Editorial

But it seemed it was all talk and no action because according to the most recent government figures, mortgage arrears have skyrocketed to $6.8 million, a 174 per cent increase in just three years.

In 1995, 40 people were behind on their mortgages. Today, that number is 463. Almost as shocking, the amount of unpaid rent from people living in public housing has climbed to $6.3 million from $5 million in 2004.

And still the government is prepared to invest more millions into home ownership this year.

When the shocking statistics were discussed in the legislative assembly recently, words were mostly positive, with Premier Joe Handley, responsible for the Housing Corp., and MLAs cheering a re-organization of the department. Perhaps this is a case of fiddling while the house burns down. Only Twin Lakes MLA Robert McLeod seemed alarmed, demanding action to stem the bleeding.

It's clear the government is unable to handle this growing crisis. With an election looming in October, and only 19 days of committee and legislative assembly meetings scheduled, action before 2008 is unlikely. The only hope is that ordinary MLAs will stand up to cabinet and demand a full review of the Housing Corporation by the federal auditor general.

Canada Winter Games triumph

Our hats go off to Hay River's Brendan Green who snapped the NWT's more than decade-long gold medal drought at the Canada Winter Games in Whitehorse. Green won gold in the 15-kilometre cross-country skiing event. The last time the NWT took gold at the games was back in 1991 when Lee Baker won a gold medal in figure skating.

Canada Games competition has always been an uphill battle for NWT athletes who compete against provinces with larger populations and better training facilities. However, since the time of the Firth sisters and the Territorial Experimental Ski Training program - now defunct for more than 30 years -- the NWT has always had a proud history in cross-country skiing.

In 1972, seven of the nine athletes on the Canadian Nordic team were from the Mackenzie Delta.

Green, and skiers like Fort Smith's Sarah Daitch and Yellowknife biathlete Lindsay Bolivar stand to continue that tradition.

But the Whitehorse games were a success for every NWT athlete, who scored personal bests and showed their southern competitors what Northern mettle is all about.

It was also great to see Dene Games and Arctic Sports take their place alongside skiing, skating, curling and squash.

Homes before icebreakers

Nunavut's 2007-08 budget was little more than a holding pattern.

Without any new revenue, that is where it will stay.

Here is the ironic part: in Nunavut, we are getting ready for a couple of gold mines... and maybe an iron mine and a uranium mine.

We even have an operating diamond mine.

The problem is, Nunavut isn't benefiting directly from these resources.

While the territory is a field of riches, its citizens are poor and in need of assistance.

When NWT Premier Joe Handley last visited Nunavut, he was asked if there was any advice he had to share on devolution, the process of transferring powers to the territories.

His advice was that of one friend to another: 'Don't wait 20 years for it to happen,' said Handley.

The NWT has been negotiating with the federal government for the past seven years and seems no closer to any agreement.

With devolution comes resource revenue sharing, money from the gold, gems and other valuable materials mined, drilled and pumped out of the land.

In 2005-2006, the federal government pocketed about $244 million from NWT resources.

Nunavut must be ready to collect those resource revenues before the wealth is flowing south.

Houses need to be built today. Nunavut's population is the youngest in Canada. Twenty years from now the problems are going to be worse.

The federal government needs to negotiate a devolution and resource revenue sharing deal with Nunavut in the immediate future.

While devolution is part of the long-term answer to Nunavut's sustainability, there is a sign of good faith the federal government can make this week.

The Territorial Formula Financing Agreement can help, if the federal government gives Nunavut our due. Today, the federal government will release its budget, and a long-awaited decision on how much Nunavut will receive.

Nunavut has a right to be nervous about that announcement.

The federal finance minister has not announced whether the Conservatives will follow the recommendations of the government's expert panel, or that of the Council of the Federation Advisory panel. Both have pushed for more financing.

Devolution -- and the control of resources that should accompany it -- is a long-term answer for Nunavut.

A financing formula must recognize the basic need for homes, hospitals, and schools.

Promises to acquire icebreakers, spending money on the military and visiting Iqaluit for a brief photo opportunity have been the extent of the Harper government's commitment to Nunavut to date. Even those promises are shaky.

If this government wishes to work with Nunavut - instead of just keeping all revenue from our most profitable natural resources - a funding formula that gives Nunavut an adequate sum is essential.

Canada may need icebreakers to protect its borders but we need homes so the country can grow.

Pay up and we will build them ourselves.

Story lines forming as election looms

Editorial Comment
Darrell Greer
Kivalliq News
Wednesday, March 14, 2007

With another federal election not far in the future, three hats sit in the Liberal ring seeking the Nunavut nomination to run for Parliament Hill.

Unless you live in an iglu far, far on the land, you know Nancy Karetak-Lindell has announced she will not seek another term as Nunavut's member of Parliament (MP).

Lindell never faced any real challenges during the past two elections, neither during the nomination process nor the elections themselves.

That created quick interest in Nunavut as to who would seek the Liberal nomination, and how the successful candidate would fare when Nunavummiut head to the voting booths.

In fact, we would be surprised if the ranks of Nunavut's Liberal Party didn't swell to record numbers before the next election.

Would-be voters on Nunavut's Liberal candidate must join the political big red machine two weeks before a meeting is held to select the party's candidate.

While we do expect a few more candidates to come forward before the Liberals make their choice, we can't help but notice the eclectic mix of the three who have announced their intentions.

We have the old guard firmly represented in former Liberal MP Jack Anawak, the roll-up-the-sleeves-and-let's-get-to-it approach of Rankin Inlet Mayor Lorne Kusugak that's so appealing to the working class, and the ranks of the up-and-coming generation in Iqaluit's Kirt Ejesiak.

While the Kivalliq needs no introduction to either Anawak or Kusugak, Ejesiak is not a household name in this region, despite being the first Inuk to receive a post-secondary degree from Harvard University.

Ejesiak is also a former City of Iqaluit councillor and deputy mayor, and former principal secretary to Premier Paul Okalik.

He has already begun pounding the drum of youth, saying it's time for more youthful leaders to step up and take their place in Nunavut.

There's no doubt he's looking for Kusugak and Anawak to split the votes of long-time party members, and he's canvassing the under-30 crowd hard to join the Liberals and support his nomination.

It would be interesting, although highly unlikely, if these were the only three to seek the nomination.

The youth-versus-the-elders' vote has long been a topic of debate in Nunavut as to which group wields the most political clout.

During my time in Kivalliq since 1998, I would lean towards the elders being the more powerful of the two.

That's mainly due to the fact many young voters don't bother to cast their ballot.

Should Ejesiak prove charismatic enough to entice them to sign up and support his nomination, and then vote on election day, that power base could change in a split second.

So, we already have interesting story lines starting to develop and we still haven't heard much from the Tories or the NDP.

That could change quickly if the new federal budget is not supported when tabled this coming week.

If that's the case, it could be the first step in a parade of out with the old and in with the new reaching from Ottawa all the way to Nunavut.

Live performances good for community

Editorial Comment
Dez Loreen
Inuvik Drum
Friday, March 16, 2007

So there I was, sitting at my desk about to read the latest celebrity gossip, when Sandy Turner walks in the door.

Turner has been working hard with a theatre group he started a few months ago. He had an excited tone to his voice and a smile that reached about halfway to Tuk. Apparently he had some good news for me.

Good news indeed! It seems the theatre group, now dubbed the North of Normal Players, is putting on its first show next weekend. The production is called Catnip and Bananas.

With three performances over three nights, there is enough space for everyone in town to check it out. This seems like the perfect remedy to a relatively quiet season, as far as live performances go.

I remember watching a group of similar performers on stage for the East Three productions that took place years ago.

Dare I say that Inuvik is once again flashing its classy side? Could this be the beginning of another era in our lives? Time will tell.

Maybe after watching the performance of these aspiring thespians, you might be inclined to join their club. I'm sure Sandy and the gang would love more people to act with.

I watched the first scene of Act 1 during their Monday night rehearsal. I caught myself laughing at their jokes and enjoying their stage presence. The writing seems like it would fit the tastes of the boob tube generation: all of us who enjoy sitting and laughing at relevant jokes that make you think.

What people might not think about is the time and effort that go into each production. These people started practising months ago and have nearly perfected their play.

Seeing them in the front of the room on the mock stage reminded me of my glory days back at Samuel Hearne. I was a part of the drama class offered to senior high students.

I wish there was more interest in improv-style acts in town. I'm sure a weekly show would sell enough tickets to warrant the production.

I still can't get over the fact that Inuvik has a theatre troupe once again!

I was talking with someone the other night about how an evening at the theatre would be a great date for couples who have been together for a long time, or for a few friends looking for a night out.

I thought Inuvik's only "classy" event was the annual Duck's Unlimited ball. But I'd rather wear my cut-off khakis and a loose T-shirt than stuff myself into a penguin suit.

The good thing about the theatre performances next weekend is that you do not need to dress formally. Show up in your pyjamas. I might.

Maybe I'm too young or just not attentive enough, but I think we are on the verge of gluing together Inuvik's broken social scene.

This might be the highlight of a long winter season, just before the Muskrat Jamboree talent show brightens the town with its live acts.

So how about next weekend, we all gather round and catch some live entertainment? Curtains up!

Pipeline gets a reality check

Editorial Comment
Roxanna Thompson
Deh Cho Drum
Friday, March 16, 2007

Imperial Oil likely provided a workout for the hearts of many northern business people and the general public this week.

There must have been a few heart palpitations and maybe even a few sinking stomachs as the latest cost estimate of $16.2 billion for the Mackenzie natural gas pipeline project was made public.

This is a large jump from the estimated cost of $7.5 billion back in October 2004 when the project was first submitted for regulatory approval. It is an even bigger jump from the $4 billion that was thrown around in the very early stages of the project.

The concept of having $16.2 billion to invest in a project is hard to comprehend.

For perspective, with $16.2 billion you could match the gross national product of the Central American country El Salvador, which made a total of $15.8 billion in 2004. With that kind of money you would have more funds than other countries like Cuba, Iceland or Ethiopia make in a year.

No matter how you look at it, $16.2 billion is a lot of money.

The question that remains is whether or not the proponents, including Imperial Oil, are still willing to move forward with a project that carries such a hefty price tag.

A spokesperson for Imperial said that the company will not be ready to make a final decision until after the National Energy Board and the Joint Review Panel make decisions on its application. That means that everyone will have to wait until sometime next year.

Meanwhile the cost of the project is sure to creep steadily upwards to provide even more of a shock if a new total has to be worked out.

Despite the increased cost and the delayed schedule, however, those associated with the pipeline seem to be presenting a positive demeanor.

Imperial is still hopeful that the project will move forward and other associated groups are echoing that sentiment.

Of course, you don't really expect a member of one of these associations to publicly gnash their teeth, tear at their hair and announce the end has arrived. Whether or not they do this in private is hard to say.

Some people may still believe that Imperial and the other proponents will push forward because they are already invested in the project. Others who heard the news may have had their hopes crushed, while for some it will just confirm what they have always claimed to know -- there won't be a pipeline this time around.

Now is probably the time to put into practice the old saying about not putting all your eggs in one basket. The pipeline might still go forward yet, but everyone who is basing future plans around it had best come up with a secondary plan.

Corrections

Norma Voudrach was 54 when she died in the recovery room at Stanton Territorial Hospital Feb. 19. As well, her husband, Paul Voudrach, said he has not hired a lawyer in connection with his wife's death, but has hired a lawyer to investigate how his wife broke her wrist outside the Tuktoyaktuk health centre on Feb. 2. Incorrect information was printed in News/North March 12. We apologize for any embarrassment or inconvenience this may have caused.