Monday, April 23, 2001
The conflict of interest rules that govern territorial legislators are permissive enough to allow candidates with business interests to be elected to public office.
A cabinet minister can own a company that does business with the government, but cannot be a director of the company. It's a fine distinction, but it means that ministers cannot be engaged in their company's business while conducting the affairs of government.
The removal of a director is a simple matter. But 18 months after Jane Groenewegen took on the health and social services portfolio, she is still director of a company that leases office space to GNWT departments.
Hay River businessman Jack Rowe filed a formal complaint with the conflict commissioner. He was reluctant because "in a territory where government is 50 per cent of the economy, what repercussions might something like this have?" Presenting the information to the commissioner should be sufficient to cause an investigation.
Groenewegen has been in hiding on this issue, referring media inquiries to her lawyer, and now to the conflict commissioner.
It's not good enough. The minister must explain her action - or lack of it - to all the voters of the territories.
Every once in a while southerners cast an indignant eye North. They wonder why we, so few in number, get so much. One of the latest complaints is a March 28 editorial in the Ottawa Citizen.
The Citizen's wrath is aimed squarely at Nunavut and the $615.4 million its gets from the federal government, complaining about "Northern excess," challenging the two-year-old government to "trim its burgeoning bureaucracy and encourage the private sector," and railing against Nunavut's efforts to train Inuit lawyers.
It's an opinion that will likely win applause among southern readers, but one that doesn't reflect Northern realities.
One only need look to the NWT for an example of how Northerners are weaning themselves from Ottawa's purse strings.
This year, 67.36 per cent of the NWT's revenues -- $541,594,000 come from federal sources. That's down from $573 million last year and $568 million in 1999-2000.
Consider that resource industry royalties of $882 million are expected each a year for the next 27 years and the investment in the NWT doesn't look too bad.
But even with the NWT's resource wealth, we need $300 million more to develop the infrastructure and train our people so we can develop the diamonds, oil and gas and other wealth locked in the ground.
Nunavut is in even worse shape. It has to struggle with inadequate housing and infrastructure, a population that lacks the skills needed in a modern world and a virtually non-existent economy.
It, too, has extraordinary untapped wealth. But Nunavut is far behind the NWT in terms of being able to exploit its resources. That will take time, and millions in federal investment.
The Citizen is correct that government can't create economic wealth on its own, but neither can private industry build a territory.
When government employees went on strike last week, the people who suffered most were the inmates at the Baffin Correctional Centre.
Striking prison guards forced offenders living in the territorial halfway house to be moved back into BCC. That made for overcrowded accommodations, which forced other inmates to be moved to a federal prison in the south.
We, the taxpayers, picked up the tab for that tactic. That means that we, the taxpayers, also suffered.
The union opted for a strategic strike as opposed to a general strike. This means different departments and communities will hit the picket line at different times. Indeed, it is an effective way to send a message of strength to the Government of Nunavut.
However, we must question the union when the group of people -- inmates -- most affected by their first move are those who exercise absolutely no control over salaries and vacation travel assistance.
Kyle Jaffray is remarkably lucky. Despite living with an undiagnosed mental illness causing violent and anti-social behaviour, the nine-year-old Kimmirut boy has two committed parents.
Jodi and Robert Jaffray are rattling the cages of medical and political heavyweights, demanding a proper medical assessment for their oldest son. Without it, Jodi fears Kyle will die.
Sadly, the Jaffrays are not alone. Attention Deficit Disorder and Fetal Alcohol Syndrome are silent killers affecting Northern communities at rates disproportionately higher than the national average.
Health officials are looking into Kyle's situation. But what about the hundreds of families uncomfortable with asking for what should be provided under Nunavut's health care system?
Let's hope Kyle's case is the much needed momentum to get the ball rolling so people can access diagnosis and treatment options for mental health problems .
What better plug for our edible treasures than a trip to space with a man who has made history around the world.
Tucked away in astronaut Chris Hadfield's space supplies will be gifts of caribou, muskox and arctic char jerky, for the crew and fellow astronauts.
This experience makes Northern history, but what is unique is the impression we made on Hadfield when he visited in 1997. Besides country food delicacies, he is taking a crest from the Yellowknife Air Cadet Corps into orbit.
Corporations would probably pay big bucks to have an astronaut pack their product. All we did was give Hadfield a little taste of Northern hospitality, and he took it from there.
Editorial Comment
Malcolm Gorrill
Inuvik Drum
It can be interesting to observe the different methods groups use to raise money, or to get a point across.
When Cheese Day was held at Sir Alexander Mackenzie school, Lisa Rettman, dental therapist with the Inuvik Regional Health and Social Services Board, went from classroom to classroom, handing out cheese to one and all.
The purpose was to point out how beneficial cheese can be for one's teeth, as well as to promote dental health month and the importance of good oral hygiene.
The day was a big hit for those lucky enough to get a tasty snack.
Also held recently was Daffodil Day, in which daffodils were sold in Inuvik and many other nearby communities to raise money for the Canadian Cancer Society.
The flowers could perhaps remind people of a loved one claimed by cancer, but these symbols of hope also serve as a reminder that cancer can be beaten.
As well, last weekend the 2001 Samuel Hearne Grad Committee raffled off a prize fitting for this time of year -- a chocolate rabbit. However, this was no ordinary Easter bunny, as it weighed 26 pounds.
No doubt many people chuckled upon hearing what the grand prize of this raffle was. The giant rabbit was also a big hit with kids who wandered by the Northern Store last Saturday around the time of the draw.
Efforts like these can provide a valuable service while also giving people food for thought, or reason to chuckle.
Planning ahead
There's plenty of different jobs available in a variety of fields.
It makes for a lot of choice, but how to pick the right one?
That's the question many people are asking themselves, especially this time of year, with graduation looming for Samuel Hearne secondary school and Aurora College.
It all makes the recent Career Quest all the more timely, and important. The two-day event at the Midnight Sun Recreation Complex was well attended and featured representatives from a variety of firms.
Talks were also given to Samuel Hearne students that week.
Such events help to answer peoples' questions about certain jobs, and can open their eyes to opportunities they hadn't thought of.
Vacation time
This is my last issue before I head out of town for my vacation. So far my stay has been very interesting and I look forward to another stint.
Maria Canton shall replace me until my return during the last week of May.
See you then.
Editorial Comment
Derek Neary
Deh Cho Drum, Fort Simpson
For many of us, fitness is something that seemed to come easily when we were young. Most kids are very active and need not worry about the mid-section bulging or the butt sagging. That being said, today's generation is mesmerized by video games and computers. If children spend too much time sitting in front of a monitor or screen, they face a greater chance of being overweight.
Exercise doesn't have to consist of repetitive, monotonous motions. As we get older, there are many recreational pursuits that can keep us busy. However, most professionals find themselves trapped behind a desk for the majority of the day (plus overtime). There's plenty on our plates from a occupational perspective, let alone parenting, volunteering or exercising.
Although working out is so important, it's forsaken by those who decide they don't have enough spare time to be active. In some cases, it's just poor time management. A half-hour spent unwinding in front of the television could be done while riding an exercise bike or jogging on a treadmill. It's more invigorating and will make you feel better than simply "vegging" on the couch.
For those who simply cannot bring themselves to get up a half hour earlier in the morning to make time for exercise, there's always the option of walking to and from work rather than driving. Every little bit helps.
Life today is designed for the sedentary, it seems. Remote controls keep us on the couch rather than making us get up even just to change the channel. Nearly all tools are motorized these days, requiring less elbow grease than in years past. Many stores in the south have automatic doors so we don't even have to exert ourselves going in or out.
Those who have to travel frequently find that living out hotels and eating fast food can compound the problem. Much restaurant fare is high in fat. More and more store-bought foods are highly refined, containing astronomical amounts of sugar -- energy that is often never burned.
Over time, the waistline grows. Clothes become snug and then don't fit at all. It's a gradual process, as is taking off that excess weight. None of it happens overnight.
Yes, life can be tough in the North. There are long, cold, dark winters with which to contend. There are infestations of mosquitoes and bulldogs (horse-flies) during the summer. Those are darn good excuses if you want to use them. But it's yourself that you have to answer to, ultimately. With heart disease, diabetes cancer and other ailments being linked with obesity, it's a considerable risk to take.
It's spring. It's relatively warm. There are few bugs. What better time for a walk or a bike ride?
Editorial Comment
Darrell Greer
Kivalliq News
A hearty congratulations to Tony Eetuk and Joseph Nakoolak for their performance at the Cadet/Juvenile National Wrestling Championships in Saskatoon.
The entire Kivalliq Region should be bursting with pride over the accomplishments of these two young athletes from Coral Harbour.
Tony Eetuk is the proud holder of one of sports' most unique accomplishments -- a first.
He will forever be remembered as the first wrestler to earn a medal for Nunavut at the national level.
Eetuk's mat partner, Joseph Nakoolak (the 2000 Sport Nunavut Male Athlete of the Year), also had a strong showing in Saskatoon and, were it not for some bad luck in the tournament draw, may also have been on the podium.
We must also tip our hat to the Department of Community Government and Transportation's (CG&T) Tommy Bruce for coming through with the necessary funding to send our athletes to the national meet.
Coral wrestling coach Bruce McKitrick says CG&T also provided funding for last year's event, which makes us wonder exactly what, other than the elitist Arctic Winter Games, Sport Nunavut actually helps fund or develop.
While we must recognize the work of Kyle Seeley in promoting Kivalliq athletes since joining the Sport Nunavut staff, overall its presence and influence has been sorely lacking in our region for an organization with its head office in Baker Lake.
Logistically speaking, we do acknowledge the Arctic Winter Games as a mammoth undertaking.
However, if, in fact, Sport Nunavut is spending most of its time and financial resources concentrating on that event, its director, Patrick Tagoona, should keep in mind that a solid territorial sporting program can't be built from the top down.
More effort has to be placed on developing our sporting programs at the grassroots level.
And, our territorial organization must lend more support to athletes such as Eetuk and Nakoolak, who developed their skills at the local level.
In fact, the Coral wrestling program should be a shining example to Sport Nunavut on just how successful a local program can become.
We shudder to think the state Kivalliq sports would be in if not for the continued efforts of CG&T to help fund our athletes, facilities and community sporting events, despite continued opposition at the capital assembly table.
That being said, it's time for Sport Nunavut to step up and play a more visible role in the development of our sporting programs -- and not just once every two years!