Wednesday, February 21, 2001
Last fall, the signs of a pending building boom in Yellowkninfe were evident for all to see.
Rising rents, falling rental vacancies, increasing building and improving real estate sales were indicators of a strong Yellowknife economy.
Now, house prices are up $5,000 to $10,000, the number of stick-built homes has tripled and builders and realtors are talking about a shortage of building lots and homes for sale.
It's good for the people who own homes they want to sell, but it raises the question of whether or not Yellowknife is ready for the boom.
Quantum Developments' owner Frank Ramsey says we're not. By developing Foreman Court, Ramsey has shown that private companies can succeed where city-sponsored developments have failed.
He's selling the houses people want to buy, at prices they can afford.
The city, with its Niven Lake development, chose a different approach, selling lots at premium prices.
While everyone imagines building a dream house on a lake-view lot, few can afford it.
Today's Yellowknife needs a different approach to residential development.
The city must make land available at affordable prices to developers, like Quantum, who are willing to take the risk for the reward of building the city and making a profit at the same time.
That means dropping prices for Niven lots or opening up other land, like Tin Can Hill, at prices developers, and homebuyers, can afford.
It might just create a ripple effect that gets other people on the move, as they look to step up to bigger, better homes. And maybe even get some of those dreamers into Niven lots after all.
The modest boost in pension money that will go to the retired and laid off Giant mine workers may be better than nothing but still remains one brick short of a load when it comes to giving these workers what they deserve.
Last February, retirees found out that the bankrupt Royal Oak Mines had only enough money to pay them 75 per cent of their pensions. Then, six months later, the receiver announced they had enough to pay 82 per cent. Now, Morneau Sobeco, the actuarial firm charged with winding down Giant's pension plan says pensioners will get 91 per cent of their money.
While the extra money is good news, the bottom line is that this shortfall has national implications. Whatever happened at Giant mine can happen to any employees' group in the country that invests in a pension.
Until the federal law that govern bankruptcies changes, we can expect this injustice to continue.
When a group of homeless kids help put up the walls of the new Sidedoor, they may be breaking down some of their own.
Through a federal program, Homeless Youth Practising Employment, these young folks will get a job, money, and experience during the building phase.
But the best part of the project -- besides the fact that Yellowknife youth will have a new and improved hang-out -- is that it gives these homeless kids a chance to see what it's like to be self-sufficient and proud of their accomplishments.
If the program motivates even one youth to get off the street and get a job, then it's worthy of our tax dollars.
Editorial Comment
Darrell Greer
Kivalliq News
Kivalliq News would like to add our voice to those commending the work of volunteers this week, especially with the Girl Guides of Canada organization.
Keewatin Area Commissioner, Carla Kolysher, is bang on when she says Guiding leaders play an important role in the community.
These women give their time to provide positive activities for our community's young girls and are positive role models for these girls to look up to.
In helping to mould the characters of today's youth, they are helping to shape the leaders of tomorrow and for that they are to be commended.
Time for action
It is good to hear the Rankin Inlet Housing Association (RIHA) is getting tough with those tenants in serious arrears with their rent.
In all fairness, however, the RIHA must absorb some of the blame for today's outstanding rental accounts due to its past history of slow action and looking the other way while arrears accumulated.
Any business is acting irresponsibly when it allows clients to fall more than $10,000 in arrears.
However, that being said, the change in the RIHA's attitude is a welcome one.
Much has been said during the past two years on the severe housing shortage in our region.
It is extremely frustrating for those on a public housing waiting list, who are willing to pull their weight, to go without while they know rental arrears are piling up in a number of households.
While there are those who view the public housing rental scale as unfair, the fact of the matter is, when one looks seriously at the cost of running a household in the Kivalliq, public housing is still a good deal.
And, no matter where you live, your rent or mortgage has to be paid or the ugly word of eviction will not be far behind.
Take a bow
A big thumbs up this week to the large number of volunteers who worked so hard to make the Polar Bear Plate junior C hockey tournament a reality.
Two thumbs up to Hockey North president Jim Ramsay who probably wouldn't want to know how many hours he spent bringing the tourney together.
And, while Ramsay may have a few more grey hairs these days, he should take great pride in knowing he beat the odds to bring a truly remarkable event to Rankin, which benefitted so many of our region and territory's youth.
Take a bow Mr. Ramsay, you deserve it.
Editorial Comment
Malcolm Gorrill
Inuvik Drum
For most pupils, a typical school day consists of sitting through classes, chatting with friends, writing tests and assignments, and maybe extracurricular activities.
They probably pay little thought to the amount of effort put in by their teachers every day, patiently marking tests and conducting classes. The work done by janitors would also largely escape attention.
Then there are those who are truly behind the scenes. They're the ones who work for educational bodies which hire the teachers, and the janitors, and bus drivers, and keep up maintenance to buildings and equipment, and generally do the thousand-and-one-things necessary to keep a school running.
This past weekend the Beaufort-Delta Education Council held a regular council meeting.
It was an interesting event to sit in on, with lots of spirited, informed debate on what's positive within the district, as well as how best to solve problems facing the area.
Much discussion centred around standardized tests conducted last fall which show BDEC students comparing poorly with the rest of the country.
Reaction to the recently released test results ranged from anger to numbness, but a common theme seemed to emerge that something different must be tried to end this trend.
One important step to combat some of the problems highlighted in these tests was the adoption -- complete with applause -- of a proposal to provide a much greater focus over the next three years towards kindergarten and Grade 1 throughout the district.
The program is ambitious and clearly has entailed a lot of planning. It was interesting, however, that while the educators approved the plan, many still argued something else must be done to help improve the quality of education to BDEC students.
Some discussion centred around the importance of the attitudes towards school that children learn at home. It was pointed out that kids don't learn if they don't attend school regularly and their parents don't place a high value on education.
The meeting was also noteworthy in that a new executive was elected. Outgoing chairperson Bob Simpson said the BDEC has had to contend with cuts and other problems in recent years, but that they had also accomplished a great deal.
Simpson stressed the need for the council to continue to exercise regional co-operation, and he was not the only one to describe the benefits of the entire area working together.
Luck is wished to the new executive members, and to the entire council, as it guides this area's education into a new century.
Editorial Comment
Derek Neary
Deh Cho Drum, Fort Simpson
The Acho Dene Koe First Nation is making a wise decision by conducting a community study related to oil and gas activity.
The effects of having a mammoth industry descend upon a small community should not be understated.
There is no question that job creation has been of great benefit, as have the donations to the community from wealthy oil and gas companies.
But there have been those who have questioned whether the flow of money into Fort Liard has resulted in greater societal woes. These are the sorts of issues that must be examined, as well as any effects on wildlife and any other environmental issues.
Chief and council have sensibly chosen to include all Fort Liard residents in the study. The issue, as Chief Judy Kotchea pointed out, does not affect band members only. Everyone from students to elders is to be asked their opinion.
This winter has been slow in Fort Liard by industry standards. There are fewer jobs than usual.
Part of the reason for that is Paramount Resources Ltd.'s decision to withdraw its applications for land-use permits near Fort Liard and in the Cameron Hills area. That withdrawal came after the Mackenzie Land and Water Board referred the applications to environmental assessment, delaying the decision by months.
The Acho Dene Koe's group of companies was counting on those natural gas projects for revenue and jobs.
Despite that disappointment, and the added pressure it must bring to create additional opportunities to keep people working, chief and council are following through with the study. When elected last year, Kotchea had promised to take a step back and allow the community to gauge the local changes associated with oil and gas.
It's not as if there's a possibility that all oil and gas activity in Fort Liard will ground to a halt. That's not going to happen. The purpose of the study is essentially to find out how it can proceed in everybody's best interest.
As long as the results of that study are analyzed in an objective manner, and recommendations are made based upon the input of the majority, the community should truly be better off for it.
On a related note, the ADK deserve full marks for keeping business and politics separate. The band is currently embroiled in a boundary dispute with the Kaska First Nation in the Yukon. Despite that, they have formed a business deal to purchase a share of a drilling rig with the Kaska. Shane Parrish, general manager of the ADK Group of Companies, said its likely that the two First Nations will continue to collaborate on a number of projects.