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Northern bashing NWT News/North - Monday, May 3, 2010
Chamber executive director Mike Vaydik blames the dramatic drop in exploration dollars in 2009 on the regulatory system, conveniently forgetting the world suffered a financial meltdown that scared investors to the dickens. This is fine. The chamber largely represents outside interests who have no stake in the NWT economy, environment or people. They would prefer no environmental reviews, no hiring quotas, no benefit agreements, just give us the rocks. Confusing the issue, in reaction to frustration and complaints over the agonizing pipeline review, the Conservative government called in Neil McCrank, former chairman of the Alberta Energy and Utilities Board. McCrank has shown little understanding of either NWT political history or the legal basis for land claims. His suggested remedy of consolidating regional boards into one clearinghouse is a fantasy that ignores years of negotiations and ironclad legal agreements putting these regulatory boards in place. The one unbiased view to come is the recent report by auditor general Sheila Fraser. She found the feds were doing a proper job of training boards and much progress was being made. In areas with settled land claims, there were no rejected applications by industry. Only in the unsettled areas did things get messy. Aboriginal leaders, in some instances, appeared to use the screening process to delay development and gain leverage at the negotiating table. Much the same as the Chamber of Mines did when they didn't like the duties being imposed on mine traffic to pay for the Deh Cho bridge. To protest, the chamber asked for an environmental screening which suggests it is no different in thinking than aboriginal politicians. But let us speak of solutions. Who controls the pace of unsettled land claims with dysfunctional funding and ever changing rules and staff? Who set up the pipeline review panel that went way over budget, bulldozing deadline after deadline, answering only to God? The federal government. This is all missing in the chamber of mines' message to the global mining community. Also missing is any response from the Government of the NWT, in particular the minister of development Bob McLeod. It's as if the GNWT agrees with the assessment of the unsuitability of exploration in the North. Perhaps worse, the GNWT doesn't properly value the enormous benefits in jobs and dollars that the mineral, oil and gas exploration business brings to the North at the community level. Despite the bad public relations and GNWT inaction, the exploration business will return to the NWT because we have the precious resources. In the meantime, the Chamber of Mines should be shedding its old-world blinkers and helping aboriginal leaders get their deals done with the federal government. The Inuvialuit, Gwich'in, Sahtu and Tlicho leaders and entrepreneurs -- all with settled land claims -- are aching to do business and have proven themselves solid business partners. The Inuvialuit Development Corporation has hundreds of millions of dollars worth of airline, construction and oil and gas development companies. There are 46 registered Gwich'in-owned businesses and 28 registered Sahtu-owned companies. The Tlicho Investment Corporation has 16 divisions involved in ventures ranging from hydro power to trucking to explosives and much more. Settled land claims creates a business environment from which everyone profits. That's the message the GNWT should be trumpeting. Where else in the world would you find such excellent aboriginal economic models and rich resources?
Shortchanged Nunavut News/North - Monday, May 3, 2010 Nunavut deserves more from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. The three-member panel will visit Nunavut to hear stories from survivors of Nunavut's residential schools - the institutions and the system that tore them away from their parents, their language and their culture. The assurance of a visit came from commissioner Marie Wilson in April. However, that is the bare minimum the commission can do, and it seems that's all it is prepared to do. The commission will hold seven "national events" in Canada, which are more elaborate gatherings designed to promote broader awareness and public education about residential schools and the hurt they caused many students. The North's "national event" will be held in Inuvik. As deserving a location as that may be, not holding a national event in Nunavut is a clear misjudgement. Many Nunavummiut have been vocal about the distinct Inuit experience from that era and many badly wanted to see an Inuk chosen as a commissioner. Ottawa had two chances to accommodate that request as the initial commission dissolved due to infighting among the panel members, who all resigned. Nowhere in this struggle has Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami (ITK) made a strenuous argument on behalf of the Inuit people the organization represents across Canada. It turns out ITK actually supported Inuvik as the site of the commission's national event. "How else can they ignore us? Is our pain less than theirs," asked Joe Krimmerdjuar, a residential school survivor from Nunavut. He and every other Nunavummiuq is right to feel insulted. But, after decades of enduring deep wounds in a territory sorely lacking social resources, sadly, they must once again find a way to overcome the pain with the barest of support.
Closing doors on 'open' government Nunavut News/North - Monday, May 3, 2010 How much did it cost to create and install new signs along the Northwest Passage trail in Gjoa Haven? Nunavut News/North would like to inform you of that, but we can't - at least not yet. A bureaucrat in the Department of Environment vehemently refused to reveal the figure recently. He did admit that the number is public information. He also acknowledged that withholding the information isn't departmental policy, but his own choice. He said releasing the figure would invite criticism. Imagine that? Perhaps there's an opening in the North Korean government. Criticizing the state is certainly frowned upon there. Here, it's part of an open and democratic society, one where information is power. The bureaucrat chastised Nunavut News/North for taking the "easy" route by calling him and asking for the figure. He said an access to information request could be filed if this newspaper really wanted to obtain that detail. So, even though it will take months to complete, we will indeed take the long and indirect route. When Eva Aariak was elected premier in November 2008, she said one of her top priorities was to remove the "culture of fear" that exists within the territorial government, one which made civil servants feel muzzled. There may be a hint of progress on that front, but there's a long, long way to go. In this particularly case, either the senior bureaucrat in question didn't get the memo or he thinks he's above being accountable. Either way, he needs some training in media relations, and a reminder that providing a figure may have added one line to a newspaper story, but refusing to budge provoked a half-page editorial.
What's plan B, power corp? Weekend Yellowknifer - Friday, April 30, 2010
Last year, the Mackenzie Valley Land and Water Board couldn't move fast enough for the power corp.'s liking. The sky may not have been falling but the 60-year-old dam the GNWT-owned company purchased in 2003 was reportedly on the verge. In the corporation's own words it was in "imminent" danger of collapse. The power corp. threatened to sue the regulatory board if it didn't immediately rubber stamp the dam's $17 million replacement, warning in a letter that it could not "accept any delays or disruptions which may arise due to any matters." Under immense pressure, the water board buckled. It was surely trying to avoid the blame should the dam fail and power bills consequently rose, since the power corp. would be forced to switch to more expensive diesel power to meet energy demands. Of course, the power corp. never counted on nature disrupting its plans. That was the case this winter when unusually warm temperatures prevented much needed ice from thickening. The power corp. said it needed more than 38 inches to transport its heavy equipment to the Bluefish site 20 km north of Yellowknife but there was only 34 inches as of mid-February. Our troubling question that must be answered is what's the power corp. going to do if another mid-winter heat wave comes next year? The corporation hasn't yet replied to Yellowknifer on that point. As was mentioned in the news last week, the NWT's three diamond mines managed to get all of their supplies up the winter road this year, divine disruptions be damned. Perhaps the requirements for hauling freight to Bluefish and trucking supplies to the diamond mines much farther north are not quite the same, but let's be sure of one thing: if the diamond mines were facing an "imminent" disaster that would cost them millions if they didn't fix the problem immediately, they wouldn't be sitting around until next year to do something about it. But then again the power corp. already knows the beauty of being a government-owned entity is that the price of disaster can always be off-loaded to consumers no matter how high the cost. Consumers simply don't have a choice. The current situation at Bluefish is kind of like having a plumber tell you the pipes about to burst in your basement will surely put you in the poorhouse unless they're taken care of right away, only to then inform you he can't fix them until next month. Well, no matter, we're sure the power corp.'s executives will still figure out some way to earn their fat bonuses this year.
Sequel gold Editorial Comment Roxanna Thompson Deh Cho Drum - Thursday, April 29, 2010
Almost since the inception of movies there have been sequels. Familiar characters are brought back and put through slightly different scenarios often ending in almost identical results.
In the Deh Cho there is one sequel that never gets old, always draws crowds and doesn't require a big production budget. The annual break-up cycle is the best sequel, or really an entire franchise, that there's ever been. Long-term residents will tell you that break-up happens every year and try to down play the event but in truth just about everyone gets a little excited as the time draws near. The draw of break-up can be gauged by the number of vehicles that circle past key viewing spots as people check to see if anything has happened yet. One of the key factors in the allure of break-up is that no one knows exactly when it will happen. Not only is the day a surprise but so is the release time. You can be at a spot on the Liard or Mackenzie River at 4 p.m. in the afternoon and see nothing but a flat, slightly melted sheet of ice. Come back an hour later and you could find a jumble of giant ice chunks and freely flowing water. Break-up also knows how to vary a plot line. The characters are always the same, namely ice, a lot of flowing water and riverbanks to keep it all together, but somehow the story always ends up a little different. Take Fort Liard for instance. Apparently even some elders are saying that they've never quite seen a break-up like the one that's currently underway in the hamlet. Few people if any could have anticipated that the ice was going to jam right across the river in a line beside the community while the downstream ice cleared away. Some flooding is to be expected but the ice dam is something different. Residents have been kept in suspense wondering what held the ice up and what will make it finally go. In Fort Providence things were also shaken up when one section of the ice broke away while the ice sheet between the community riverbank and the nearby island remained in place. Will that ice jumble up or move out smoothly? Residents are staying tuned to find out. Regardless of whether a break-up is filled with tension or anticlimactic it always comes to an end just like a movie. People file out of the theatre and also away from the riverbanks. The difference is that while not all moviegoers will return to see the next sequel installment almost everyone will be back ready to watch break-up when it returns next year. Admission price: free to all.
A nod to Dustin Editorial Comment Andrew Rankin Inuvik Drum - Thursday, April 29, 2010 This doctor worked with palliative care patients and I was fascinated to know how he was able to cope working in such a seemingly difficult environment where people are gravely ill and death is sometimes just around the corner. In his answer he talked about the power of will. That is, often some of his patients come to him refusing to die even though that's what's supposed to happen. He took a lot of satisfaction in working with these people; their attitudes made his job more fulfilling. In some cases, he said, many of them would live years past the time medical experts thought they would. Some, presumably, are still keeping up the fight. To make a long story short, that conversation was brought to mind a few days ago after talking to Dustin Rogers, a 15-year-old who overcame a year-long battle with cancer. I went into my interview with Dustin on Friday expecting some tears of joy and at least some talk about how after his experience he has a whole new outlook on life. But I didn't get that much at all. Instead, sitting in front of me was a polite, but tired kid who just seemed exhausted. But I also sensed a great inner strength about him, far beyond his years. He seemed happy but in his own quiet way. I suddenly truly realized what that doctor meant when he spoke about will power. I'm sure there were many terrible moments but I like to think Dustin took it all in stride, even while he was impossibly sick from chemotherapy treatment. His will to live prevailed. But I can't deny being a little moved by our discussion. Midway through the interview I suddenly thought about how lonely he must have felt, sick and cooped up in a hospital for days on end, far away from his friends. Luckily his mom was always there to comfort him and keep him company. She also had the support of countless friends and family along the way, including her husband Richard. It was great to see the welcome back Dustin received at Samuel Hearne Secondary School on Friday afternoon when students and teachers, dressed in bright yellow T-shirts reading Welcome Home Dustin, gave seemingly heartfelt tributes about his enduring spirit and courage. One of the great things about being a reporter is that you get to meet all kinds of interesting and extraordinary people like Dustin. No doubt he'll handle the challenge of getting back into school, not to mention getting into hockey shape, with the same fortitude he's demonstrated over the last year.
Housing corporation isn't being clear Yellowknifer - Wednesday, April 28, 2010
The Providing Assistance for Territorial ownership program (PATH) is run by the NWT Housing Corporation, allowing first-time home buyers a remissible loan to help purchase a "modest home." Yellowknife resident Joanna Maguire was given a loan of $70,000 toward the purchase of a house, but the housing corp. failed to inform her when they gave her the grant how much the home should cost. Of course she was more than disappointed when the loan was taken away as the house she planned to buy, at a price tag of $392,000, was over what the housing corporation said was an acceptable limit. It is a good thing the corporation isn't allowing people to bite off more than they can chew in terms of housing costs, but Maguire - along with other Yellowknifers who applied and were turned down or had offers taken back - should have been given a solid number on how much to spend before hand, not after an offer had been rejected. One woman described the housing corp. as "dangling the funding" in front of applicants only to take it away. The residents who believed they were going to be able to get a home through this program only to find out they were too deeply in debt or had other payments that were too high, among other things, were not only let down, but wasted their time and the time of banks and realtors. Some people even lost money - one couple sold off a truck and bought a cheaper vehicle only to be told the payments were still too high, leaving them with no truck and no home. It is obvious there needs to be a major overhaul of the PATH program. Even Stephen Pretty, the communications manager for the NWT Housing Corporation, pointed out not many Yellowknifers apply for the program because there aren't enough affordable homes. This program just isn't suited to Yellowknife. Which begs the question, if this program isn't for Yellowknife then why is it being presented to Yellowknifers as an option? And, more importantly, what can be done for Yellowknife's housing market? Clearly there is a vital need in the community for more affordable housing. The market is booming with expensive executive homes priced at $400,000 and over, but the reasonably priced houses available for first time buyers are slim. Those that do come on the market are so popular bidding wars are often the result. Yellowknife isn't like Toronto, Ottawa or other big cities down south. There is no suburbs to move into in order to find an affordable home and commute into the city for work. All levels of government have to address the pressing need for more affordable housing or face the fact that a lot of people will either never settle here or will pack up and leaving for greener pastures - much like Maguire who has decided to head to Alberta where there houses she can afford.
Time to build a brighter future Editorial Comment Darrell Greer Kivalliq News - Wednesday, April 28, 2010 There's been a real resurgence of interest in the trades across the Kivalliq and, if it continues to grow, there may be a lot more homegrown talent earning nice paycheques while they help our region flourish during the coming years. The trades aren't for everyone, which is no different than universities not being the path of choice for many Grade 12 graduates each year. For that matter, even admirable professions such as doctors, nurses, lawyers and police officers do not hold universal appeal. The fact of the matter is, everyone's different and we all have varying interests and expectations in our professional lives. Perhaps no adage holds more truth in modern society than that of a person truly loving their job never having to work a day in their life. All that being said, a strong argument can be made that nothing casts a wider net over more diverse groups of people than the trades. And, anyone unaware of the take-home paycheque of folks in the plumbing, electrical, refrigeration, welding, heavy equipment and carpentry trades, among many, many others, is either a tremendous do-it-yourselfer or an incredibly lucky individual. Any of us who have had to enlist the services of a tradesperson in the past few decades has a pretty good idea of the pay they earn for their skills. Another strong drawing point of many trades is that you don't have to possess a genius IQ or be tops in your high school class to be successful. More often than not, a love of working with your hands, operating machinery or creating something from scratch - combined with good work habits and a determination to succeed - lead the way to many productive, and profitable, years in the workforce. The rising popularity of the Nunavut Skills Competition is proof the message is starting to be received by a good number of our high school students, and that's a positive step forward. Likewise, the efforts of people such as Kevin Bussey in Rankin Inlet to integrate trades apprenticeship training into the high school curriculum are also slowly starting to produce results. There has been a genuine spark of interest clearly evident in the eyes of many students during the past two career fairs held at Maani Ulujuk Ilinniarvik in Rankin. And, these types of initiatives should grow even stronger once the long-awaited trade school officially opens its doors in Rankin. We have nothing but gratitude for the numerous tradespeople from the south who have lived in Nunavut and helped keep our territory moving forward during the past decade. Yet there is a growing demand for skilled tradespeople in Nunavut and it's time for those jobs to be taken by qualified Nunavummiut, and for the majority of the money and benefits they provide to remain in our communities. The foundation is slowly being put in place and the tools provided for our region to start taking full advantage of what the trades have to offer. It's time to start using those tools to build a brighter future for many families and individuals in the Kivalliq.
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