Friday, December 10, 2004
A transition house is a place for people to get back on their feet and into the job force. It's a place where they pay rent and save money to turn their lives around.
There was almost one in Yellowknife. Last year, the Yellowknife Homelessness Coalition had a free house drop in its lap, so to speak.
A house was made available by the government, but the coalition has to find another solution because people in the neighbourhood were concerned with having eight men living in one house.
The coalition is left with no house, only the money from the sale of the house.
But with a lack of housing available and people discriminating against the homeless by crying "not in my backyard," there aren't many options available. Until people who are down on their luck get their fair shake, emergency shelters around the city will remain full.
It's time for Yellowknifers to realize that having 30 women sleeping on couches and mats on the floor at the Yellowknife Women's Centre isn't the answer.
As the Salvation Army's Karen Hoeft said: "It's time for Yellowknife to recognize that people have the right to live."
Anyone who's ever had to change a baby on a tiny bathroom counter understands Dianne Miller's frustrations.
It can be a messy, nasty job.
She was at Tim Hortons and had to change baby Alex's diaper, but was surprised to see no change table in the restaurant bathroom. Instead of just grumbling, she voiced her frustration and vowed not to return.
Although not required by health regulations and in spite of the fact a changing table isn't standard equipment for the popular eatery, Tim Hortons listened to Miller's concern and acted.
A change table was ordered. That's customer service.
Editorial Comment
Darrell Greer
Kivalliq News
Aren't numbers fun?
People who use them for a living, especially those involved in the colourful world of public relations -- read: spin doctors -- have known for quite some time that numbers can say pretty much anything you want them to.
Numbers speak their own language and, by themselves, don't come close to telling the whole story.
A perfect example of numbers in action comes from two separate surveys conducted in Canada recently that drew immediate responses from Northerners.
The first showed less than 30 per cent of Canadians believe improving the quality of life for aboriginals is a high priority right now.
Now, as you can imagine, this prompted an immediate outcry from a number of Nunavummiut.
The opinions voiced ranged from southern Canadians knowing more about conditions in Iraq than in the North, to they just don't give a damn about us up here.
While the opinions varied in their context, they all had one common underlying theme -- that of ignorance.
If southern Canadians truly understood more about the conditions in many Northern communities, they'd want to do more to help.
In short, they don't think the North is a priority because they don't know any better.
The other survey had those more vocal among us singing a completely different tune because it showed Northerners to be the happiest of all when it comes to the health care they receive.
Can you imagine?
Making it clear
Now, let me make one thing perfectly clear: we, in no way, shape or form, mean to downplay the significant contributions made by our doctors and nurses, who are among the most dedicated and hardest working in Canada.
That being said, do you really believe there is any other reason behind a survey result such as this other than plain old-fashioned ignorance as to what top-notch health care is really like?
Could you imagine the public reaction in Ottawa if word leaked out a hospital's or clinic's X-ray technician was also its janitor?
While you're giggling over that concept, keep in mind that has been the case here in the Kivalliq.
Dangerous language
These polls, questionnaires and surveys are far from being an exact science.
And, while they're sometimes fun and mildly interesting to read, they are not to be taken too seriously.
The Nunavut government should be careful not to pat itself on the back too loudly over the great job this survey shows it's doing with the delivery of health care.
There just might be someone with their hands on the purse strings in Ottawa looking at those same numbers and concluding since people up here are so happy with the health care they're receiving, it's probably time to shift focus to somewhere else in the country.
Such is the danger of listening too closely to the language numbers often speak!
Editorial Comment
Jason Unrau
Inuvik Drum
The fire at Samuel Hearne secondary school earlier this year, in which a volunteer firefighter had a portion of his finger severed while battling the blaze, highlighted the need for our growing community to better outfit the brave men and women of our fire department.
Had the department been in possession of a ladder truck capable of reaching the school's gymnasium roof, this unfortunate accident would not have happened.
Without the ladder truck, firefighters had to employ unsuitable equipment and the result was a preventable injury.
In comparison to a more serious injury or, God forbid, a fatality, the loss of part of a finger was not so bad; a sentiment shared by the firefighter who suffered through the loss.
On the other hand, what a horrible thought, that the situation could have been so much worse. What is it going to take before the fire department is provided with the proper equipment to take on any situations that could arise in town?
All firefighters insist that for tackling fires in buildings higher than two storeys, a ladder truck is necessary. Not only does it allow personnel to fight fires in hard-to-reach places, it also gives those stranded there a better chance to be rescued.
The new Capital Suites on Mackenzie Road, the hotel currently being constructed beside The Finto, as well as the Lakeview and Parkview apartments are all either three storeys or elevated to the equivalent height.
Last winter, overheating boilers were the cause of two fires and as we head into the cold season once again, this scenario could easily replay itself.
Nevertheless, we continue to ask our volunteer fire fighters to step into the breach without the proper equipment.
Whatever motivates somebody to join a volunteer fire department -- whether it be the camaraderie, the desire to help people or a combination of these and possibly other factors -- the common link between all of them is their willingness to lay it on the line to save lives.
If firefighters are ready to go to those lengths to keep us safe, the least we can do is urge those in power to pony up the cash and give generously when the firefighters come looking for a donation to help fund such an endeavour.
According to one senior member of the department, most of the equipment already employed by our firefighters was purchased through donations. While the issue of getting a new ladder truck has been put to town council and there has been some discussion, no action has yet been taken.
The cost of getting a ladder truck could be upwards of $800,000 or even more. A small price to pay if it saves even one life.
There are those who will argue that the town can't afford it right now. I say can the town afford not to get one? Unfortunately, until a ladder truck is secured for the fire department, only time will tell.
Editorial Comment
Darrell Greer
Kivalliq News
Last week's public hearing for Imperial Oil's proposed winter geo-technical project provided the latest in a long string of tense exchanges between representatives of the First Nations and Imperial Oil.
For most of the morning, it was as if a giant amber light hung over the community hall where the hearing was held. By afternoon, Liidlii Kue Chief Keyna Norwegian arrived and, in short order, the light went from amber to red. Fresh from an LKFN meeting the night before, Norwegian obviously heard a resounding message from Fort Simpson band members that the pipeline and its related projects are still a no go. She relayed that position in no uncertain terms to the board and Imperial Oil representatives.
Now, the regulatory board has the authority to run this red light. It may not happen, but theoretically it could. The DIAND minister could also blow right through the stop sign.
Both decision makers have the power to allow the geo-technical project to proceed with conditions in place, but it's hard to imagine how any stipulations could appease either side when the parties are so far apart.
What's puzzling is how we always hear of multi-national corporations' influence in Ottawa.
The perception is that corporate bigwigs have the ear of the ministers. If that is the case, then why has this project been stalled for two winters and now quite possibly a third? Is it that Imperial Oil is strategically biding its time, waiting for a pivotal moment to lean on Ottawa? Or is it that the board and Ottawa can clearly see the First Nations in the Deh Cho are not yet in a position to benefit significantly from the project? Fort Simpson Mayor Raymond Michaud pondered whether the First Nations will continue to be given what essentially amounts to a veto over the winter works program.
Duncan Canvin, a local businessman, openly asked how the actual pipeline project will ever get the OK if this "rinky dink" geo-technical project doesn't go ahead.
The federal government, however unwilling, could answer those questions and solve this dispute. Ottawa could make the Deh Cho an equal partner in a pipeline environmental assessment and work out an equitable resource revenue and royalty sharing deal. That would open the door to the First Nations negotiating access agreements, impact benefits agreements and harvesters' compensation with the pipeline proponents.
Until that happens, we could watch another winter season come and go without any geo-technical work.
Premier Joe Handley came to Fort Simpson on Monday and said everybody wants benefits from the pipeline but sometimes compromise is needed. He emphasized how imperative it is for all groups in the NWT to work together to support the project.
Believe it or not, Dehcho First Nations has also been calling for a single-minded approach to the pipeline all along.
If other regions, the territorial government, the Chambers of Commerce and even industry would get behind DFN's negotiations position with the federal government, maybe then mighty Ottawa would finally bend.
Without that backing from enough other organizations, DFN has turned to the courts as a last resort.
Incorrect information appeared in the briefs section of the Dec. 8 Yellowknifer. MLA Henry Zoe did not appear in court to enter his plea, as was stated.
Also, in the story "Refusing to live with violence," it was stated that parole officer Louise Pargeter died in August. Pargeter died on Oct. 6.
Yellowknifer apologizes for any confusion or embarrassment arising from these errors.