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Politicians get an earful

The NWT's most northerly communities raise issues to Premier Stephen Kakfwi and Nunakput MLA Vince Steen

Dawn Ostrem
Northern News Services

Sachs Harbour (Apr 30/01) - The four small Nunakput communities that follow the curve of the Beaufort Sea and Amundsen Gulf told their premier and MLA last week that they have some serious needs.

Premier Stephen Kakfwi and Nunakput MLA Vince Steen were in Steen's riding and visited Sachs Harbour, Holman, Paulatuk and Tuktoyaktuk from Apr. 23 to 25.

The issues raised there revolved around the lack of essential services such as police, teachers and nurses.

Kakfwi said the councils and community members touched on "the basic services that government could provide," and "the community suggested how we could do better."

Sachs Harbour has no police in the community of just over 100 people but a growing vandalism problem. It is covered by Inuvik RCMP, a two-hour flight away.

"(Kakfwi and Steen) said ... there is not enough money or police," said Sachs Harbour mayor Andy Carpenter. He was unable to attend the meeting, but heard accounts from councillors and residents.

"There was some issues raised with police and a wildlife officer," he added. "There is a lot of muskox, polar bear and caribou in the area, which are on a decline. We have a (hunting) quota but nobody is keeping track."

Carpenter said the community was promised a wildlife officer in the past but no one ever came.

Housing is a problem throughout the territory and was a theme with the Nunakput communities. Residents say they suffer a serious lack of housing for teachers.

"We need to hire three to four teachers next year and we don't have any housing for them yet," explained Paulatuk mayor Keith Dodge.

"We have kids that have to be educated and (the GNWT) is coming out with all kinds of advertising telling them to get an education but you can't get one if you don't have a teacher."

Dodge said the nursing station should have two nurses, but has only one.

Close to 450 people showed up for the public meeting in Holman where council asked Steen and Kakfwi to focus on economic development and funding for a wellness centre.

Mayor Gary Bristo said the community is frustrated with shuffling through paperwork and bureaucracy.

"The premier did say they would be focusing on the social envelope soon and would try and help us," Bristo added.

"It was nice to have the premier and MLA come in and see first-hand what is here ... The premier has not been in our community since before he was an MLA."