Wednesday, May 11, 2005
Whatever it is, the story three former Giant mine workers tell about dumping arsenic trioxide in pits and tailing ponds has the potential to spread fear through the community.
In Yellowknifer last week, the three men recounted tales of spills, missing barrels, improper storage and blasts involving arsenic trioxide, a deadly toxin if ingested.
While the federal government plans to freeze the 237,000 tonnes of arsenic trioxide dust stored underground, plans for cleaning up contamination on the surface is only just beginning. The workers' concerns must be taken seriously. The Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development (DIAND) needs to talk to the three and other former workers to get an accurate picture of what has gone on at the mine.
Right now, the workers claims are only stories. Until they are proven or disproved, the public can only sit and wonder if there's any danger.
DIAND hopes to have a plan for surface cleanup within three years.
The public needs to know if toxins on the surface pose any immediate threat to people or the environment around Giant mine.
Across Canada, and throughout the Netherlands, millions of people applauded Canada's Second World War veterans last week.
The occasion was the 60th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day, May 8, when Nazi Germany surrendered unconditionally to the Western Allies.
Canada played a significant role in the war, including liberating Holland.
Every territorial and provincial capital across Canada set up ceremonies to cheer on our veterans and those who gave the ultimate sacrifice in the cause of freedom.
Everywhere... except Yellowknife.
The Yellowknife branch of the Royal Canadian Legion said it was too busy. It would think about doing something in July, or maybe November. That's a little like putting off Christmas to February. Just because.
Whitehorse held an event, looking at the liberation through its Dutch community. Iqaluit's Legion branch marked the anniversary May 7, including Girl Guides, Scouts and a variety of dignitaries.
The national Legion president recently made it clear there are two main jobs for the Legion: support benefits for Canada's vets, and preserve remembrance of what our vets have accomplished.
"Lest we forget?" It seems the Legion here already has.
Editorial Comment
Darrell Greer
Kivalliq News
We sympathize, to a certain degree, with the need for various groups and organizations to hold bingo games as fundraisers.
However, we also sympathize with those voices in Rankin Inlet complaining over the number of big-dollar games being held during the Pakalak Tyme celebrations.
When the celebrations come to a close this coming Saturday, there will have been no less than eight games held, totalling a minimum of $73,000 in jackpot prizes.
There were four $10,000 games scheduled, and a monster $15,000 jackpot.
This is not even taking into account the Nevada ticket sales, which are also starting to creep up with their top prizes.
Least afford it
The concern is, of course, too many people who can least afford it are spending their entire disposal incomes, and then some, chasing that one big payout.
And the biggest problem of all in the community, are the people with families depending on them who don't stop spending when their disposal income is gone.
In those cases, all too often the only thing to be found in their cupboards is used bingo dabbers.
In such scenarios, it is our community's children who suffer the most.
They are the ones who do without while the adults in the family, the ones who should know better, chase the illusion of easy money.
A closer look
We are by no means advocating a bingo prohibition.
The fundraising aspect of this Kivalliq paradox is far too important to our community's youth, athletic groups, extracurricular school programs and recreation department to be completely halted.
However, it is time for hamlet council to take a closer look at the ever-rising jackpot amounts being offered, and the higher card prices that accompany them.
We may very well have reached the point where it's time for council to consider the possible reduction of the overall number of games being offered and, more importantly, place a restriction on what the top prize offered can be.
At the very least, there has to be a reduction of the number of games with a jackpot of more than $5,000 being offered every month.
Bingo not alone
Let's not forget the fact all these bingo games are being played on top of the dizzying array of gambling ventures being offered by government.
The scratch-and-win tickets remain extremely popular in Rankin, and the usual lineup of 6/49, Super 7, Western Lotto, etc., continues to rake in its share of money, as well.
Let's be honest here, with an unemployment rate in excess of 20 per cent, it's not all high-income earners putting down their money at the bingo table.
And, while we're being honest, let's also take a look at who never wins at these games.
The answer to that question can be found under the C - for children!
Editorial Comment
Jason Unrau
Inuvik Drum
The big oil companies should know better than to wag their finger at aboriginal leadership for their perceived impediment to further progress in the seemingly never-ending pipeline process.
This, coming so soon after the premier's comments that the federal government will have the ultimate say in whether or not the project goes through the territory, will not help move the negotiations along.
A call for mediation from the Aboriginal Pipeline Group chair is the most sensible suggestion heard so far.
One has to wonder how things deteriorated to this point.
The Memorandum of Understanding between proponents and aboriginal leadership was signed three years ago but negotiations between the two began only a few months ago.
An even more important question is, how long will the oil companies continue to pour time and resources into a project that, with each passing day, seems to be moving further and further away from becoming reality.
Though the government is an easy target when it comes to the blame game, in this case, the ultimate responsibility for the situation with the pipeline must fall squarely on Ottawa. The federal government has a less-than-stellar track record of dealing with aboriginal land claims only as the need to develop "untouched" tracts of land have presented themselves.
Now, with the Deh Cho sitting as the only aboriginal entity on the pipeline's right of way without a settled land claim, it's the federal government's responsibility to make a deal.
Social responsibility should be on the government's plate, as well. It goes without saying that increased economic activity will have an adverse effect on communities.
Dealing with those effects is what tax dollars - personal and corporate - are for.
Corporations should not be on the hook to pay those costs.
However, with our man Mr. Dithers still in the Prime Minister's office, nobody should hold their breath for any groundbreaking measures or contingencies from Ottawa.
The way Paul Martin has handled every other challenge since clawing his way into a minority government last summer leaves us little hope that he will do what needs to be done - not only for the Deh Cho but for everyone in the territory.
If the country does go to the polls this summer and the Conservatives are elected, devolution, an improved resource revenue-sharing agreement and a deal for the Deh Cho will no doubt land squarely on the backburner.
The big question mark is Conservative leader Stephen Harper's opinions about Northern development and land claims.
Editorial Comment
Derek Neary
Deh Cho Drum
If village council were the reality-television show Survivor, then Dennis Nelner was booted off the island on Monday night.
OK, technically Nelner wasn't eliminated from the tribe. Council voted in favour of stripping him of his title as deputy mayor, not to snuff out his torch.
Nelner literally didn't take it sitting down. Following the vote, he immediately got out of his chair and casually exited the room, not to return again that night.
Mayor Ray Michaud named the outspoken Nelner deputy mayor at the November 3, 2003 village council meeting, the first meeting of the current council's term. A secret ballot vote was held among the councillors to decide who should hold the distinction. It resulted in a 3-3 tie between Nelner and former mayor Norm Prevost. Michaud voted in Nelner's favour because Nelner was the councillor with the most votes in the municipal election.
That he had the most ballots cast in his name at the polls and among his peers at village council proves that he started out with plenty of support.
Things gradually began to shift over the past year and a half. Nelner became a pariah on council. In drawing upon the Survivor analogy once again, he failed to build any alliances.
He has spoken with fervour about the need for a general plan, to ensure that development occurs in an orderly fashion. He has been an advocate of engaging the private sector, attracting business to Fort Simpson. That way the village wouldn't be so reliant on funding from the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs - as has been the case for years.
Nelner has pushed for a technical and trades centre to be built in Fort Simpson. He has spoken of his vision of a Liard River bridge and airport expansion.
These all sound like constructive positions. So what caused all the friction?
It was Nelner's approach. He took a stance on the Northern store gas bar issue that raised the spectre of conflict of interest. He was deputy mayor, but he also was manager of TJ's grocery, a competing gasoline distributor.
He didn't let that stop him from creating a petition. He didn't let that stop him from accosting the bylaw officer in public.
On another matter, Nelner went to bat for the village's garbage contractor, Xah Ndah Resources. He felt the company was denied tipping fees by the mayor and senior administrative officer. Nelner put the emphasis on the fact that Xah Ndah Resources is an aboriginal business. That is what led to questions of prejudice and racism.
On these and other issues, he adamantly refused to take no for an answer.
At Monday's council meeting, he was surrounded by councillors who were opposed to him. There were people in the audience who were on the opposite side of issues he has raised. There was correspondence indicating concerns about his conduct.
If he had any supporters left - 100 signatures on a petition notwithstanding - they were not heard and nowhere to be seen.
In the April 20 edition of Yellowknifer it was incorrectly reported that slain Inuvik hotel clerk Keith Blair was mentally handicapped. In fact, Blair suffered from myotonic dystrophy, a degenerative muscular disease that impairs limb movement. Yellowknifer regrets the error.
The incredible escape described in the middle section of Bill Gawor's April 27 column "Talk about a pooper scooper" was actually accomplished by Peter Freuchen between Repulse Bay and Chesterfield Inlet in 1922, not by Les Stroud. The Kivalliq News regrets the error.