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North needs investment NWT News/North - Monday, August 30, 2010 We're not going to turn down more government funding and there are areas, such as healthcare and education, where more federal funds are required. However, we must remember Northern investment is more than a government responsibility. Rich in precious, base and rare earth metals, oil and natural gas, and fresh water, there are ample opportunities for development and more importantly employment for Northerners. In that vein, it is our government's responsibility to make such investments attractive. Simplifying the regulatory system without sacrificing environmental and social safeguards is key. Spending $22 million on researching oil reservoirs and eco-systems in the Beaufort Sea might pave the way for significant development in the Beaufort Delta region. Jobs, supply chains and the host of resulting economic spin-offs will be welcome in a region rife with unemployment. For those with fears of environmental disasters similar to the massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico it is your job to help ensure safe development while not standing in the way of Northern prosperity. A column in this newspaper by Jim Guthrie speaks to the level of pride Northerners felt while working on the Kulluk oil platform. Many Canadians take for granted what it means to have the power to provide financially for their families. It is a feeling everyone in our territory should have the opportunity to experience, and that will be made possible through increased industry training. For many Canadians our three Northern territories are out of sight, out of mind. But the Arctic is an abundant economic gold mine for those willing to spend the money and develop in a responsible and environmentally friendly manner.
Tuk liquor restrictions working NWT News/North - Monday, August 30, 2010 Mayor Merven Gruben says alcohol restrictions in Tuktoyaktuk are working. Statistics outlining a significant drop in calls to police for liquor-related offences support his claim. Although we have seen how banning booze completely fails, restricting the amount of alcohol coming into a community has demonstrated positive results, especially if supported by residents. So far the RCMP has laid two charges under Tuk's liquor bylaw, which was enacted earlier this year. Both charges were the result of tips to the RCMP from the public. Those tips are evidence of public support and hopefully the bootleggers will learn most of the community has taken a stand and are saying loudly they will no longer tolerate alcohol ruining their town. Props to the people of Tuktoyaktuk who are the ones truly making the alcohol restrictions possible. Keep up the good work.
The North gets noticed Nunavut News/North - Monday, August 30, 2010 "We intend to carry out the legislative programme of Arctic research, to develop Arctic routes, to develop those vast hidden resources the last few years have revealed." Sound familiar? These are the words of a Conservative prime minister of a minority government aiming to impress the nation by establishing sovereignty over the Northern regions and their extensive resources. Only, the prime minister was John Diefenbaker and the year was 1958. Since the current Conservative government was elected, Northerners have had more visits from politicians and more announcements of Arctic-related programs, policies and infrastructure than we've seen in a very long time. Not since Diefenbaker was touting railways, roads and military installations for the North has the Canadian government shown this much interest in the Arctic. In reality this interest is more about the Arctic's land, water and its resources than about its people. Even the part of the new Arctic Foreign Policy statement that deals with people and communities refers mostly to resource development. The prime minister's quick trip through the North last week, visiting military operations and announcing satellite surveillance upgrades, marine mammal protection areas and Arctic research stations was mostly about political posturing and associating the party with feelings of nationalism in the minds of southern voters. There were photo opportunities on ice floes and speeches full of talk of the "true north strong and free." Canada's greatest claim to sovereignty over its Arctic territory is actually the Canadians who live here - some, as in the case of the High Arctic relocatees, at the behest of the federal government. Ottawa still seems to have a colonial attitude when it comes to the North. To the federal government, Northern residents, much like Victorian children, are to be seen at photo ops but not heard, as evidenced by how much fighting it took to have Inuit voices listened to over plans to use seismic testing to map the seabeds of Lancaster Sound, Jones Sound and northern Baffin Bay. Nevertheless, Ottawa is beginning to recognize some of the needs of Northerners, and that may have something to do with Nunavut's MP being appointed the federal minister of health - the first Inuk to hold a senior cabinet post. Leona Aglukkaq was by the prime minister's side throughout his visit and presumably she has had influence on the decisions most affecting Nunavummiut. Iqaluit has been made the headquarters of the new federal economic development program - CanNor. The Food Mail program is being revamped. A number of Senate committees have recommended docks, harbours and fish processing infrastructure be built in communities to develop jobs in fisheries. It's progress, but it's a long way from finished.
Let's grasp the golden tourism ring Weekend Yellowknifer - Friday, August 27, 2010
The north country has always held romantic appeal among southerners, but the NWT typically takes a backseat to the Yukon's Klondike fame and the polar bears and inukshuks of Nunavut. That has changed somewhat in recent years, due in no small part to the proliferation of reality TV shows filmed in the NWT, including Ice Road Truckers and more recently, Ice Pilots NWT. Many Yellowknifers have long considered Alex Debogorski and "Buffalo Joe" McBryan to be real characters but they're also big-time international stars now with fans from all around the world. Both men spent time in the U.S. this summer promoting their respective shows. McBryan represented Ice Pilots at an air show in Oshkosh, Wisconsin last month where Buffalo Airways was the star attraction. More than a million people passed through the gates, many of them pumping him, he said, for information on the NWT. "These people want to come here," he told Yellowknifer, while chiding the territorial government for missing an opportunity to market the territory. Doug Doan, assistant deputy minister for programs and operations for the Department of Industry, Tourism, and Investment, said the government will definitely consider attending the air show next year. That's good news because, to borrow the GNWT's parlance, "we need to work together" to ensure we reach our tourism potential, which is vital to creating a diversified economy in the NWT. The number of visitors to the NWT had been climbing over the last seven years to 79,572 in 2008 from 64,251 in 2004. Visitors spent $137.9 million in 2008, but their number dropped to 73,419 and $130.3 million in spending last year - a drop that was largely attributed to the weakening global economy. Tough times will likely remain for some time yet, and competition for fewer tourism dollars will be furious. Surely with the rising popularity of TV shows featuring McBryan and Debogorski we can do better in getting the word out, but aside from a need for a more co-ordinated approach, there are other problems that must be addressed. The caribou crash has left hunting outfitters in the lurch and desperate to sell their businesses, and fishing lodges aren't doing much better either as younger generations tend to opt for other activities. That's why the territorial government would be wise to promote tourism activities that don't require a bank loan, but doing so will require more investments in roads and campgrounds to attract more highway traffic. And for those tempted to fly - to Yellowknife at least due to lower air fares - it's important to find more things for tourists to do here rather than expect people to hop on another plane for a $10,000 lodge trip. Rick Barry and his daughter Jennifer had the right idea when they re-opened the Prelude Lake Marina last summer, but the Yellowknives Dene should get on board too. Why not do interpretive boat tours of Great Slave Lake? Surely, tourists would line up for that. There is plenty of tourism potential in the NWT, bridging the gap between desire and capability will be the hardest part.
Taking a cultural impression Editorial Comment Roxanna Thompson Deh Cho Drum - Thursday, August 26, 2010
The Sambaa K'e Dene Band wants to build a cultural centre to house social programs within the community. But the band doesn't want a run-of-the-mill prefabricated building.
The leadership wants a building that will reflect their culture and the land they live on. The idea is the building itself should embody some of the values and lessons to be taught within it. To get to the end goal of a building the band is taking what may seem to be a rather circular route but it is one other Deh Cho communities should keep an eye on. On their way to the building Trout Lake is setting up a print studio. The two things, a cultural centre and a print studio, seem to have little link to each other. How can an etching press, ink, brushes and specialized paper be a stepping stone to the construction of a facility? The studio, however, is more about the process of designing the building and incorporating a sense of the locality and culture rather than getting four walls and a roof up as expeditiously as possible. Learning the skills of printmaking and the prints themselves are tools to engage residents in the design process. Through the prints residents will be providing hints of what's important to them in terms of culture. The sharing will also open verbal forms of communication. On one hand they will have what was desired in the first place, a building to hold programs in and pass on traditions. As an added bonus members of the community will have the skills needed to run a print studio. While it may be a little premature to envision Trout Lake as the Northwest Territories equivalent to Cape Dorset there is no reason why it couldn't be. As long as residents have the desire to learn the skills and use them the community could be on its way. So on its way to a cultural centre that will truly reflect their community Trout Lake is getting an additional tool to further promote and protect its culture. Preservation of culture is an important topic throughout the region. People in every community are concerned about the loss of language as well as traditional practices ranging from hunting and trapping skills to moosehide tanning to quill work. If Trout Lake succeeds in engaging the community and reaching the desired building it could be laying a path for other communities to follow. Using a print studio to develop a cultural centre seems counterintuitive right now but it could prove to be the best route. Mixed messages Editorial Comment Katie May Inuvik Drum - Thursday, August 26, 2010
I can't fulfil my duty as a reporter and provide Inuvik residents with an objective account - or even any account at all - of what went on during a supposedly public gathering of representatives from the Inuvik Interagency Committee, the Department of Education, Culture and Employment, the Department of Health and Social Services, the Nihtat Gwich'in Council and the Anglican church as they decided how to run a service for the neediest of Inuvik residents, the homeless. Incidentally, since generously volunteering to take over the shelter last month, the advisory committee is also tasked with running the service in a town-owned and leased building that is operating thus far out of taxpayers' pockets - through municipal and territorial government coffers. I can't report on the meeting because I was asked to leave before it began. Government employees present at the meeting became very nervous upon learning there was a member of the media in their midst, because while they could speak during a meeting at which any Inuvik resident was welcome to sit and listen in, they did not have permission to speak to media. I was told that if I didn't leave, all of those presentations would be put "in camera" and in that case it would be a very short meeting indeed, at least for me, "the media." After confirming that members of the public were welcome at the committee's regular weekly meetings I reluctantly left, saddened by this display of an obvious misunderstanding of the democratic free press, or what was perhaps a simple disregard for it. As a way to get their message out without pesky journalistic interference, members of the Interagency Committee promised to write a letter to the editor, which, as always, The Drum welcomes. "There's no discrimination," said board member Mike Millen after the secret meeting. "Anybody who wants to see the homeless shelter stay open and move in a positive direction, sure, they're perfectly welcome to sit on the committee," he explained, emphasizing that if any of the information discussed at the meetings "got out to the public in a negative way, it would just spell disaster for the homeless shelter, so we don't want anything like that discussed in public." Arguably more disastrous for the homeless shelter's progress are these kinds of mixed messages. While the committee frets over which positive pieces of information it deems acceptable for public consumption versus which not-so-positive information it decides should remain hidden, rumours are circulating around town about when or if the shelter will suddenly shut down again. Inuvik residents are concerned and want to make absolutely certain that society's most vulnerable will have a place to go when it gets cold. Closed-door meetings on the state of Inuvik's homeless shelter are not only a tremendous insult to taxpayers and those who depend on the shelter, but - if they continue - will become a shameful deterrent to more residents who may be inclined to devote some of their own time and expertise to a good cause. Katie May is interim editor of Inuvik Drum. Andrew Rankin will return in September. Fire marshal needs to show teeth Yellowknifer - Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Centre Square Mall, both its upper and lower levels, has been failing to meet accessibility standards in more ways than one for several years. The upper level of the mall remains without a ramp for people in wheelchairs or mothers with strollers to access the shopping centre. Derek Carmody, manager of the mall's upper level, said last fall he wanted the ramp built "before the snow flies." With winter once again looming, the mall is still without a ramp. The previous excuse of not being able to find a contractor to do the work loses credibility with every passing day. Wheelchair user Cor Van Dyke pointed out that the lower portion of the mall, although it does have a ramp, does not have push button doors, leaving Van Dyke, and anyone in a similar predicament, waiting for someone to open the doors. Fire marshal Steve Moss said push button doors will be included in an order to the lower mall to ensure 50 per cent of its entrances are wheelchair accessible. We'd like to believe this will spur mall management to take action, but based on the upper mall's reluctance to comply with Moss' ramp order, issued last February, there is nothing to indicate he's being taken seriously. It's the job of the fire marshal to make sure buildings follow national building code standards. When those responsible for managing the buildings clearly disregard timelines he imposes, he should be exercising his authority and related penalties, otherwise his role is diminished, if not rendered meaningless. Waterfront access a priority Yellowknifer - Wednesday, August 25, 2010 Debate is heating up over whether the owner of a residence on Ragged Ass Road should be allowed to expand his property to have room to park his vehicles. Land on the property owned by Hendrik Falck was lost after the city expanded the adjacent road in 1997. The space the Falcks are looking to gain is in the area of a walking path leading to the waterfront. Falck told city council he was hoping to find a solution that is satisfactory to all parties. Cutting off access to the trail is certainly not it. Falck deserves compensation for the land lost due to the widening of the road, either monetary or land elsewhere, but the arrangement must not cut off a route to the waterfront. City council should also ensure public access to waterfront through the purchase of the "government dock" from the Department of Fisheries and Oceans. Council discussed on Aug. 16 whether to buy the wharf for $1. As city administrator Robert Long pointed out, if the purchase becomes open to private buyers, public access could be restricted or lost all together. The city should take the offer, especially if it means Yellowknifers could have better parking and better management of the property.
Un-Canadian yes, but definitely Nunavut Editorial Comment Darrell Greer Kivalliq News - Wednesday, August 25, 2010 By the time you're reading this, I will be on vacation in Cape Breton, N.S. It's an important break for my wife and I, as we're spending it with my mom, who's now well into her eighth decade and very excited about our visit. I leave Kivalliq News in the very capable hands of Erika Sherk in my absence. Erika comes to us from Alberta and has spent time in Iqaluit, as well as Yellowknife, and will do a fine job at the helm during the next six weeks, I'm sure. I look forward to returning in the first week of October for another year in the best little region in Canada. See you then. While I had hoped my last week on the job before vacation would be relatively angst free, the Nunavut government sent my blood pressure through the roof, once again, with its maddening habit of openly defying almost every notion this great nation of ours was founded upon. To our government's way of thinking, the public only has the right to know what it wants to tell them, and individual rights are to be trampled at every opportunity. There have been a few people willing to talk behind the scenes about Tom Faess's past business practices. But, whether a businessman is always fair in the way he deals with other companies has absolutely nothing to do with the action taken against Faess recently. Truly scary is the fact what happened to Faess, apparently, can happen to any business owner in Nunavut as far as this government is concerned. Imagine a government rep walking into your place of business and telling you to lock your doors because a customer has complained against you. After it looks into the complaint, the government will then let you know if you can operate your business again. In other words, you're guilty until proven innocent. Even if the government does have a smoking gun to legitimately shut Faess's operations down in Nunavut, that in no way, shape or form justifies its handling of the matter. Taking Faess at his word as to how things played out, the way Economic Development and Transportation's Robert Connelly was instructed to handle the matter was pure bush league. And, if true, all Nunavummiut should be embarrassed and outraged by the actions taken against Faess. How would you feel if police officers were to pick you up tomorrow, throw you in jail without explanation, not tell you who you accuser is or what you're accused of, and let you sit there until they finished their investigation? That's the type of behaviour hundreds of thousands of men and women gave their lives to protect this country against! American photographer Lee Mann was bang on when he said such behaviour is un-Canadian. Unfortunately, while being terribly un-Canadian, this government continually goes out of its way to make it typical Nunavut behaviour. No matter what the end result, this is a huge black eye on our territory, self-inflicted by our own government.
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