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Caribou conservation mishandled
NWT News/North - Monday, February 1, 2010

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Minister Michael Miltenberger's perception of his own authority is an embarrassment to the GNWT and an insult to the people of the territory.

For the third time, Miltenberger has sparked controversy and vehement protest by trying to impose his will on the people he represents.

First, last year he failed to push through a poorly conceived board merger that sparked a demonstration in front of the legislative assembly. Then, he was forced to retreat from his plan to hike a variety of taxes during the economic downturn.

Now Miltenberger thinks his power supersedes federal First Nation treaties. While the minister jetted off to Copenhagen last December, he had his department announce a ban on caribou hunting in the North Slave - a ban that included First Nation hunters.

The minister insists he consulted with all aboriginal groups before imposing the ban. Many leaders deny that assertion. If his consultation practices have remained the same since the board merger fiasco, we don't hold high hopes the groups he claims to have spoken to had much input.

Since the ban, Miltenberger has decided to remain in his office allowing his staff to take the brunt of criticism.

We wonder why Miltenberger did not attend the Dene Nation Leadership meeting in Fort Simpson, opting instead to send his deputy minister for the Department of Environmental and Natural Resources.

It's difficult to trust a want-to-be leader who doesn't have the good sense to personally get involved in resolving conflicts rather than creating them. He squandered a perfect opportunity to speak with the groups directly affected by the ban - and he should be working to remedy that mistake soon.

Now, as his extra hired guns confiscate meat from aboriginal hunters harvesting on their traditional lands, Miltenberger's poor decision-making and abysmal forethought has turned an important conservation issue into a political firestorm that will likely cost the NWT millions in legal expenses.

The caribou need to be protected. Few deny that fact. However, Miltenberger's actions have done nothing to protect caribou. Aboriginals have already demonstrated their commitment to defying the ban. More than 17 carcasses have been confiscated from hunters.

Miltenberger's totalitarian enforcement of the ban will do little to deter aboriginals from exercising their traditional rights - rights enshrined in Canadian law -- and his policy is effectively stealing food from NWT families.

Once again, Miltenberger has demonstrated his poor leadership and inability to communicate.

Our government's seeming disregard for the rights of the aboriginal population does not bode well for the future of devolution negotiations - whenever our government decides that endeavour is worth pursuing.

If ministers such as Miltenberger cannot take into account the needs and rights of the territory's aboriginal population, how can the cabinet be trusted to sign a deal that will be fair and representative?

It's time for Premier Floyd Roland to step in and fix this blunder. Miltenberger has proved to be too combative and closed-minded.

It's hard to believe he was raised in the North, considering his complete disregard for Northern realities.

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Golden opportunity
Nunavut News/North - Monday, February 1, 2010

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When the Meadowbank mine pours its first gold bar in February, it will be the only producing mine site in a territory rich in mineral resources.

As Denis Gourde, the mine site's general manager for Agnico-Eagle, said in last week's Nunavut News/North, "We 're the biggest show in Nunavut."

The Jericho diamond mine, which was so full of promise in 2006, closed in 2008 and Tahera, the company that owns it, has now put it on the market. Lupin, the territory's previous gold mine, closed in 2006. The most recent operating mine in the Kivalliq Region was the Cullaton Lake-Shear Lake gold mine near Arviat that closed in 1985.

Nunavut still has plenty of exploration activity, but the work is seasonal and the jobs it brings are fleeting. An operating mine is more likely to provide stable, long-term employment.

The mayor of Baker Lake has said the mine is having a positive impact on the hamlet, as families with members working for the mine or its contractors are generally well-fed and well-clothed.

But in a culture where family, community and tradition are priorities, these employees and their families are also making sacrifices. Due to the demands of an operating mine, there will be many meals eaten alone, tearful phone calls, hunts missed and lonely Christmases, even though they're just 70 km north of home. What keeps them going is the knowledge that they are working for the benefit of their loved ones and communities.

Meadowbank has an expected operating life of 10 years. In this relatively brief window of production, we hope Baker Lake and nearby communities take advantage of every opportunity the mine provides, especially when it comes to training. There will be more companies doing exploration work, and more mines needing skilled labour. The Meliadine gold project near Rankin Inlet is progressing, as are Kitikmeot prospects such as Newmont's Hope Bay gold site and Sabina Silver's Hackett River location.

Experienced workers - those who have paid their dues at Meadowbank -- will have an advantage as opportunities continue to arise, not only employees but as service providers and business partners.

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Such generous people
Nunavut News/North - Monday, February 1, 2010

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Nunavummiut are renowned for their generosity. Despite having little, when disaster strikes, we open our hearts and wallets without reservation.

The response of Nunavummiut to the recent earthquake in Haiti has been inspiring. Though divided by geography, climate and culture, donors responded to the plight of fellow human beings halfway around the world.

The Government of Nunavut stepped up to donate $25,000 to the Red Cross. Nunavut Tunngavik gave $20,000 and each of the three regional Inuit associations gave $10,000.

In addition, there have been innumerable fundraisers and collections in every community for Haiti relief.

Statistics Canada has reported that according to 2007 tax returns, residents of Nunavut tended to give more to charities than any other province or territory. In Nunavut, the median donation was $470, meaning half gave more and half gave less than that amount, versus the national median of $250. And these statistics only counted donations for which donors received tax receipts.

A willingness to share what one can spare is a cultural identity to be proud of.

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Let the sunlight in
Weekend Yellowknifer - Friday, January 29, 2010

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Transparency - the lack of it is the biggest problem with government contracts involving former cabinet ministers.

It would be unreasonable to ban former cabinet ministers for an extended period of time from all government work but clearly it's unsettling, to say the least, when these contracts are signed behind closed doors.

This is an area that needs more sunlight, not just to ensure dollars are well spent but for credibility's sake as well. For example, to allow more than a year to pass before former cabinet minister Brendan Bell's $180,000 in sole-source contracts became public knowledge in late 2009 is not an acceptable practice.

Premier Floyd Roland may have felt he had good reason to hire Bell, but he invites trouble for himself and his government when such deals are made without an opportunity for the public to scrutinize them.

After all, this wasn't a case of tendering a contract for water delivery to campgrounds or providing an online breastfeeding training program. This involved the premier cutting cheques for a former colleague who also happened to be the local Conservative candidate representing the ruling party in the House of Commons.

It matters little that the contract was cancelled in August 2008 prior to the federal election. The problems that led to the perception of unfairness and secrecy started long before that.

It's worth noting that nary a contract entertained by the city escapes public scrutiny before it's approved. City council is asked through regular, easy-to-access and publicly available memorandums to approve contracts before administration awards them.

The public is even told who applied for them, and how the competitors for these contracts rated.

It's probably too much to ask of a governing body as large as the territorial government to apply the same level of scrutiny to its tendering process, but contracts involving former cabinet ministers should be made the exception.

Right now, the Independent Commission to Review Members' Compensation and Benefits is back at it again, investigating, among other things, the rules concerning government contracts involving former cabinet ministers after they leave office.

Garth Malakoe, chair of the commission, says that particular issue - and not legislators' salaries - was a big concern among MLAs they've interviewed, as it should be.

The point is not to drive ex-politicians from the territory in search of work, as former premier Joe Handley warned could happen if conflict rules become too restrictive. Such a scenario would be to the detriment of us all in a territory with a population - and talent base - as small as ours.

In many cases, it would probably be good enough in the minds of residents just to know that contracts to former cabinet ministers or companies that employ them have been reviewed in public.

What would be wrong with another level of public scrutiny for government contractors and consultants who obviously didn't mind it when they sought public office in the first place?

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A cautionary tale
Editorial Comment
Roxanna Thompson
Deh Cho Drum - Thursday, January 28, 2010

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When the Dene Nation convened its leadership meeting in Fort Simpson, its agenda covered a variety of topics.

Over three days Dene leaders were supposed to discuss the Joint Review Panel's report on the Mackenzie Gas Project, the National Energy Board hearings and the extension of the Mackenzie Valley highway. These are all important issues that a variety of groups are interested in. None of those topics, however, ever reached the table.

The meeting was almost completely dominated by one topic - caribou - and more specifically the hunting ban on caribou the territorial government imposed at the beginning of the year.

The meeting was an insightful lesson and warning for the Deh Cho on how one very important topic can be co-opted and subjugated to another. The meeting was unquestionably all about caribou but not in the manner that many would presume.

The Bathurst herd, which the ban covers, is in trouble. Since 2009, the herd's population size has declined to only approximately 32,000 animals, down from 180,000 in 2003.

Despite this shocking decline very little of the meeting was centred on how to protect what remains of the herd and encourage growth. The herd is clearly an important source of traditional food for people living in the area but little time was spent planning for the future.

Almost all of the delegates were firmly fixed on the territorial government's imposed hunting ban. The ban's infringement on treaty rights became the sticking point around which all of the discussion circled.

Instead of a conservation tool, the ban has become a symbol for each time treaty rights have been trampled.

All of the energy that could have been put towards coming up with solutions for the herd was spent and is still being spent on arguments about what counts as sufficient consultation and who has the ultimate authority over the land and the animals on it.

Treaty rights are important, yes, but as some aboriginal leaders have pointed out they will count for little if the caribou are wiped out.

The entire Dene Nation leadership meeting was a cautionary tale for its hosts the Liidlii Kue First Nation and the rest of the Dehcho First Nations. When it comes to protecting key species, First Nations have to ensure they are involved in the process from day one.

It's only by being involved early and identifying problems before they reach a crucial stage that aboriginal groups can ensure conservation measures respect their inherent rights.

The caribou hunting ban shows decisions made on an emergency basis can easily take the focus away from where it's really needed, on the animals.

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It takes a community
Editorial Comment
Andrew Rankin
Inuvik Drum - Thursday, January 28, 2010

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I recently found out that Samuel Hearne Secondary School plans to create some very strict rules that staff hope will improve school attendance. I'm not exactly sure what it plans to implement, but the hammer is coming down at the beginning of this month.

That brings me to the issue of the new school under construction alongside SHSS. Of course, poor school attendance is a deeply rooted issue in Inuvik, but I would suggest that several more students are not attending because they're still worried about the presence of diesel fumes there. The fumes were coming from the school construction site beside SHSS.

Construction has slowed down to a halt. Conditions at the school are currently fine. But what happens when construction starts up once again? Is there any guarantee students and staff won't be put at risk again?

I have spoken to some people who appear to be a little annoyed by the stories and columns that have appeared in this paper that perhaps have given the proposed new school bad publicity. That's fair enough. But I also support constructing the best possible school for students in this community (even though I kind of like visiting Sir Alexander Mackenzie School because it reminds me of my elementary school years).

I don't think students' well-being should be put at risk by building this super school.

Just before Christmas I spoke to a community health expert who downplayed the presence of diesel fumes in SHSS. She emphasized that students' health wasn't at risk because the presence of diesel fumes there hadn't reached dangerous levels. She did say that she wasn't surprised that many students were feeling tired. That's an expected consequence.

What I find troubling is the fact so many students, as well some teachers, had gotten so tired from ingesting the fumes that they basically couldn't function. Some even fell asleep at their desks.

Classes were moved around to get away from the fumes. Obviously not a very healthy learning environment.

How are students and teachers expected to be at their best in such conditions? That issue hasn't seemed to cross some people's minds. The philosophy seems to be as long as no one is obviously sick, everything is OK.

I didn't hear about any public meeting scheduled to discuss the issue among school staff, students, parents and members of the Beaufort Delta Education Council. Everybody talks about the troubles that effect our local education system, such as classroom attendance and comprehension. But there doesn't seem to be a unified community approach to solving these serious issues. There seems to be a lot of talk and a lot of apathy.

Without a community response, especially when it comes to education, we're just spinning our wheels.

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Hard lesson for council
Yellowknifer - Wednesday, January 27, 2010

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As Yellowknife city council untangles the restrictive web of zoning rules strangling development of the Niven Lake Phase VII subdivision, we can only hope they have learned a valuable lesson.

We've said it before and will continue to say it: STAY OUT OF THE DEVELOPMENT BUSINESS!

Councillors are not stupid. Even council critic and Yellowknifer columnist Alex Debogorski acknowledged council and city administration have good ideas. The problem is they confuse the revenue goals of the development business with political goals of planned development. This results in council's goals of planned development undermining the revenue goals which in turn hurts the books city administration is trying to balance on the backs of taxpayers.

If council needs further proof they have failed as a developer, just listen to their customers, of which are few. "This is the worse experience I've ever had," said one potential homeowner who tried to follow council's development desires.

Next time council, by all means put your vision in your zoning proposals, then leave the development to the professionals - the builders and real estate people. If the developers refuse to risk their money with such rules, that's because they know their customers won't buy the product.

Then council, after considering the demand for housing, may wish to alter the rules or stick to them until the developers do buy in. As we can see, council is being forced to alter the rules after spending mountains of taxpayers' money, discouraging developers, alienating customers and disrupting administration's books.

This is a carbon copy of the first phase of Niven Lake when the city lost its shirt in the 1990s. It's time council realized real estate development is not the reason why they were elected. They were elected to encourage and manage growth. Whenever they get their hands dirty, the distinctive smell tells the same old story.

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Change comes to Caribou Carnival
Yellowknifer - Wednesday, January 27, 2010

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This year's organizers of Caribou Carnival say they plan to re-invent the longtime event. Revamping the festivities is exactly what the floundering March celebration needs.

The new initiatives could restore glory to the carnival.

The fresh blood heading up the organizing this year - Rick Poltaruk is the new president - should go a long way towards creating something fresh.

Already changes have been announced: the carnival will now be on land as opposed to Frame Lake, where people risk slipping and falling while making their way to carnival tents. The Somba K'e Civic Plaza site should be a welcome change of venue.

The carnival volunteers also announced a desire to try to appeal to more people across the territory, as well as focusing on family over attendance driven by beer tents.

Caribou Carnival is going into is 55th year, which is no small achievement, but it has seen some difficult times. Thankfully there are volunteers in the community still willing to step up and take on such a large challenge. Good luck to them and hopefully this year will be Caribou Carnival's best.

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Time to play the game
Editorial Comment
Darrell Greer
Kivalliq News - Wednesday, January 27, 2010

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Community and Government Services Minister Lorne Kusugak bounced a large ball into the court of Rankin Inlet council members when he appeared at a regular council meeting earlier this month.

While it may be in the hamlet's possession, make no mistake about it, this is Kusugak's ball and he expects Mayor John Hickes and council to take very good care of it.

He also expects them to pick it up and run with it, if they hope to score big points for the community and the minister's plan.

The Nunavut government has already approved a rather expensive study and planning stage for a new arena and community complex for Rankin.

Anyone who knows Kusugak realizes he doesn't intend to build a glorified outhouse in his hometown with a sheet of ice in it.

Rankin already has one of those, and its residents struggle to make the best of it.

The transportation hub of the territory, Rankin is a growing community with a deep passion for the game of hockey and holding numerous events in its old and sub-standard community hall.

Kusugak has never been one to support Band-Aid solutions, and we have no doubt he has his eye on a new state-of-the-art facility in the neighbourhood of $20 million.

The minister envisions a community hall big enough to support the growing population and one its residents can take pride in.

He also sees an arena holding 1,500 people for premier events such as the Avataq Cup, and with the capability of having a floor installed over the ice and during the off-season to hold numerous other events not related to hockey.

It's a wonderful vision for the community that's badly needed, but Kusugak can't pull it off on his own and there's the rub.

Every mayor brings his or her own strengths and weaknesses to the council chamber after being elected.

Kusugak's banner while mayor of Rankin was always one of not wanting to hear excuses for why things couldn't be done, but ways on how they could be done.

And, while we don't want to make comparisons between past and present councils, that's one page the current councillors are going to have to copy from Kusugak's book if the new complex is to become a reality.

Hamlet council could decide to tuck Kusugak's ball safely away until he comes to retrieve it, and then sit and wait for him to deke his way past the government and score a new community complex for Rankin.

If that's the path they choose, despite Kusugak's ball-handling skills, he will fail.

Council needs to run with the ball and do everything in its power to help Kusugak score the big goal for the community.

And that means working long and hard to come up with anything and everything the hamlet can throw on the table in support of the new complex.

The more the Hamlet of Rankin Inlet can contribute to the new complex project, the greater the chances of it becoming a reality.

Kusugak brought his ball and laid out his game plan.

Now the future of a new community complex for Rankin rides on council's willingness to play the game.