Editorial

In December 2000, there were 3,548 employees of the territorial government, various boards and agencies. Of those, 47 per cent were in the so-called "Headquarters" region of Yellowknife.

By December 2006, the number of GNWT employees had jumped to 4,623. Of those, 51 per cent were in Yellowknife.

Somewhere along the way, the government became a hiring machine, to the point where pay and benefits cost the government $449,998,341 last year, almost double the $289,761,000 paid in 2000.

Last week's budget allows for a total workforce to hit 4,854, including education and health and social services authorities -- one civil servant for every 8.5 residents of the NWT.

Let's compare our civil service to Canada's smallest province. Prince Edward Island has 135,851 people and 2,241 employees in its various departments, not counting health and education authorities.

The NWT government has 2,320 departmental employees for 41,464 people.

So far, few people are asking why the government workforce has grown so much especially since Nunavut separated from the NWT eight years ago. Perhaps we're all keeping quiet for the day we get a government job.

It's time MLAs and cabinet put the hiring machine in neutral and asked why the civil service needs to be that high.

While we're not advocating mass layoffs, because that would devastate the territorial economy and result in a southern migration of unprecedented proportions, how much value are we getting for our civil service dollars?

Kam Lake MLA Dave Ramsay tried to question cabinet recently, but got nowhere.

Finance Minister Floyd Roland thinks its okay to spend $15,000 to hire a southern speechwriter to write the budget speech. Why couldn't it be done in-house?

Cabinet has a four-person department of communications and protocol and there are scores of policy analysts and communications advisors throughout government.

But that seems to be the way government works these days: fire out contracts to consultants or public relations firms to get the work done.

That doesn't speak very highly of the workforce, if key projects have to be contracted out.

In a letter to Yellowknifer last year, the president of the Union of Northern Workers defended the government workforce by saying we need more teachers, nurses and highways workers.

We agree, but let's compare growth. Education and health authority workforces increased by 60 positions from 2005-2006 to 2007-2008.

In comparison, the department of executive has grown by 133 during the same period - certainly not "frontline" employees who provide critical services to families throughout the North.

Instead of stacking up bureaucratic cordwood, build houses, drug and alcohol treatment centres, improve health care or beef up the cleaning contract at Stanton Territorial Hospital - put our dollars where they will help real people.

Unsung hero deserves praise

Editorial Comment
Darrell Greer
Kivalliq News
Wednesday, March 21, 2007

Whether among the most successful, or struggling along in relatively obscurity, every organization has them.

They're the people you rarely hear anything about if you don't deal directly with the organization they represent.

While others attend the photo opportunities and are often seen as the face of a corporation, they toil quietly and effectively behind the scenes to meet their objectives.

They have a variety of titles on their business cards (those who actually have business cards), and their day-to-day existence revolves around making things happen at the grassroots level.

They rarely have input on major financial decisions, mission statements or the obligatory "vision for the future" most spokespeople can work into a five-minute chat numerous times.

And, while the presidents and executive directors are discussing strategy with cocktail napkins folded neatly on their laps - these folks can be found at the church working with youth, sitting on a floor sewing along with other participants, or humbly "negotiating" with local businesses to secure enough knick-knacks to use at their next fundraising event or community gathering.

And that's after they have spent countless hours researching available funding, and typing doggedly away at a proposal long after the lights should have been turned off for the evening.

They are the community reps and project co-ordinators so often taken for granted, and nowhere is their task more important than in the North, especially in Nunavut.

They are true unsung heroes, especially among elders and youth.

Regular readers of the Kivalliq News know I have had some issues with the Kivalliq Inuit Association (KIA) and its invest arm, the Sakku Investments Corp., during the past nine years.

But the times they are a changin' and the KIA has been improving steadily with its performance during the past few years.

The one constant during that time, however, is the respect I've always had for the KIA's unsung hero extraordinaire, Bernadette Dean, and it's time for credit long overdue in this space.

I often wonder if those who occupy the president and executive-director's chairs at the KIA truly appreciate what Dean accomplishes on an annual basis.

Whether you're talking about the catchy tune on the radio sung by regional youth and geared at strengthening Inuktitut skills among the young, the ongoing gatherings of ladies improving their traditional sewing skills, youth symposiums, trips out on the land to develop survival skills, or an early-morning gathering at a fly-swarmed field for kids to learn baseball skills - many of these programs can be traced back to the same cubicle at the Sakku building in Rankin Inlet.

Dean is not alone when it comes to people who fit this category in the Kivalliq, but she is one of the best at what she does and rarely gets the accolades she deserves.

And, while we have no way of knowing how many who benefit from her efforts thank her for the experience, we can acknowledge how much she has done to improve the quality of life in our region.

She is the KIA's most deserving unsung hero of the past decade.

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.