Living in our dogs' filthYellowknifer - Wednesday, April 12, 2017
Yellowknife has become a dog-poop minefield. It's quite obvious heading up the main entrance to Tin Can Hill - to the right and left of the pathway up are dozens upon dozens of droppings.
According to city administration, some of these gifts may be from wild animals such as foxes, bears or coyotes. Sure, but the number of domesticated dogs in town dwarf the number of large, wild mammals, and certainly they aren't all using the entrance to Tin Can Hill as a communal latrine.
Let's not kid ourselves. It's dog owners abandoning the vast majority of these messes.
Three years ago, administration updated the city's dog bylaw to include, among other things, a provision that requires dog owners to carry bags. Since then, this portion of the bylaw hasn't been enforced once.
City officials say people have been ticketed for failing to clean up after their dogs and officers have done public engagement on the issue but the city did not share the number of tickets given out or any data to say how much public engagement there has been.
City councillors who took part in approving the bag carry measure are obviously upset. Not handing out tickets makes this part of the bylaw "a pointless legislative exercise," said Coun. Adrian Bell, a proponent of the bag carrier provision in 2013.
City officials are being somewhat circumspect about why they are not handing out tickets to bag-less dog walkers but the reasons seem obvious.
For one, it's doubtful it would stand up in court should it be challenged. What if a dog walker insists she had been carrying three bags upon interception by bylaw officers but had used all three and deposited them in a city-supplied receptacle? Is the city going to conduct DNA analysis of the receptacle to prove none of the bags came from her dog? And just how many bags are people supposed to carry anyway?
The weaknesses of this particular portion of the dog bylaw aside, it's clear council was fed up with the status quo when they passed it. The fact that nothing appears to have changed since then reinforces the impression that the city doesn't take this issue very seriously.
Considering the annual uproar over dog feces that comes with the snow melt each spring, administration should be able to point to specific results - the number of tickets issued, the dates on which officers patrolled popular dog-walking trails to investigate compliance and conduct public engagement. Yellowknifer has asked for this information before but has yet to see actual numbers.
Now, Yellowknifer is not advocating for a doggy police state of bylaw checkpoints shaking down owners for their poop bags. But it's clear council and the public would like to see more enforcement.
What if bylaw picked a time of year to do a blitz, where they make themselves visible around off-leash areas, let people know about the bylaw, hand out bags - and some tickets. Then report back to council.
Dog feces isn't just gross. According to the city's own Facebook page, it can contain E. coli, giardia, parvo, tapeworms, roundworms, salmonella, coccidia and these organisms can survive in the soil for years.
And it's not just dogs using these parks. Children do too. Children who love to play in the dirt. The fact the city has such a laissez faire attitude toward this mess just makes it seem like it doesn't care.
And if the city doesn't care, why should dog owners?
Whale of a taleEditorial Comment by Darrell Greer
Kivalliq News - Wednesday, April 12, 2017
Patrick Moore found himself in a little hot water after voicing his opinion on whale hunting at the Nunavut Mining Symposium in Iqaluit last week.
To come to Nunavut and suggest Inuit should think about phasing out whale hunting; well, them's fighting words in these parts, so you have to expect people to be upset by the notion.
Today, while one person talks, the other often puts on the appearance of listening, but they're really waiting, and rather impatiently at that, for the person to finish so they can hear the glorious sound of their own voice staunchly defending their stance, cause or opinion.
There were a few interesting points I took from Moore's little spiel in Iqaluit.
First, when something happens in public, be it Moore's intentional comments or something quite unintentional, we've learned from the American media to instantly adopt the blood-in-the-water mentality and make as big a deal out of the situation as we can, whether it's warranted or not.
And we've cleverly elevated certain terms that, by their very nature, mute one's voice under the unspoken, but all too real, threat of racism.
We don't get upset today, nor do we get even. There's far too much energy required with those types of approaches.
On those types of paths, we risk the possibility of having to substantiate a point or claim, and, heaven forbid, we may end up face-to-face with the biggest little three-word question in the world, why? Once you put yourself in that situation, someone may actually expect you to answer.
Well, we can't have that. Fortunately, we've learned to play the role of the victim and the put upon to perfection in this country. We know the best thing to be today is offended. Once you establish yourself as genuinely offended (and, psst, hey, who's to say, really?) it's a slam dunk from there.
Play your cards right, and the media may do it for you by cleverly placing the all-powerful word in a sensational, attention-grabbing headline.
And even if, after reading the story four times, you're still not sure who was offended, unless you count the person on Twitter who thought it was cute the way the "white dude" (the white dude is always fair game) expressed his opinion, there's still no worries.
In fact, even if Moore went out of his way to state he has no intention to advocate against Inuit hunting whales (which he did), or even if he was quoted, on the record, saying he respects the rights of aboriginal people to hunt them, if that's what they want to do (which he did), it wouldn't matter.
Moore alluded to a couple of minor points, being entitled to his opinion and having the right to free speech, but - let's be honest, right? - the "white dude" and his rights, up against someone who has been offended? Moore would soon take to Twitter to publicly explain his beliefs on the matter.
One can't help but wonder how many public explanations soon became admissions of guilt in somebody's courtroom.
But, the best was yet to come.
That sour little moment came courtesy of the Nunavut Mining Symposium itself, when it turned its back on Moore, his rights, opinions and well-spoken, if ill-conceived, thoughts on alternatives to whale hunting, and issued a statement apologizing to any guest offended by Moore, making sure to note some of the views expressed by Moore (gee, wonder which ones?) are not reflective of the symposium's or, more importantly, any of its sponsors.
Moore picked the wrong battlefield, and Inuit face too many real threats to their way of life to be concerned with his Disney-like depiction as reason to stop hunting whales, but the man should get points for acknowledging aboriginal rights, while not renouncing his right to free speech and being entitled to his opinion.
If Moore had been a Clash fan, he would have known, "You have the right to free speech, provided, of course, you're not dumb enough to actually try it."
Government foot-dragging holding back First NationsNorthwest Territories/News North - Monday, April 10, 2017
Darryl Boucher-Marlowe says he will explore ways to boost infrastructure and investment after being elected chief of the Lutsel K'e Dene First Nation.
"I want to get the young people's voices heard," he said after his win on March 28 ("Lutsel K'e elects new chief," April 3).
At 30-years old, Boucher-Marlowe said he believes he could be the youngest chief ever elected in Lutsel K'e. He wants to find ways to boost infrastructure and investment in the community, such as developing a hotel and restaurant to increase tourism.
He wants to create jobs and sell local goods.
"When we get visitors into the community, we have nowhere for them to stay or for them to come and spend their money," he said. "We want to help create jobs more sustainably for our First Nation."
Boucher-Marlowe is not alone.
And it's time government bureaucrats wake up and take notice.
There is simply no good reason to throttle efforts by indigenous people to have a life truly free of the invisible grip of colonialism.
Take a look at the roiling situation in the Deh Cho between the Nahanni Butte Dene Band and the Department of Lands.
Nahanni Butte Chief Peter Marcellais said the band had asked for the department's assistance in putting together an application for a land use permit in early February and has been waiting to sign off on the final application ("Lands dep't seeks injunction for road," News/North, April 3).
So what does the government do? It seeks an injunction against Nahanni Butte for work the band has been undertaking on a road next to the community. The band has had members working for more than two months to slash brush and clear the road, which used to be an old logging road.
The department claims Nahanni Butte is trying to speed up development of Prairie Creek Mine by getting around an environmental assessment process required for construction of a road to the mine.
Currently, a proposed all-season road to the mine is before the Mackenzie Valley Review Board - no stranger to accusations that it has a fondness for long and drawn out processes.
The GNWT dodged a bullet in its decision to withdraw from the case last week and seek an out-of-court settlement. Its reputation as a legitimate level of government is already seriously hampered in communities outside of Yellowknife. The authority of its institutional power is being challenged but clearly this a case where patience and compromise would win a better result.
Metis leaders in the South Slave, meanwhile, are "frustrated" by the status of their long-running land claim negotiations with the GNWT and federal government, ("Metis voice frustrations," News/North, April 3).
And it's not just because negotiations are into their 21st year - with a final agreement years away - even though an agreement-in-principle on land and resources was signed in 2015. A final agreement would also deal with self-government.
The territorial and federal governments are reportedly trying to have new offers on the table for three outstanding NWT land claims by the middle of May, including Northwest Territory Metis Nation.
We will see if that moves the ball down the field any. Because it's been stuck in the mud for some time.
"I wouldn't say that it's an impasse," said Fort Resolution's Garry Bailey, president of the Northwest Territory Metis. "But we're frustrated because we've been dealing with these issues for a long time."
No kidding. Indigenous people have a paucity of faith in government. And for good reason.
It's time to cut the red tape holding indigenous communities back. Let them fly or fall - but at least let them try.
Arts partnership needed for new city developmentNunavut/News North - Monday, April 10, 2017
It's good that the Qikiqtaaluk Business Development Corporation - and Qikiqtani Inuit Association - are working together with the City of Iqaluit to develop a second core in the city's west end.
The development will see between 700 and 900 residential units - a major addition to the city's infrastructure - as well as a conference centre, hotel and other needed facilities.
We're hopeful culture will get serious consideration as this project develops. The city needs to encourage a second partnership that would help Nunavut's performing arts community through Qaggiavuut build the territory's first performing arts centre.
Just as the city benefits from the development of a second core, so too does the development corporation benefit from having traffic drawn toward its project.
Qaggiavuut's Ellen Hamilton indicated to city council that the conference centre will have a performing arts aspect but that it may duplicate her organization's efforts. If that's the case, the Qaggiavuut project could struggle to come to life as a result.
It makes more sense to look to the people who have fought for many years to develop a performing arts centre, and to bring the project into the fold. Qaggiavuut's project will be of significant benefit to Inuit, and give life to the neighbourhood.
The business development corporation's mission is to provide career development opportunities, and its mandate is to work with public and private partners. There's a lot of logic in aligning with an existing body that has received the Arctic Inspiration Prize, and which has strong leaders that include Hamilton - an Order of Nunavut recipient - and many respected Inuit.
This week, the Toronto Star reported that 401 Richmond - one of the city's heritage buildings and home to mostly artists, art galleries, and cultural startups - faces a dramatic tax increase due to the fact it is on prime real estate. Its assessed value is far more than the rents would indicate.
So Toronto is asking the Ontario government to change a tax rule that could help promote the arts by reducing the tax burden for such spaces where real estate is valuable. That's because places such as 401 Richmond keep the city alive by bringing culture to an otherwise all-business neighbourhood.
The same attitude is needed in Nunavut. Arts projects like the performing arts centre need the support of those with money, in this case the Qikiqtaaluk Business Development Corporation.
Nunavut is the only circumpolar capital without a performing arts centre, and we look with envy at NWT's, Yukon's and Iceland's centres. We encourage the QIA to direct its business development arm to work with Qaggiavuut and make a space that visitors to Iqaluit will want to make their first port of call.
Jamboree no place for out of control sledders Weekend Friday, April 7, 2017
Two weekends ago a person operating a snowmobile lost control and plowed into a Department of National Defence tent and display area at Long John Jamboree.
The tent was occupied at the time by armed forces personnel and tourists. Fortunately, nobody was seriously injured but it doesn't take much of an imagination to consider the possible tragic outcomes had a child or adult been in direct line of impact.
This was a close call and it was only by chance that no one was seriously injured.
Details are scant at the moment while RCMP conduct an investigation into the incident but the sled was last registered to a local tourism operator who declined the opportunity to clarify his company's involvement in the incident.
Tourists and tourism are one the city's greatest assets. It's incumbent on tourism operators to ensure the safety of all people and to put restrictions on activities that could mar otherwise wonderful events, not to mention the possibility of maiming or killing event goers.
Bruce Hewlko, president of the Great Slave Snowmobile Association, quite reasonably asked members and all sledders to avoid the congestion around the Snowking snow castle during the Long John Jamboree weekend. It is unfortunate that not all heeded the call.
With thousands of square kilometres of ridable lakes and terrain in the Yellowknife area, he was not out of line to ask snowmobilers to give the festival grounds a wide berth. The jam-packed Long John Jamboree site is not the place for an inexperienced rider to learn how to handle a sled. Modern machines are built for speed. They go from a standstill to high speed in the blink of an eye, and require a generous safety buffer zone to comfortably learn to control.
Even if it turns out after the RCMP investigation concludes that the rider wasn't inexperienced, it would just go to show that accidents can happen whenever sleds are operated among large crowds of people who are not necessarily on the lookout for random, out-of-control snowmobiles.
Nobody likes to see piles of rules and restrictions damper the fun but if common sense isn't enough to control behaviour, snowmobiling by the general public needs to be formally excluded from within or near future winter festivals on the lake.
Kudos for dealing with water bills Weekend Yellowknifer - Friday, April 7, 2017
When it comes to city issues, economic growth and diversification tends to be at the top of the list.
Yellowknife government and residents want businesses to come here and flourish. The more business there is, the better the economy does.
This is why it was so shocking to hear that in December of last year, Old Town businesses got a nasty surprise on their water bills - suddenly, the fee per litre went up five-fold once they reached a threshold of 2,730 litres in a month. For Fletcher and Miranda Stevens who own NWT Brewing, that meant their water bills skyrocketed by 300 per cent. John Doody, co-owner of Bayside Bed & Breakfast, saw his water bill double. These businesses brought their bills back to city hall, complaining the sudden hike was unsustainable. Yeah, no doubt.
City administration and council definitely deserve a pat on the back for responding to this issue and suggesting a refund. That said, administration is only suggesting refunds back to January, despite the problem starting in December.
Apparently, according to administration, it would be a headache to refund money collected in 2016, as the city is in the midst of an audit for that year. It probably is a headache but it surely is an even bigger headache for overcharged businesses to only be partially compensated because it's inconvenient.
So, as Coun. Julian Morse says, "If people have paid a bill that council has decided is an unfair bill, I think we should make sure we're refunding that money."
Amen to that.
Student truancy not only a school problemInuvik Drum - Thursday, April 6, 2016
Liz Adams has been working in Inuvik's school system for more than 20 years, and she admittedly doesn't have many solutions for chronic attendance problems.
It gets worse when the sun stays out and school nears its finish following spring break, teachers say.
East Three School staff are constantly coming up with games and fun ways to experience school. In the confines of the public schooling system, they're doing about all they can.
Whether everyone agrees the curricula of public school is optimal or not, it's certainly good practice for showing up to work on time and getting used to the 40-hour work week.
Beyond many of the specific skills school teaches, work ethic and delayed gratification are two of the most important characteristics people need to learn, no matter what career they go into.
Considering the difference between the traditional way of life in this region with that of urban southern Canada, it can be easy to conclude the lack of buy-in among students and families has to do with the transitional period this region is in.
On one hand there is the culture of living on the land, and on the other the modern institutionalized systems of education and employment.
But these don't need to be mutually exclusive, and the same attributes that make people successful anywhere are shown in both.
A traditional seal hunter knows about delayed gratification and the ability to work hard in the present to set up a bounty in the future.
Similarly, there was no lack of work ethic that propelled the aboriginal groups in the area to survive and thrive in what many consider a brutal environment.
Ultimately, the lack of economic opportunities here and the rise in welfare rates has to be considered a contributing factor to lackluster enthusiasm for school.
There are many forms of welfare and some are more justifiable than others, but the danger with all of them is creating the incentive not to work. It's a balancing act all governments play and many programs get rather elaborate trying to reach it.
From 2006 to 2015, the monthly average of beneficiaries of income assistance has risen from 155 to 254 in Inuvik, while the monthly average of cases has increased from 85 to 156, according to Stats NWT.
Income assistance payments in that same time frame have more than doubled, while the employment rate has dropped.
Welfare, at its worst, is a self-perpetuating cycle that destroys incentive to work. At its best, it is a brief bounce off the safety net and hand up to those most truly in need.
That's one side of the coin. The other might be an even larger question: how else can one make money in this sleepy economy?
If people cannot see opportunities, they have no incentive to better themselves and their families.
Fortunately, the digital age means people are less dependent on location than ever to pursue their dreams.
Poor school attendance is symptomatic of a bigger problem than sunny nights being fun times to play. Putting that problem completely on the school system is unfair.
