNWT was wise to refuse that burden in the absence of a solid financial plan that demonstrated how saving the headframe could be fiscally responsible and not just nostalgic pie-in-the-sky wishful thinking.
A business plan is what has been missing all along, despite a local entrepreneur who claimed to have developed a plan which he said the GNWT stupidly ignored.
It's not the GNWT's mandate to develop solid business plans to save historic Yellowknife structures. The onus for a solid business plan is on save-the-headframe proponents, not the government. In the absence of a sound business plan, vetted by more than its own author, the GNWT was correct to walk away from negotiations. The last thing the North needs is a poorly executed plan to save the remnants of an old mine long past its expiration date.
Escape highlights dangers of sharing too much information Weekend Yellowknifer - Friday, August 19, 2016
Social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter have changed the way people communicate and just like any changes there are pros and cons.
Last week, as police were scouring the city for escaped inmate Denecho King, who is facing charges of murder and attempted murder and has a history of violence, people took to their accounts on Thursday evening to spread word he had been captured near McDonald's, with images circulating of a man being put in an SUV in handcuffs.
Turns out the information was wrong.
The man being arrested was a suspect in a shoplifting incident at the uptown liquor store.
While social media allows people to instantly share information, it can become dangerous when that information is wrong, misleading or can give away the whereabouts of police as they were searching the city.
One doesn't need to sit at a computer anymore to connect to social media, thanks to smartphones.
King, or anyone who may have been helping him, could have been reading these updates and known where police were, making it easier for him to avoid capture.
The RCMP warned against sharing locations of police searches on social media to avoid this possibility, plus minimize the spread of false information.
It may sound paranoid but sharing too much information online does put the public at risk.
It can cause a panic, a false sense of security or possibly alert suspects where police are located.
In times of crisis it's better to share tips directly with authorities, rather than hitting send.
Don't trash youth on the wrong pathDeh Cho Drum - Thursday, August 18, 2016
I want to take a moment to talk about bad apples.
As the level of discourse around Fort Simpson's recent spate of crime continues, we have begun to hear that term being used around the council table.
In the words of former councillor Bob Hanna, there are always a couple bad apples in the bunch.
In the words of Coun. Mike Rowe, if you throw out those bad apples, you've generally got a pretty good batch.
Now, first of all it is important to state that there is probably not one simple solution Fort Simpson can implement to cease criminal behaviour.
But it is equally important to stop dehumanizing the individuals involved.
Everyone has seen a bad apple or two in their lifetime. These are the apples that are too bruised to eat, too rotten to bite into, worm-ridden and, frankly, gross.
Maybe they were left on the tree too long. Maybe they picked up a parasite en route to the grocery store.
To compare a child - or any person, for that matter - to that kind of inanimate object should be shocking and unacceptable.
The crux of the matter is this: human beings are not disposable.
You cannot simply throw out a person.
You can't put them in the garbage can, or the compost bin, and go on about your day.
It does not work like that.
Human beings need love, and they also need discipline.
Instead of abandoning these people altogether, we should be aiming to help them - even if that means turning them in to the police. Recently, Sober Sally/Sober Steve - a group in town dedicated to providing healthy programs for older youth - decided to form a committee. Prior to this, the group - consisting mainly of one person, Jackie Whelly - has operated for the better part of a year with limited support from the general public.
Now, Whelly is aiming to expand the group and develop a real plan for Fort Simpson's youth.
These are the sort of pro-active measures we need to see.
Likewise, one community member took matters into her own hands when she realized her son was involved in a recent break-in.
By reporting to the RCMP, this person set an example for parents everywhere.
Instead of just throwing away the key, there are community members who are willing to tackle the issue of crime head-on. These people have shown they are coming from a place of compassion and love instead of anger.
Community members must never lose sight of the fact they are dealing with human beings. In fact, that is the most important piece of the puzzle.
Positive change takes real effortInuvik Drum - Thursday, August 18, 2016
Many observers will agree that people who confine their activism only to social media are not particularly effective.
And yet, it seems to be such a popular activity.
Now, there is nothing inherently wrong with people bringing issues to Facebook, airing their views, and calling for action. This is the beauty of the connectivity most Internet users can now enjoy, and it goes a long way towards building a community. The trouble is when that dissent, that unhappiness, isn't taken any further.
Last week saw a kerfuffle on Facebook surrounding a leaked document with the salaries of Gwich'in Tribal Council's elected leaders and some of the executive staff. The GTC then released its own document, with less information than the leaked one, but essentially containing the same numbers. There was nothing new about those numbers -- they were very similar to those posted this time last year, when they prompted a kerfuffle on Facebook.
The lesson here -- obviously -- is that making something a big deal on social media is not an effective method for change.
Instead, as incoming president Bobbie Jo Greenland-Morgan strongly suggested, get out from behind the computer screen and get involved in real life.
On Aug. 15, the Gwich'in Tribal Council said that exactly zero people contacted the organization through Facebook, through its website or by Twitter this past week to complain about executive compensation.
The organization cannot speak for each member of the board of directors and all their interactions, and we should all be wary of feedback being restricted to "official channels." But it is a telling claim that no one has complained.
The Gwich'in Tribal Council insists it is a corporation and, while it certainly is, it also functions as a local government in many ways.
The thing about participatory democracy is that it's not confined to once every few years in an election (in which only one-third of eligible voters participated in anyway, this time around), or at annual general meetings. People looking to make change need to be involved all year round, and at the local level.
The whole point of electing people is that they are then required to listen to the electorate. Sure, some politicians are better at listening than others, but those who aren't listening don't last very long when people care enough to show up and complain about it.
Social media is a good place to disseminate information and for voices to come together and get a feel for how others are reacting. It is overall a good thing. Social media is not a place where real, meaningful change can happen. It is not real life, and politics -- at all levels -- is nothing if not a real life activity.
Jr kindergarten launched in a fogYellowknifer - Wednesday, August 17, 2016
Junior kindergarten is back, apparently.
It is set to unroll in Yellowknife schools next fall. The free, optional programming is absolutely important and a good government initiative but what should be a positive story risks being marred by controversy once again.
During the first attempt to launch two years ago, MLAs and school board members cried out when they learned the program would be funded by clawing back school board surpluses. Also, those who run Aboriginal Headstart, a successful, federally-funded preschool program, wanted to know why junior kindergarten was being rolled out in communities where free preschool already existed.
So, the territorial government put junior kindergarten in Yellowknife and other larger communities on hold in the fall of 2014 in order to carry out a review. It recommended more consultation, including consultation about funding.
Fast-forward to today. Now, the education department has confirmed junior kindergarten is coming again, yet nobody knows a thing about it. Yellowknife District No. 1 chairperson John Stephenson told Yellowknifer he hadn't heard anything from the government about junior kindergarten since the government promised consultation.
Yellowknife Centre MLA Julie Green said the consultation that had been promised had not started yet, as far as she knew. Miles Welsh, acting chair of the Yellowknife Catholic School Board, said he was aware of the timeline but still had questions for the government.
Ever since junior kindergarten was first announced, people in the education department have insisted over and over that they have consulted with the people most affected by it, yet those people keep claiming that hasn't happened.
Even after a review of the program stated lack of consultation was an issue, the education department has again decided to push forward without talking to these people.
It's not good enough to sit in an ivory tower and make decisions without talking to people about how these decisions might affect them.
As it is right now, junior kindergarten is back on the docket but there are still people who have questions - like whether the funding model has changed - but nobody seems to have answers yet.
Department officials have an obligation to clear the fog around these questions.
Why fire investigations are valuableYellowknifer - Wednesday, August 17, 2016
The fire marshal investigation into a blaze that destroyed an Old Town home earlier this summer has placed blame on the house's bathroom fan.
Apparently, it's important for residents to clean the grimy dust that accumulates on fans like these. Who knew? Well, because the fire marshal publicizes the results of fire investigations, we all know now.
It's hard to imagine how hard it must be to watch your home and belongings get destroyed in a blaze. This is why the fire marshal's investigative duties after house fires provide such an important public service. When the public is educated about fire risks, they can take steps to avoid those risks.
Hopefully people are heeding the fire marshal's recommendations to make sure bathroom fans are cleaned regularly and the electrical equipment they use is up to standard. The fire marshal says to look for a little CSA sticker that says the equipment is certified by the Canadian Standards Association. Knowledge like this is valuable and if Yellowknifers can make good use of these tips, hopefully house fires like these can be avoided.
No success ahead for Nunavut MPEditorial Comment by Darrell Greer
Kivalliq News - Wednesday, August 17, 2016
I followed the Hunter Tootoo situation closely while out on vacation and there's no reason to rehash most of the particulars here.
Personally, knowing the man and his skill levels, I am deeply disappointed.
There are times it seems our male politicians in Nunavut are out to break some sort of twisted record for unacceptable behaviour.
We have had far, far too many of these incidents among the people who are supposed to be our leaders since becoming our own territory.
I applaud the man, Hunter Tootoo, in seeking help to deal with his demons, but not the politician.
Our politicians have to be held to a higher standard, and those not willing, or able, to meet that standard should seek a different career path.
Our territory risks becoming a joke at the national level if this seemingly unending stream of unacceptable behaviour from some of our top politicians does not soon disappear.
And no one takes a joke too seriously!
While there have been many more Nunavummiut expressing their displeasure this time around (a good thing), there are still many who can't seem to get their heads around the severity of this instance.
And that's disturbing.
There are many times I admire, and support, the Inuit way of offering second, and sometimes third, chances to those who make mistakes.
But there are some areas where offering second and third chances is risky business.
The line between boss and employee -- especially in the high-powered world of politics -- is fraught with peril.
Romantic encounters, however consensual, in the workplace are rarely good ideas, and that's especially true when it involves two people at different ends of the power spectrum.
While I have always had a soft spot for the NDP, I have never pledged allegiance to any one political party.
In every election, from municipal to federal, I vote for the person whom I believe is capable of doing the best job.
That being said, there are times the writing is on the wall for how an election is going to go and, with all things equal, it's better to have a representative from the governing party.
While I'm sure some voted for the man in our most recent federal election, many more voted for the party.
And that, in a nutshell, is why Tootoo should resign.
Nunavummiut voted to have a Liberal representative, period.
Does anyone truly believe Tootoo would have been elected had he run as an Independent in the election?
If the man himself believes it, resign and run again as an Independent and prove it to us.
Nunavummiut should not be saddled with an Independent MP for the rest of this term.
With all due respect to Jack Anawak, Tootoo can no longer be effective for our territory and have his voice heard.
He is now, for all intents and purposes, a political pariah, and is seen by many in Nunavut to be putting himself ahead of the people he represents.
As long as he remains in his position, there is nothing for Nunavummiut to do but sit back and wait for the punch line!
Expropriation no, competition yesNorthwest Territories/News North - Monday, August 15, 2016
A power struggle was sparked after a closed-door meeting in Hay River on Feb. 9, when three businesses seeking to distribute electricity in Hay River met with town council to go through details of their proposals.
In the weeks following the meeting with Northland Utilities, the Northwest Territories Power Corporation and Flash Point Facilitators, rumblings that began in 2014 when council began mulling over a provider change, came to reality.
With residents and businesses screaming about the high cost of power, Hay River council decided to take the steps needed for NWT Power Corporation to acquire the electrical distribution system and franchise agreement in the community - one currently held by Northland.
The town and the power corp. maintain once the change comes into effect, customers can expect an overall decrease of about 20 per cent on the cost of electricity.
For readers not up to speed on this issue, Northland has distributed power in the town since 1951. The electricity is generated by the power corp., a GNWT Crown corporation. Northland's contract with Hay River expires Nov. 30.
On the surface, it seems like a smart business decision by council. But Northland wasn't about to go down without a fight.
Doug Tenney, vice-president for Northern development with ATCO Electric, the parent company of Northland, has since argued his case loudly to anyone who wants to listen - including to a committee of the legislative assembly. He characterizes Hay River's move as "expropriation" and has also warned Yellowknife city council that the power corp. has its sights set on taking over Northland's Yellowknife's power distribution system contract when its contract expires with the city in 2020.
This newspaper has previously praised Hay River council for securing what appears to be a better deal for power distribution in the community. We hope that will actually occur. But questions remain as to how a government-run corporation would be able to provide power at cheaper rate than a private-sector counterpart.
And News/North still wonders how much it will cost the taxpayers for the power corp. to provide juice at lower rates in Hay River - especially after having to acquire Northland's multi-million dollar power infrastructure in Hay River.
So News/North leaves readers this week with one thought to ponder - is the power corp.'s move in Hay River part of a secret long-term plan to make power generation and supply in the North an entirely governmental undertaking?
Ask your MLA what has government ever done cheaper than the private sector? Ask him or her to again re-visit studies to connect North and South Slave power grids for better power security. Clearly that will eventually become a reality, but when?
Ask your elected representative not just why there are so many power blackouts this summer in the North Slave but why it takes power corp. so long to switch over to diesel backups? Is this an example of the type of poor service consumers can expect if indeed there is a power corp. power play in the works?
And the final question our government needs to be asked - and Northland for that matter - is when alternative energy sources will be given a serious look? Such as nuclear, wind, geothermal and expanding the North's nearly unlimited hydro potential?
Help needed for northern dogsNorthwest Territories/News North - Monday, August 15, 2016
After the seizure of dozens of sick and scared dogs from an Inuvik residence, the town and shelters there and in Yellowknife are in urgent need of donations.
As you read last week in News/North ("SPCA seeks help for rescued dogs," Aug. 8) while the first hurdle of rescuing nearly 30 dogs in Inuvik has been cleared there is still much work to be done.
"It's a huge deal, but that's what we're here for," said Nicole Spencer, president of the NWT SPCA. "It's a huge strain on resources.
"We need help, we need resources, and we need volunteers to donate their time more than ever."
Nine of the dogs have been sent south to the NWT SPCA in Yellowknife and to the SPCA in Red Deer for further treatment and hopefully their forever homes.
The cost of transporting them south is at least mostly taken care of through a partnership between the municipality and Canadian North airlines. We applaud the airline for being a good corporate citizen.
Still, the costs for the care and treatment of nearly 30 dogs is mounting. The town and shelters are looking for help from the public. They are accepting donations at town hall until Aug. 19.
While donations would help with the immediate crisis, it would also help counter the image that the NWT "is a good place for animal abusers," as an animal rights group recently declared.
Early challenge to naming of Nunavummiut commissionerNunavut/News North - Monday, August 15, 2016
Initial analysis of the appointment of commissioners to undertake the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls resulted in criticism that a non-Inuit person from Nunavut was named.
It appeared to be like other appointments by Ottawa that seemed to be more a result of political connections than actual first-hand knowledge or experience.
The Government of Nunavut was careful in its statement, issued jointly by Monica Ell-Kanayuk, the minister responsible for the Status of Women, and Justice Minister Keith Peterson. It stated that "the appointment of a Northerner to the commission is encouraging. However, this is a deeply sensitive issue, and Inuk representation on the commission would have provided balance to directly reflect the culture and experiences of our communities."
The ministers did say they "are pleased that the national inquiry has been formally announced, and look forward to working with the commission to move toward understanding this tragic Canadian issue and create systemic changes.
"We know that preventing family violence is critical to ensuring the safety of Nunavummiut at home. We will continue to work together to create safe communities that promote respect and healthy relationships. Open dialogue and community-based solutions are key to reducing family violence in our territory."
Meanwhile, the national representative organization of Inuit women in Canada, Pauktuutit, was also critical of the appointment. The Ottawa-based organization's president, Rebecca Kudloo, issued a news release which stated, "In 2016 it is not acceptable that the Inuit women of Canada do not have an Inuk as a commissioner."
Certainly a woman of Inuit descent raised in an environment where that person gained an intimate understanding of the challenges and struggles faced by Inuit women, especially knowledge of the level of violence faced by Inuit women historically and today, may have been preferable. There are some who can list names of people who fit that description.
While the criticism by territorial ministers and Pauktuutit is valid, we find no fault in the appointment of Qajaq Robinson to the role. Raised in Iglulik, fluent in Inuktitut, schooled in law, and with extensive experience as a Northern advocate and counsel to the Specific Claims Tribunal, Robinson is being praised by many prominent people as a worthy appointment to this difficult, challenging and emotional position.
There are only five commissioners, including the chief commissioner, tasked with hearing from the families of missing and murdered indigenous women and children, supporting them throughout the process and providing a mechanism for families to pursue their cases through the justice system.
They must delve into the historic and systemic issues that has resulted in the high number of missing and murdered women and children, consolidate 11 years of research and make recommendations by the end of 2018.
We can only wish Robinson well in what appears to be a daunting task ahead.
