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No magic bullet
Weekend Yellowknifer - Friday, December 4, 2009

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For the average Canadian, including those living here, the National Rifle Association (NRA) of the United States represents just about everything that makes us queasy about Americans.

A particular image has been forever seared into Canadian minds, thanks in no small part to Michael Moore's 2002 hit documentary Bowling for Columbine: the swaggerin', gun-totin', God-fearin' redneck wrapped in an American flag while blowing up clay targets with a submachine gun.

American John Andre, who owns an outfitting camp in the NWT, asked the NRA to intervene in caribou hearings in Behchoko on Jan. 11-12.

That the four million-strong organization is actually a highly organized and politically savvy lobby group is lost on some Canadians. It's the abode of gun nuts, and a symbol for gun-perpetuated violence, many here will surely say.

Well, we'll find out for sure now that the NRA has been granted intervenor status for the caribou hearings by the Wek'eezhii Land and Water Board, where the fate of big game outfitters who rely on the Bathurst caribou herd hangs in the balance.

The territorial and Tlicho governments want to put a halt to the $4 million industry, plus non-aboriginal and commercial hunting on Bathurst caribou, until 2012. The government contends that these drastic measures are needed to allow the herd to recover after it dwindled to 30,000 animals this year from 130,000 in 2006, by the GNWT's count.

The city and Yellowknife Chamber of Commerce have joined outfitters to intervene in the upcoming hearings. They question whether it's a wise idea to completely destroy the industry, which provides jobs and tourism dollars.

The Wek'eezhii board will have to seriously consider what the city and chamber have to say. They represent local people with plenty to lose.

The board must also ensure aboriginal groups who still want intervenor status are heard as well. After all, the Dene and Metis have survived on caribou for many generations. Although the animals' populations have varied throughout the years, aboriginal people used caribou meat for sustenance and parts of the carcass for tools, boats, shelter and thread for many years. For some, hunting caribou is still the difference between having a meal on the table or going hungry.

The NRA, meanwhile, whose direct interest in the debate is arguable, must ensure it doesn't become a distraction and thereby do more harm to the outfitting industry than help.

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A chance for change
Editorial Comment
Roxanna Thompson
Deh Cho Drum - Thursday, December 3, 2009

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With the election for chief and council only a week away, the Pehdzeh Ki First Nation is in an enviable but difficult situation.

Cartoons

In an unusual state of affairs all four of the men running for the position of chief agree that the single most important issue facing Wrigley is the community's lack of unity and communication. It's unusual for two people running for the same office to agree on a primary point. Having four people agree must be some sort of a record.

The residents of Wrigley are in an enviable position in that all of their potential leaders have apparently correctly identified what the community needs most. The revelation that unity and communication are weaker points in the community won't come as a surprise to those living in Wrigley, and anyone else who has been following the band's ups and downs.

Although the average length of time that a chief and council lasts in power has improved in the community over the past few years that doesn't mean their terms have been any smoother. Community members' support of any group that has been in power has always been tenuous. The most recent term headed by Chief Darcy E. Moses was marred by a vote of non-confidence when 23 people tried to remove the leadership in June.

Among their list of grievances was the failure by the chief and council to keep the rest of the community informed on what was happening and the decisions they were making.

All of the men now running for the position of chief have apparently learned from their own and other leaders' previous mistakes and are making promises about how they'll avoid the same pitfalls. What's left now is for the people of Wrigley to make the right decision, and hold the newly elected leaders to their promises.

Pehdzeh Ki First Nation members have already seen how all of these candidates have performed in office. They know their track records and likely have a good idea if they're capable of change. Voters need to weigh all of these options and look at the candidates' qualifications when they go to mark their ballot instead of voting along family lines, which can be very strong.

Once the election is done, residents will have to get behind the leadership and offer them their support. The chief and council has a responsibility to keep the lines of communication open to members, but only the members can choose to utilize that offer. Residents will need to be proactive and bring problems to the council before they escalate to the point where another vote of non-confidence seems like the only viable option.

Wrigley is often painted with a broad brush as being the black sheep among the Deh Cho communities. The problems that Wrigley faces are no different from those found across the rest of the region, they are just more visible.

With this election, all of the residents have a chance to pull together and make a conscious decision to work in unity and set a new course for the Pehdzeh Ki First Nation.

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Close call
Editorial Comment
Andrew Rankin
Inuvik Drum - Thursday, December 3, 2009

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It would be easy to turn a blind eye to that scary snowmobile accident on Kingmingya Road on Saturday evening. The drivers were lucky they didn't collide head-on. Two people were on both Ski-Doos and no one was wearing a helmet. I've already seen countless youths flying around town on their Ski-Doos helmetless. Of the four, three were youth.

Obviously very poor judgment was at play here: two Ski-Doos travelling on the same side of the road headed over a crest at such high speeds that one of the machines lay crumpled after the wreck.

One of the Ski-Doos veered into the road to avoid a head-on collision. Imagine if a vehicle had been coming over that crest at the same time or a pedestrian was around? There are a lot of possible terrible outcomes.

It doesn't make any sense to me why Ski-Doos are allowed on roads here. The roads are slippery enough during winter to navigate without worrying about whether a Ski-Doo will cross your path. That goes for pedestrians too. Is it just me or is that a recipe for disaster? Just so you know, no one involved in Saturday's crash had a licence to be on the road.

A day later I was driving up Mackenzie Road and a snowmobile, which I'm sure was speeding, zoomed right past me, travelling the opposite way, with a foot or two to spare. While out walking I've seen snowmobiles whizz by me doing at least 100 km/h, and I know I'm not the only one who has seen them.

I always thought snowmobiles were designed for back-country trails, not town streets. It seems to me that if you're going to allow snowmobiles on town streets than somebody should be on the lookout for delinquent drivers. Maybe RCMP officers could do regular street patrols on snowmobiles. Maybe that sounds a little ridiculous, but Saturday's accident was ridiculous too. And the next time there's a snowmobile accident we might have to worry about more than just a wrecked snowmobile.

For the most part, I always enjoyed my visits to Cafe Gallery. The food was always pretty good, healthy and well prepared. The coffee was very good. There was art hanging on the lively coloured walls. It managed to attract an interesting crowd. But I didn't get there as often as I would have liked and the food there was a tad expensive.

But I appreciate any person that tries to make a go of it. Obviously competition in town is pretty fierce. I liked the fact that the former owner Rob Cook made an effort to offer something a little different. Instead of the burger and fries, he offered a healthier, fresh chicken sandwich and soup. Instead of selling coffee-flavoured water he offered full-bodied coffee and specialty javas too. He did that for more than 10 years.

He contributed something good to the community and he deserves a nod for that.

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Power review zaps Yk
Wednesday, December 2, 2009

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As a city with a high cost of living, Yellowknife, home to half the territory's population, needs power rates that are reasonable and competitive.

Yet, in its most recent electricity assessment, the territorial government's review panel has shown it does not understand this. Fortunately the Yellowknife Chamber of Commerce and city council have been quick to point out why.

The review's key sticking points for Yellowknife are a proposed 10 per cent hike to the city's power rate, and that the Northwest Territories Power Corporation be the sole distributor of energy in the territory.

In essence, this increase in the city's power costs would help offset cheaper rates in the outlying diesel and natural gas communities for businesses and households which surpass the monthly subsidized rate of 700 kW/h. So the GNWT may force us to support the commercial users who burn up plenty of energy in the NWT's hamlets while our own residents and businesses pay more.

The government claims that assigning the power corporation as sole distributor in the territory would keep rates low, yet the power corp. has a poor track record of creating efficiencies, particularly at a managerial level.

Competition, as Yk Chamber of Commerce president Patrick Doyle remarked, will best ensure that rates are kept within reason.

The government must hear out the concerns of the city's chamber and city council.

So long as Yellowknife, the territory's economic heartbeat, stays strong, then benefits will flow to the extremities.

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More incentives needed for film
Wednesday, December 2, 2009

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Another TV show set in Yellowknife made its debut in November.

Ice Pilots NWT is an entertaining reality show following Yellowknife-based Buffalo Airways' staff and crew. The show, which airs on History Television, which is also home to Ice Road Truckers, highlights increasing interest in the North from the film and television industry.

One disappointment in the NWT's growing TV fame is that it's not leading to job creation for Northerners.

Rather than employing our residents, southern companies bring up crews to do the filming and then they pack up and head back to Vancouver or Toronto.

We're compelled to ask the GNWT: where are the financial incentives for NWT filmmakers? How is it the Yukon is capitalizing on film and growing the industry in their territory while the NWT sits idly by?

Investing in a homegrown film industry would not only create jobs but further promote tourism for the NWT.

It's long overdue for the territorial government to take its cue on this missed opportunity.

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Golden future for Rankin?
Editorial Comment
Darrell Greer
Kivalliq News - Wednesday, December 2, 2009

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It didn't take a few communities long to question a plan for a new arena complex for Rankin Inlet being in the Government of Nunavut's capital budget.

After all, Rankin is Community and Government Services Minister Lorne Kusugak's hometown.

Anyone who pays attention to such things knows Kusugak was instrumental in bringing artificial ice to Rankin while serving as hamlet mayor, and is a staunch supporter of local minor and senior hockey.

He has also lobbied for a new community hall for his community for a number of years, and has proven himself to be nothing short of a pure pit bull of determination when he sets his sights on obtaining something for Rankin.

So what does this all mean.

Well, first of all, it means Rankin constituents are fortunate to have had Kusugak work on behalf of their community for as long as he has – and for as long as he continues to do so.

That also means nobody in Rankin should feel the urge to apologize to anyone for the developments Kusugak brings their way.

Now let's be straightforward about this.

Many communities did not get the projects on their wish list, and we would like to see every one receive the infrastructure they so desperately require.

But that does not change the fact Rankin needs, and deserves, a new arena complex.

Anyone who has spent any amount of time in Rankin knows how much the old existing structure is used, and how many times people have to be turned away due to a lack of space.

They also know how hard a dedicated group of volunteers, hamlet and government workers, minor and senior league executives and the people, themselves, have worked to make hockey such a major part of life in Rankin.

Nowhere else in the North do you see such support for our nation's favourite pastime, and that's one of the things that makes Rankin such a very special place to live.

But there may be a great deal more to the story.

Kusugak has almost always been able to get his ducks in a row and be ready for developments before they happen.

And the new arena complex just may be another example of that.

Let's say, for example, Agnico-Eagle Mines Ltd. was about to make a major announcement on the Meliadine gold project.

Pure speculation and conjecture on our part, agreed, but the timing is certainly right.

With Meadowbank complete in Baker Lake, barges would only be needed for resupply and Agnico could divert its attention to Rankin.

And, what better time than the hoopla surrounding the first gold brick out of Meadowbank for Agnico to announce it has taken full control of Meliadine and will start construction immediately?

The timelines are almost too good to be true for Rankin.

At the same time the first gold brick comes out of Meliadine, a brand-new arena complex would be casting its own glow over the hamlet.

The future just may be so bright, folks in Rankin will have to wear shades.

And who can really argue with that?

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Strange politics
NWT News/North - Monday, November 30, 2009

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Usually when politicians depart from their party's position it is in an effort to support their constituents. However, Senator Nick Sibbeston's latest proclamation has baffled many Northerners.

In his best impersonation of a neo-conservative, the Liberal senator stood up at a chamber of commerce luncheon in Yellowknife a few weeks ago and revealed a pro-business, anti-social-program manifesto.

Sibbeston recommended that money used for social programming and government social work positions be cut and funneled into business development.

Perhaps our senator has been spending so much time in Ottawa he has forgotten the realities of the North.

The statistics for drug and alcohol use are staggering. In 2006 the NWT addictions survey revealed that 55 per cent of territorial residents had experienced harm caused by another person's drinking.

The RCMP consistently reports that many of its calls, especially those to do with domestic assault, involve drugs and alcohol.

Yet, our senator believes that social workers and others working to combat those issues "don't produce a great deal."

Sibbeston idealistically thinks if the NWT invests more in jobs and training, addicts will simply sober up, get clean and become hardworking, productive members of society.

He quotes Osoyoos Chief Clarence Louie saying, "Sometimes the best social program is a job," to support his remarks. However, he conveniently omitted that Louie, who has been credited for turning the Osoyoos First Nation into an economic powerhouse and improving the living conditions of his people, also once said that "a healthy person wants to work."

In fact, Louie, who Sibbeston cites as an inspiration, has expressed his full support of social funding as long as that programming is funded adequately and built by his own people.

In an article on the website of New Relationship Trust - a First Nations' advocacy group -- Louie's perspective is presented as follows: "He encourages an economic development focus with the ultimate goal of funding social programs such as healing and culture through business profits."

Louis is quoted saying, "Everything is underfunded ... (and) everything is a priority."

If Sibbeston was serious about improving social conditions through employment, he would fight to create a population that is ready to work.

Job training, education, programs to combat addictions and other counselling services are vital to developing an employable population and ensuring it remains working. Instrumental in that process are the 160 social workers in the NWT.

Aboriginal groups in the NWT have shown they disagree with Sibbeston's position. Mackenzie Valley Pipeline negotiations have included a demand for funding to help reduce resulting social impacts. In response, the federal government committed $500 million for just that. Aboriginal groups and communities along the proposed pipeline route welcomed the news, but some argued that more than $500 million was needed.

We'd all dearly love to transform everyone with an addiction or anger management problem into a successful entrepreneur by putting them in a suit and giving them a business licence, but, realistically, that's just not going to happen. Those people need professional help to address their deep-rooted problems.

Sibbeston shouldn't be faulted for pushing for a stronger base for NWT business, but he was out of bounds in calling for that money to come out of much needed social programming.

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Expanding abroad
Nunavut News/North - Monday, November 30, 2009

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There's always a deal to be had.

The global recession has made a dent in Nunavut's seal skin sales - fashion designers don't spend big bucks when they're losing lots of money - but it was the European Union's ban on commercial seal imports that dealt a serious blow to the sealing industry in the territory.

The 27 European countries that supported the decision argued that the Canadian seal hunt is cruel. Although the door to trade was theoretically left open a crack for Nunavummiut hunters who kill the animals for traditional purposes, it's widely understood that shutting out the commercial hunt is going to harm Inuit harvesters.

That evidence has been mounting already, even over the past few years when the European Union was merely contemplating a seal ban. Out of 11,000 skins available, not one Nunavut seal pelt was sold through the Fur Harvester's Auction in North Bay, Ont., earlier this year.

Last year only 500 seal skins were sold at an average price of $55. Compare that to 2004, when the auction resulted in 7,800 seal pelts sold at $67.02 on average.

There are nearly 1,200 sealers in Nunavut, so the steep sales decline was bound to have an effect.

Sensing the pinch that households relying on sales were bound to feel from the crash, the Government of Nunavut stepped in and snapped up thousands of seal skins from territorial hunters. That left the GN sitting on a stockpile of nearly 12,000 pelts. Nearly 4,000 have already been sold to businesses and individuals within Nunavut over the past year and a half which makes the territorial market an important one.

This can only be viewed as a temporary solution. The longer-term goal should be to entice overseas customers like China and Russia to pick up the slack in sales. This is promising.

China hasn't been immune to the global economic collapse since the third quarter of 2008, but it's largely viewed as the world's future financial powerhouse.

While China had already been one of the largest consumers of seal pelts prior to the European Union's dismissal of the commercial hunt, there is room to make further inroads in the Chinese market.

Yet the GN should also be looking to countries like Japan, Korea and Norway, rather than depending solely on the rebounding Chinese and Russian marketplaces.

It's going to take some crafty marketing and smooth sales work, but Nunavut's seal industry can become profitable again.