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Santa's helpers
Wednesday, December 23, 2009

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This was a year of remarkable recovery from a deep recession. Santa, does that mean you have some extra money in the pockets of your bright red pants?

While Yellowknife is showing signs of renewed economic growth – the diamond mines are hiring again – there is definitely a need for financial assistance in many corners.

The Centre for Northern Families, for one, needs help with its budget so it can continue to assist women and children in distress. We've been told there are dollars in the Senate chamber that could be used for this purpose, Santa. Could you have your elves look into it, please?

Taxpayers are going to need some help, too. Property owners are going to shell out 5.7 per cent more in 2010. Over the next three years, tax increases will total more than 16 per cent. Ouch! That hurts. Could you bring our city councillors and administration giant calculators so they can figure out how much they’re putting residents in a bind?

While you’re at it, could you also give our councillors some Lego sets? They having an awfully hard time figuring out how houses should be built in our fair city.

Our elected leaders at the territorial level seem to have a penchant for travel, Santa. Five of them travelled to Copenhagen, Denmark earlier this month for a climate change conference. They boarded multiple flights to get back and forth – big jet planes spewing carbon emissions all the while. What would really be nice, Saint Nick, is if you could donate your sleigh and reindeer a few times a year so our crusading voyagers can venture to foreign lands at no cost and minimal emissions (we’ll forgive Rudolph and his colleagues for passing a little methane gas).

Speaking of travel, do you think you could donate a gate to the Yellowknife airport parking lot that actually goes up and down when it’s supposed to? It sounds simple enough, Mr. Claus, but many times the unfortunate airport security guards have to come to the rescue of a driver held captive but an unruly piece of lumber that won’t rise, even for a validated ticket.

Something else that could be more reliable is the power, Santa. You clearly can function well in the dark of night, but many of the rest of us struggle when the lights go out unexpectedly. Could you bring us more reliable electricity, please?

Although we just passed the winter solstice, summer is already on our minds. Could you somehow see to it that we enjoy sustained warm, sunny days with few bugs? We felt robbed this past summer. And how about affordable camp sites for everyone who wants them? We’re surrounded by wilderness, Santa, it seems silly that we’re at the mercy of the confounded Department of Tourism.

That's about it. Hope we’re not asking too much. After all, we didn’t even mention the troubled Deh Cho Bridge …

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Thanks for the support
Editorial Comment
Darrell Greer
Kivalliq News - Wednesday, December 23, 2009

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As the curtain is about to come down on 2009, it's time to pass along some thanks to those in the region who helped Kivalliq News enjoy such a successful year.

First off, a special thank you to Jennifer Perry in Repulse Bay.

Perry has been doing her best to fill the gap created by the departure of longtime Repulse resident Leonie Aissaoui, who took a new position in Iqaluit this year.

Aissaoui was a consistent contributor of photos and story leads to the paper, and Perry has been keeping the information flowing out of Repulse in her absence.

Thank you, Jennifer.

Noel Kaludjak in Coral Harbour is another person deserving of a huge thank you from this publication.

Kaludjak keeps us up to date with most of the happenings in Coral, and sends a number of photos our way throughout the year.

And his photography keeps getting better.

Thanks, Noel.

In Baker Lake we owe a debt of thanks to Craig Vincent for his photographs, and principal Bill Cooper and his staff at Jonah Amitnaaq Secondary School for their numerous contributions.

I am a big believer in promoting the accomplishments of our youth and thank the school staff for their efforts.

There are a number of people who help us out with story leads and photos during the year in Arviat.

We appreciate everyone's submissions, with an extra thank you to the staff at the Mikilaaq Centre for the continued support of their community by forwarding information to us.

Our old friend, Glen Brocklebank, in Chesterfield Inlet remains near and dear to our journalistic hearts.

We deeply appreciate Glen's efforts in supplying photos and information to us on all the worthwhile events in Chester, especially at Victor Sammurtok School.

There are, of course, numerous other people across the region who take the time to let us know what's happening in their community.

Space does not permit me to mention everyone by name, but I greatly appreciate every single photo and news tip I receive throughout the year.

Here in Rankin, special thanks to Tyrone Power and Jesse Payne for keeping me in the loop with school events, and to Doug McLarty for helping me out during hockey season.

Being a coach and photographer, Doug knows it can be difficult to snap good pictures while you're actually officiating the game.

Thanks, Doug.

As I prepare to enter my 12th year with Kivalliq News, it still amazes me how many folks across the region will take the time to highlight the accomplishments of people in their community.

That sense of pride and community spirit is one of the reasons why the Kivalliq is such a very special place to call home.

It has been my pleasure, and honour, to be at the helm of this publication again in 2009, and I thank everyone for their generous support.

As this is the final edition of 2009, I would like to wish everyone a very merry Christmas, and a happy and prosperous new year.

We'll see you all in 2010.

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Taser policy doesn't cut it
NWT News/North - Monday, December 21, 2009

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It comes as no surprise that the Commission for Public Complaints Against the RCMP has ruled against the Mounties in the Tasering of a 15-year-old girl in Inuvik in 2007.

The findings in the commission's report, however, are disturbing. The fact an officer was allowed to carry a stun gun 13 months after her certification had expired demonstrates poor management.

For Sgt. Brad Kaeding to compare Taser use to driving a car with an expired licence and suggest because someone is not currently certified does not mean they are unqualified demonstrates why Taser use continues to be so controversial.

We would suggest that Const. Noella Cockney jolting the young girl with 50,000 volts of electricity while the teen was lying face-down on the floor, handcuffed and surrounded by five youth workers indicates that Cockney was grossly under qualified to use the device.

Paul Kennedy, chair of the Commission for Public Complaints (CPC), noted in his report that the RCMP's handling of public complaint and the investigation were biased and deficient. This is yet another incident that has made it clear that the Mounties should not be investigating themselves.

Kennedy went on to point out other procedural flaws at the Inuvik detachment, including log books and notes that were not up to standards.

Interpretation of RCMP policy when the incident happened would also suggest Cockney breached protocol when she deployed the Taser.

At the time, Taser use was restricted to situations where officers needed help gaining control of a person. Tasering a handcuffed girl while surrounded by other trained youth workers is not gaining control, it's a cruel abuse of power.

RCMP policy changes following the CPC's report do not go far enough.

The police force has clarified its policy for stun gun deployment to prohibit the weapon's use as a "control device." However, restricting a Taser's use to "incidents involving threats to public or officer safety" is too vague.

Kennedy stated during a press conference in Yellowknife earlier this month that stun guns were introduced as a last resort option, with the next step being the use of an officer's firearm.

Threats to safety come in a variety of forms. Suspects being arrested must comply with orders from police officers, but most would agree that subduing all resistance with a bullet would be an unnecessary use of force, as would 50,000 volts of electricity.

The RCMP must adopt a policy that clearly states stun guns can only be used as a last resort and in an effort to preserve life, meaning if the choice can be made to stun instead of shoot, that is when a Taser should be deployed.

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Running hamlets is tough work
Nunavut News/North - Monday, December 21, 2009

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Another municipal election is over and, as is often the case in Nunavut, it was a study in contrasts.

There were varying degrees of voter turnout across the territory.

Only eight per cent of eligible Kugluktuk voters cast ballots last Monday whereas 79 per cent voted in Resolute.

In total, more people voted in Resolute than in Kugluktuk even though the Kitikmeot hamlet has seven times the number of eligible voters.

Some communities had a dozen or more candidates to choose from for council, but in Kugaaruk and Cape Dorset, their four new councillors were all acclaimed.

In Grise Fiord, not enough candidates came forward to fill the empty council seats. And then there's Qikiqtarjuaq, which is without a mayor until the council decides how to fill the position, either with the appointment of a councillor or another election.

The Kitikmeot region filed its election counts promptly but the Kivalliq and Baffin took more than 36 hours to make full results public.

Municipal elections tend to underline the difficulty of imposing uniformity in the territory. Every community has its own set of circumstances and concerns its hamlet and community representatives are expected to handle as best they can.

The only sweeping statement we can make is that, like elsewhere in the North, this responsibility seems to fall upon a core group of people, many of whom are already stretched thinly among a range of commitments.

Institutions are in constant need of new people to step forward and help shoulder the burden, to keep long-term volunteers from burning out.

Granted, December is a busy time of year for many people, but a few hours of selfless service from some other helping hands can make the work of running a hamlet easier.

Support the councillors and mayors who have been elected - they can't do it all by themselves.

And to everyone who ran for council but didn't collect enough votes to be elected, don't be discouraged.

Keep contributing to your communities and running for office. Nunavummiut value hard work, integrity and perseverance, as well as patience, and you may be entrusted with public office in the future.

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No magic bullet
Weekend Yellowknifer - Friday, December 18, 2009

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As we've braved bitter -50 C temperatures with the windchill over the past couple of weeks, it's been rather easy to forget our cadre of government ministers and MLAs shuffling around at the climate change conference in Copenhagen, Denmark.

They're overseas amidst a sea of disillusioned leaders from coastal nations desperate for a significant commitment to reduce greenhouse gases as sea levels are predicted to rise. There are the high rollers from industrial nations who aren't willing to give an inch, and there's the furious protesters whose hopes for meaningful action to counter pollution are being dashed.

NWT Environment Minister Michael Miltenberger has been critical of Ottawa's relatively lethargic pledge to cut emissions by 20 per cent below 2006 levels by 2020. The NWT can do much better, he boasted to Yellowknifer earlier this week, promising a 50 per cent cut in greenhouse gases. When and how that goal would be achieved is unclear.

While Miltenberger is talking about serious but nebulous targets, his colleague Industry Minister Bob McLeod is in Calgary trying to shore up dwindling support for a Mackenzie Valley pipeline. Natural gas does burn much cleaner than fossil fuels like oil and coal, but the pipeline project would throttle up our carbon emissions substantially during its construction, and its production, particularly if a highway extension accompanies it.

Close to half the NWT's gross domestic product, we must remember, is generated through three existing diamond mines. We have a fourth diamond mine in line to begin production in the coming years as well as potential gold, zinc, rare earth metals and other mines that could come on stream over the coming decade. We court such development because it would make us more prosperous, but it would also make us much bigger polluters.

Miltenberger touts the extension of hydro power to the diamond mines as a solution, but that idea has been kicked around for several years without any agreement on who will pony up the piles of money needed to do it.

The GNWT's Greenhouse Gas Strategy, first introduced in 2001 and revised in 2007 only sets a modest target, aiming to reduce the territorial government's carbon emissions to 10 per cent below 2001 levels.

We know the GNWT endorses compact fluorescent light bulbs, vilifies plastic bags, promotes recycling and encourages energy efficient buildings. But are we ready to follow Weledeh MLA Bob Bromley's support of purchasing carbon offsets for airplane travel and using organic pellets as a primary fuel source?

We, like many people around the world, are conflicted. We want the best of both worlds and we get the distinct impression that our government does as well.

In reality, until our leaders are brave enough to go beyond preaching and begin leading by example nothing will change.

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Parks highlight Deh Cho's beauty
Editorial Comment
Roxanna Thompson
Deh Cho Drum - Thursday, December 17, 2009

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One thing that the Deh Cho has in abundance is natural beauty.

Blackstone Territorial Park on Highway 7 has a great view of the Liard River and the Nahanni Mountain Range, and a delightful visitor's centre. Lady Evelyn Falls Park near Kakisa, just as its name suggests, has an impressive waterfall.

Fort Simpson Territorial Park puts visitors a short walk from a great view of the confluence of the Mackenzie and Liard Rivers. A different view of the Mackenzie River can be captured from near the Fort Providence Territorial Park.

One of the best known parks for people who regularly make the drive along Highway 1 is the Sambaa Deh Falls Territorial Park. It's impossible to miss one of the park's main highlights and its namesake, the Sambaa Deh Falls. If not for the sake of the posted speed limit, most motorists at least slow down to glance at the falls while driving over the bridge.

The park is also home to a second set of falls, Coral Falls and to a slightly more hidden treasure, the Trout River gorge.

After thundering over both of the falls, the river winds its way through a path it has cut into the rock. Visitors get a sense of the gorge when they go below Sambaa Deh falls to fish, but the best view is currently only accessible by scrambling through the tree line to the west of the park, and peering over the gorge's edge.

The Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment's proposed project to make the view of the gorge more accessible by adding a viewing platform, hiking trails and a new parking lot should be welcomed. Any project that will enhance the experiences that the parks in the Deh Cho have to offer is a positive development.

Sambaa Deh is a popular spot on long weekends in the summer, or as a rest stop during driving tours of the Deh Cho.

The importance of the parks is often undervalued.

The parks encapsulate some of the best the Deh Cho has to offer, including landscapes and our local people. The parks' staffs keep the facilities immaculate and provide information about the area to visitors.

By turning the pages and reading the entries in the guest books that are kept at the parks in the summer you can get a sense of just how many people from across Canada and the world enjoy them. The department's proposed project to add new features to Sambaa Deh park increase incentives for tourists and locals alike to stop and spend some time utilizing the park.

Residents and the leadership of the communities that will be involved in the consultation for the project need to ensure they send a strong message to the Mackenzie Land and Water Board that the Sambaa Deh project should be granted a land use permit so it can move forward.

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A Christmas moment
Editorial Comment
Andrew Rankin
Inuvik Drum - Thursday, December 17, 2009

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It's easy to overlook the achievements of youth. No one has to be reminded about the number of break-ins that occur in this town and who mostly gets the blame for them. How often do you hear about youth violence and substance abuse?

I'm not out to generalize about kids or categorize them in this editorial. They're just people.

But I was quite intrigued by a Christmas project put on recently by Grade 7, 8 and 9 students at Samuel Hearne Secondary school. The story will run in next week's Drum, so I won't tell you too much about it.

Each of the youths had a responsibility to purchase a gift or a food item that would be donated to the Santa's Elves program, the anonymous community group that distributes presents and food to families in need around town. The teacher responsible for introducing the idea to the students, Ms. Bentley, expected the students would perhaps fill one hamper of items. Turns out, in less than a week, enough stuff came in to fill at least four big hampers.

The kids involved in the program were called to one classroom for a photo. They rushed in, but they listened closely to my instructions to get into a nice tight group. I appreciated that and I also appreciated the fact that none of the students wanted to tell me about how generous they are or preach about the need to be generous at Christmas. Still, I convinced a couple of girls to tell me about the project.

The truth is their teacher wanted to give them some deserved attention. No one seemed to need a pat on the back. It appeared to be something they quietly believed in, and followed through with because it's the right thing to do.

I'm sure people might think recounting this little story is a waste of time. That's fine. I just thought I'd share one of my Christmas moments, a tale that illustrates quiet generosity.

It's funny how Christmas generally brings out the best in most. Maybe some of the kids involved in this little project are in trouble with the law, maybe not. But it's example of the good that can come from investing in youth and empowering them to bring about positive change.