Senator vs. the MountiesNorthwest Territories/News North - Monday, August 29, 2016
What exactly has the RCMP done to verify information our senator says he has about the death of Billy Cholo, found dead in a gazebo outside the Fort Simpson health centre more than two years ago?
The fact that we have to ask this question is becoming an exercise in the absurd.
Sen. Nick Sibbeston unleashed a bombshell last month while speaking at the Dene National Assembly, when he complained that RCMP have not followed up on a tip from a friend who says he knows the name of a man who had threatened to kill Cholo shortly before his death.
RCMP Chief Supt. Ron Smith, who was at this year's Dene National Assembly, said he would get Sibbeston in contact with an officer who could provide more information about the investigation.
RCMP then declined an interview from News/North about the case but Staff Sgt. Bruce McGregor stated in an e-mail that the major crimes unit was following up on Sibbeston's remarks.
However, on Aug. 10, another media outlet ran a story which seemed to discredit the senator.
"This information that he has provided was followed up well in advance of Senator Sibbeston raising these concerns at the Dene Assembly in Fort Simpson," RCMP Insp. Peter Pilgrim, who head's up RCMP's south district of the NWT while based out of
Yellowknife, was quoted as saying.
When News/North attempted to confirm what Pilgrim had said, RCMP declined to comment, except to say, "Insp. Pilgrim has been in contact with Sen. Sibbeston," which really doesn't explain anything about what was said or when.
Sibbeston, meanwhile, is sticking to his guns.
He declined a phone interview with News/North late last week but did state in an e-mail: "RCMP have not interviewed the person who was told by Billy that he was told by an individual that he would be killed. I stand by my statement and it's now up to the RCMP to confirm or deny it."
He confirmed he had communicated with Insp. Pilgrim but nothing was stated "that has resolved the issue."
One thing is certain: Cholo, a 45-year-old avid outdoorsman from Fort Simpson, is dead.
As News/North reported at the time, Cholo was reported missing in December 2013. His remains were found by an RCMP officer on Jan. 9, 2014. His death was ruled a homicide following an autopsy.
The other certainty is that the RCMP's public reaction to Sibbeston's concerns - a sitting senator, lawyer and former government leader of the NWT who has no reason to lie - has been deeply unsatisfying.
And confusing.
It is perfectly understandable that there are many details police cannot divulge during an open homicide investigation but the clarity needed here is not regarding potential evidence. It's whether the police have done their jobs following up on a potential tip that could crack the case.
RCMP at present may very well be patiently building a case that results in charges but they don't help their cause by blowing off people who are trying to help on one hand and then refuse to confirm their response to criticisms to other media.
People need to have trust in the RCMP. Citizens need to feel safe and secure in their understanding that if they provide a tip on an investigation - especially into a homicide - it will be followed up on.
The territorial government pays good money for the services of the RCMP. While it isn't the role of any elected official to get involved in any particular investigation, it's time Cholo's family, the community of Fort Simpson and the taxpayers of the entire territory get some clear answers in this communications breakdown.
It's time for Justice Minister Louis Sebert to demand clarity in this matter. The public has the right to know.
No shortage of opportunities for training and educationNunavut/News North - Monday, August 29, 2016
A 14-week work readiness training program specifically for people on social assistance is being offered in partnership with Nunavut Arctic College at no cost to students starting Sept. 12.
Aimed at making people more self reliant, the program assists them in building self confidence, includes work experience, development of resume and interview skills, upgrading in literacy and an introduction to computers. The Getting Ready for Employment and Training program targets the approximately 8,400 Nunavummiut who receive social assistance payments every month.
Meanwhile, Nunavut Arctic College is offering a certificate course in aboriginal language revitalization. Running from mid-October to mid-May, the cost of tuition, travel and accommodation is covered for participants.
On another front, five Iqaluit high school students are taking a five-day course in Toronto to learn about financial literacy, entrepreneurship, anti-bullying, stress management and more in the Bay Street Bootcamp.
The students work on a business plan, pitch their ideas to a panel of judges, then sell their idea to a panel of experts and an audience made up of their peers, parents and guests. The best business plans are awarded with scholarships and prizes.
These are just a few of the many opportunities available for young people who are looking at charting a successful path in life.
Students who get good marks in school, are involved in activities within their communities and have a desire to succeed have a wealth of options available to receive assistance.
Arviat student Shelby Angalik made headlines earlier this summer when she was named as one of 20 students from across Canada to win the TD Scholarship for outstanding achievements in community leadership. She will receive up to $80,000 to pursue a university education over four years.
At the same time, young Iqaluit mother Neoma Cox was just awarded the Qikiqtani Inuit Association's John Amagoalik Journalism Scholarship, worth $5,000, and plans to attend Arctic College's environmental technology program.
There is no shortage of assistance for Nunavummiut to expand their options. Programs are available with Polar Knowledge Canada, Students on Ice and Northern Youth Abroad. Many youth are involved with the Royal Canadian Army Cadets, the Junior Rangers program, sports groups, Girl Guides and other organizations.
Young Nunavummiut involved in business can have a large impact because every small business has the potential to become an employer, paying money that stays in the territory.
Many students who go south to further their education want to come back to Nunavut to share their skills and experience for the betterment of everyone in the territory.
Opportunities abound for those who want them. Sometimes it takes a bit of searching to find assistance in a specific area of interest.
However, it is proven that people who have the desire and determination to embark on a journey of personal development can find success.
Where's the 'positive' in health superboard? Weekend Yellowknifer - Friday, August 19, 2016
The newly minted NWT Health and Social Services Authority is compacting into one organization the six current regional health boards, including the Yellowknife and Stanton boards.
In a briefing last week, Glen Abernethy, the territory's minister for health and social services, assured attendees that the new board will not negatively affect patient care.
In the long run, the new superboard should mean streamlined services, he said.
And streamlined services are a good thing, right? "Streamlined" has such a positive ring to it, how could it not be a good thing? Especially with Abernethy's reassurance that this process isn't about centralizing services or removing frontline positions.
Or at least it's not necessarily about either of those things yet.
"Some jobs have been re-described," Abernethy said. "There may be some affected employees but not necessarily."
The fact is, streamlining for the sake of streamlining is absurd busy work.
If something is broken that this amalgamation is meant to address, the minister needs to explain how, exactly, this process will do that and how it will improve health and social care delivery in the North.
It is not enough to state there will be no negative impact. One would hope not, especially given the truck-size gaps that already exist in the treatment, for example, of mental health and addictions in the North.
So far, the government has not explained how services will improve under this new model. Instead, it has made vague promises of better co-ordination of health-care services, simplified spending and less paperwork.
Hurrah for less paperwork but what does this mean for those in need of urgent addictions or mental health treatment in the North?
To be sure, cost savings and efficiencies are important things. But without a sense for how those savings will help address existing failures or inadequacies in the current system, the creation of the health superboard will primarily excite bean-counters and process wonks while it does nothing for the people the system is meant to serve.
For the minister to say the superboard will not negatively impact health care is faint praise indeed.
The government has made a start with the introduction of a superboard but where is it going?
What is the concrete plan to demonstrably improve health care in the North by introducing a single monolithic health board?
A true community gathering placeDeh Cho Drum - Thursday, August 25, 2016
All were welcomed into the hamlet of Fort Providence on Aug. 17 to join in the community's celebration for the completion of its new arbour.
And celebrate they did.
There was an aura of reverence about the afternoon and a huge portion of the participants took part in the feeding of the fire ceremony.
Fort Providence, on the banks of the Mackenzie River, has long been without a proper gathering place.
Instead, when the community holds a celebration, gathering or event, it normally takes place at the recreation centre, school gymnasium or outdoors near the baseball field.
Now, as many speakers during the opening ceremony said, the community once again has this important centrepiece to revolve around.
And although Fort Providence's community events have not necessarily been dimmed by the lack of a central gathering place, the fact they now have one is true cause for celebration.
Perhaps the most telling symbol of the entire construction is the exquisite fire pit in the centre of the arbour. Just as the arbour will be the centre of the community, so too is the fire pit the very heart of the arbour, around which the Dene's most spiritual traditions take place.
Carved with the outline of Northern creatures, the fire pit's many sides are emblazoned with the names of the governing organizations that help Fort Providence thrive.
That can be taken as a symbol of how cohesive the community truly is.
In many communities within the Deh Cho, the arbour is perhaps the most important cultural structure present.
It is where seasonal celebrations take place during the summers.
It is a place of joy and laughter, a true place of gathering in every sense of the term.
In Fort Simpson, the arbour has been used for grand celebrations such as Liidlii Kue First Nation's spring gatherings, the Open Sky festival, high school graduation ceremonies and more.
In Fort Liard this past weekend, the arbour held Acho Dene Koe First Nation's handgames tournament, and was surrounded by booths for the fall gathering.
That gathering, now in its second year, is quickly becoming an annual event and one to look forward to each summer.
The most noticeable thing about that gathering is the ever-present laughter and smiles on the faces of those who attend.
While still a competition, the handgames tournament was as much about players enjoying themselves and having fun as it was about winning a prize.
When things like that happen, the true spirit of the North shines through.
Many benefits to seeing the worldInuvik Drum - Thursday, August 25, 2016
It's hardly news to anyone in the North that academics are not the only path to learning.
The benefits of being out on the land and bringing cultural activities into the school are touted and treated with equal weight in the education system, giving students the opportunity to learn about their surroundings and connect with the land, no matter what their background. This is something fairly unique and justifiably gets a lot of attention.
This week, we spoke with young women who had recently returned from a trip to Europe with Girl Guides Canada. This kind of travel, though it happens less often, is equally deserving of attention.
As connected as Inuvik is to the rest of the world through both global communications systems and the broad spectrum of ethnicities and backgrounds the community attracts, nothing replaces going and seeing the world for yourself.
As the Girl Guides can attest, it is one thing to know about the Eiffel Tower and see it in photos, and quite another to climb its stairs and eat in the restaurant located storeys above the city.
Perhaps more importantly, travelling to foreign countries helps people better understand themselves. You learn about what scares you and how to put that fear aside. You learn about making the best of temporary situations and fast friendships, and at the very least, you learn about all the food you've been missing all these years.
Now, travel is expensive, and that is certainly a prohibitive factor for the vast majority of Northern residents. But once again, the Girl Guides have proven that it can be done.
While not everyone can sell the trademarked cookies to make their travel dreams a reality, it's not like there is a dearth of fundraising opportunities in town.
Some may argue that dollars are scarce and that the cash would be better spent on improving things and hosting big events at home, and they are not entirely wrong. That being said, the community's brightest and most important resource are the people who call this place home, and giving them a chance to gain the perspective allowed by travel is a worthy investment.
While it is undoubtedly important to learn about the immediate surroundings and the cultures in which they are steeped, getting young people out to see the wider world is also imperative.
King's escape exposes security flaws at jailYellowknifer - Wednesday, August 24, 2016
Denecho King proved to the North Slave Correctional Centre earlier this month that where there is a will, there is a way.
He escaped from the facility on Aug. 10 by making his way to the roof and disappeared for three days before he was eventually flushed from a townhouse on Sissons Court.
In the bureaucratic terms, the Department of Justice explained in a news release that King's escape "revealed a pre-existing gap" in security and he "exploited" that gap.
Through his escape, not only did King expose shortcomings at the jail but also the gap between a particular recommendation from a scathing 2015 Auditor General of Canada report on the NWT corrections system and the department's response to the recommendation.
The auditor general expressed safety concerns over the fact that remanded inmates - those held in custody while awaiting trial - and convicted inmates were not being held separately. This is a concern for obvious reasons as some remanded prisoners - like Denecho King - may be accused of violent offences worthy of serious penitentiary time but won't be sent south until after they are convicted.
To have these prisoners, who are also a greater flight risk because of the lengthy sentences they are facing, milling around with other inmates convicted of far less serious charges puts both the guards and inmates at risk.
The department's response was that mixing inmates was "intentional and integral" because of space constraints. Since the audit, however, the department did update its inmate screening procedures to introduce a process that considered the severity of the crime, possible gang affiliations and flight risks to determine who should be housed with whom. It hasn't been made clear what King's flight risk designation was before he escaped.
This incident marked the first time in the North Slave Correctional Centre's 12-year history that somebody has successfully breached its security. While it's good to hear this has never happened at the facility before, the escape was a legitimately frightening time for many Yellowknifers. King has a lengthy violent criminal record and is facing a murder and attempted murder charge, and nobody knew how this tense situation would unfold.
Thanks to the RCMP, which got the word out by being open and communicative with the media, King was captured without incident. There was little doubt the RCMP would eventually find King, considering how his face was plastered across the front page of the newspaper and on thousands of social media feeds throughout the city.
The Department of Justice's report into King's escape will not be released to MLAs until September. Hopefully, the report is thorough and the department is transparent about the security flaws that led to King's escape.
Even if the findings are embarrassing for particular staff, bureaucrats or leadership, the public deserves to know what happened. It's important to be open and honest about this sort of thing because the public deserves to feel confident in its government.
The public deserves to feel confident that the department understands how these security lapses happened and the public deserves to feel confident that changes are being made so as to make sure an escape like King's never happens again.
Peace comes at a priceEditorial Comment by Darrell Greer
Kivalliq News - Wednesday, August 24, 2016
The opinions of a certain type of antagonist, who's never shy about expressing their thoughts in public, has always driven me a little batty.
On one side of the coin, they don't want any increase in the amount of money being spent on our military.
Yet, they express outrage anytime we side with Uncle Sam on an issue and despise seeing American content on our TV and radio airwaves, or just about anywhere else for that matter.
And they've been revelling in their glory during the past few months on how the best the United States can do for a pair of presidential candidates are Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton.
And, of course, their glee in taking any and every opportunity to jump on Trump, especially, knows no boundaries.
The problem is, however -- and this is why it was hard to get excited over a handful of troops conducting exercises in the Kivalliq this past week -- without Big Brother to the south, we are totally incapable of defending any of our interests.
Our military has sunk to the point where it couldn't protect a new shipment of fresh produce at the Northern store on government payday.
And that has nothing to do with the fine soldiers who would willing give their lives to defend our borders for a modest pay cheque.
Canadian soldiers remain among the very finest in the world.
But, when it comes to the equipment they're forced to use on land, sea or air, they are, literally and figuratively, bringing a knife to a gun fight in almost any conflict.
Despite our government's comical attempts at sternness with our big brother any time he implements a policy that rankles our feathers, the U.S.A. is our supreme protector and we're no more than paper allies when the chips are down.
John Robson hit the nail on the head when he titled a National Post column he wrote this past week as, "Canada seeks peace on the cheap."
Technology continues to move at lightning speed with the hardware of national defence, but that technology always costs a lot more than Canada is willing to pay.
It is downright laughable that this past year, in 2015, more than 32 years after then prime minister Pierre Trudeau first started the process, the first of the 28 replacements for our grossly outdated Sea King anti-submarine helicopters successfully arrived.
Robson was also absolutely correct with his assertion that we, as a nation, can no longer patrol our coasts, defend out skies, project force, or work effectively with our allies.
Militarily speaking, we are dead in the water.
Canada is still spending less than two per cent of its gross national product on its military, which has resulted in it being a two-bit player on the international stage, let alone be able to defend itself should the need ever arise.
You can poke fun at Trump all you want, and sneer at what you see as distasteful American policies, but, at the end of the day, without its military support, we're nothing more than a toothless beaver waiting to be skinned by much larger animals lurking in the international bushes and waters.
More than a half-century of peace has made us complacent, and, in today's world, that's a very, very dangerous way to be.
