Editorial page

Wednesday, March 8, 2000

Action is needed now

Our city is making national headlines over the actions of a Yellowknife mother.

Mary Kosta launched a hunger strike Feb. 29 supporting 59 retired Giant miners set to lose 25 per cent of their pensions. She's also fasting on behalf of 250 workers who have yet to receive a severance package after October's layoff from the bankrupt mine.

Kosta's actions have hit a nerve both locally as well as nationally.

The more we wade into this situation the clearer it becomes that, increasingly, corporations are bailing on their responsibility through bankruptcy. Yes, this affects all Canadians.

But before we get all bogged down in a national review of the legal rights companies may have over the collective rights of workers, let's remember what we have on our hands here and now.

In just over two weeks time, 59 workers will lose at least 25 per cent of their pensions. Men like Kurt Lenigher. Retired after working 27 years at Giant, Lenigher continues to make Yellowknife his home. No, he's not basking in Hawaiian splendour or retired down south, he stays here because his roots are here. Now, after years of hard work, he's told his pension cheque will barely cover the fuel bill.

So, what can be done?

First of all, this was a non-contributory pension fund -- workers were not privy to what was going on with the fund, let alone any say in the destiny of the pension. Secondly, DIAND, who brokered the sale of Giant -- they actually owned Giant before transferring the reins to Miramar -- was well aware of this shortfall.

The bottom line is that these workers' collective agreement, protected by federal law, is proving futile.

Why shouldn't the federal government, which earned millions off Giant (and stands to make substantial sums off Miramar), as well as thousands of dollars in taxes from these workers, ensure Yellowknifers like Lenigher get what they deserve?


People have rights

Catering to people with disabilities is a pain. Making buildings, offices, stores and streets accessible is costly and sometimes tricky, upsetting the most efficient designs.

Worse, often the notion that building plans should include accessibility features comes after all the people without disabilities have made up their minds. The City of Yellowknife is suffering this pain over the recent purchase of four transit buses suitable only for able-bodied riders.

Too expensive Councillor Bob Brooks said, an argument we appreciate considering the city's willingness to spend freely in other areas. This wasn't exactly a city expenditure, though it was a purchase made by a company that was awarded the municipal busing contract which included no provisions for accessibility.

Trouble is, in a democracy, which is also a pain, people have rights which public institutions must observe. Disabilities of any description, whether due to genetics, accidents or time of life don't affect those rights, anything makes them more critical.

We believe City Hall is guilty of not including accessibility features either in the busing contract or providing other municipal solutions. We also believe they are not alone. The majority of Yellowknifers are able-bodied and accessibility issues are low on their list. Too often, it's not until we join the ranks of people with disabilities that we wonder why more has not been done.

On this issue, city council is probably reflecting the priorities of the majority. The inaccessible buses rolling down our streets show just how much the public and politicians need to be educated on the right of public accessibility.


Absence of major issues good news
Editorial Comment
Darrell Greer
Kivalliq News


When interviewing government leaders, especially those in ministerial positions, it is rarely a good idea to smile unbelievingly when they're responding to your question.

Sometimes this can be a lot easier said than done.

So it was on at least two occasions during the legislative assembly's visit to Rankin Inlet.

Both Finance Minister Kelvin Ng and Minister Responsible for the Power Corp., Ed Picco, went to great lengths to point out their good news announcements had nothing to do with political strategy. They were simply responding openly and honestly to questions asked during their stay.

Those who believe that also believe the government's unofficial stance (translation: whispering just loud enough for people to hear) that the Rankin session cost little more to stage than it would have in Iqaluit.

In Ng's case, the minister was frothing at the balance sheet to release some good news after the community consultation process -- as predicted in this space -- delayed delivery of his annual budget.

Because talk of the projected $30- to $40-million surplus had been confined to the supposed confidentiality of caucus meetings, he couldn't have one of our well-meaning MLAs pose the question during an assembly session.

However, once asked a fairly generic question by the media as to Nunavut's financial situation, the bag was open and the cat roamed free in Rankin.

You can't really blame Ng for seizing the opportunity to release the information. Nor can you really fault his assembly grand-standing against the way the media originally reported the story.

Diversionary tactics are an accepted weapon in the political world.

Although doing an admiral job, Ng is suffering the growing pains of a first-year finance minister and seized the chance to draw attention away from the difficulties his department is dealing with.

And, on that note, it was a job well done.

Picco, on the other hand, was more the instrument than the instigator.

Premier Paul Okalik realized, for the most part, the Rankin session held all the political importance of a pre-season game when it came to our most pressing issues (that annual budget thing again).

A little proper timing with a letter to Baker Lake, ensuring, of course, that Baker MLA Glenn McLean was kept up to speed and the duck bills were properly aligned.

An informed query to Picco (we're being polite here) from the aforementioned MLA during the final question period and, presto, major announcement for the Kivalliq Region and instant credibility to the Rankin session.

We're not knocking the results. In fact, as much as we've lamented the cost of this whole venture -- let us extend a warm Kivalliq welcome to the legislative assembly the next time Ng delays his budget.

Heck, with results like these, let's make it an annual event!