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Share the risk, share the wealth Yellowknifer - Wednesday, December 1, 2010
On that very subject, Coun. David Wind injected a tower of logic as imposing as Robertson's Headframe during the Nov. 22 council meeting. While discussing the financing of the estimated $60.4 million energy initiative, Wind convincingly argued that if the deal makes economic sense it should readily attract a private sector partner. The idea is really quite simple: if no business venture that is fully reliant on spending money to make even more money can see the merit in using hot water from under Con Mine to heat 39 buildings, then why would the city push forward with the idea? As basic as it sounds, it's an important piece of the puzzle and one that should not be overlooked. Without confirmation that private enterprise is ready to get in the game, the city would be signalling its willingness to borrow the tens of millions of dollars needed beyond what federal grants will cover. Even though revenues are the city's projected source of repaying the geothermal loan, in a worst-case scenario, it would be tax dollars that bail out a project gone bad. Nobody wants to dwell on the worst case, especially when we could be preventing close to 18,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions each year, but it's a necessary exercise. A private partner does not guarantee that things won't fall apart, but it adds some assurance, particularly if the financial deal is signed with an experienced company with a proven track record and solid resources.
Sports field needs fundraising elbow grease Yellowknifer - Wednesday, December 1, 2010 Ryan Fequet seems prepared to forgive those who may be upset with him for suggesting the months-old Fieldhouse that cost $16.5 million to build is not enough. The NWT Soccer Association president told Yellowknifer last week the Fieldhouse, with its two indoor soccer pitches, isn't adequate to fill the demand for recreational field space. His group, along with several other sporting groups in the city, have drafted a letter to the city to look into the feasibility of building a regulation-sized, all-season artificial sports field. Similar fields cost about $775,000 to build and maintain for 10 years. Fequet acknowledged that some people will likely be upset by his pronouncement considering that the Fieldhouse - long touted as a priority fix for sports needs - opened to the public less than three months ago. It seems awfully soon to be asking the city for cash after being handed a state-of -the-art facility to play in. Ironically enough though, it's the Fieldhouse, he says that's leading to higher registration numbers for his group and hence, the need for additional field space. Field sports enthusiasts ought to tear a page out of the fundraising playbook from past efforts by groups like Facilities for Kids and the Yellowknife Gymnastics Club if they want to get both city council and the public on side. Both groups raised more than a $1 million each toward the Multiplex. Their success made it clear that there was wide support for this facility. Taxpayers will be much more willing to support a new field if it's clear from money raised that a large number of people are behind it.
Baker snubs Kivalliq banner Darrell Greer Kivalliq News - Wednesday, December 1, 2010 I'll be first to admit, sometimes I can come across a tad, shall we say, pessimistic. But, then again, when one looks at how many times we've been disappointed by the behaviour of - and decisions made by - a number of those supposedly leading the way in Nunavut, a bit of pessimism is not necessarily a bad thing. In fact, many Nunavummiut have turned the corner and no longer accept what they're told, or promised, simply at face value. And our most recent round of elections showed, in most cases, the majority of Nunavummiut are no longer leery of bringing about change. Both are big steps in the right direction for making Nunavut a stronger and healthier territory. Now, if the day would arrive when more (read: many more) Nunavummiut would break the shackles of silence and not be so hesitant to speak their minds publicly, we'd really be onto something. But, I digress. There were more than a few people who doubted the Kivalliq Trade Show would benefit anyone other than Rankin's hotel industry before it began. But credit earned is credit given, and the trade show proved itself to be a resounding success. The event was well-organized, well-attended and productive. And, we must give further kudos to those responsible for including the youth element in the event. Overshadowed by the main event they may have been, but the youth who took part gained a wealth of experience and, if knowledge truly is power, they're a more formidable group today than they were two weeks ago. With all the positives the show produced, it was still hard to miss the one glaring absentee from the event. Given its regional spirit, and the level of mining activity in Baker Lake, it was astounding the community did not have municipal representation at the show. In fairness to the community, both the mining industry and Baker's private sector were well-represented. However, with so much opportunity present and communities given the chance to network with territorial and regional power-brokers one would think the hamlet at the hub of Kivalliq mining activity would be front and centre. Surely complacency hasn't set in at such an early stage of regional development. It's long been known in the region - and generally frowned upon - that Baker choose to go in the direction of having an economic development officer who resides in the south, rather than living in the community. And, there can be no doubt the absence of municipal representation at the Kivalliq Trade Show is going to have some people questioning the wisdom of that decision, not the least of which should be the residents of Baker Lake. This was an event that bore the Kivalliq banner high and proud. It was for the Kivalliq and about the Kivalliq, and every hamlet should have done its part to project an image of regional uniformity and solidarity. Not many opportunities of this magnitude present themselves in the Kivalliq. And, for the community of Baker Lake, this was an opportunity missed.
Beyond its scope NWT News/North - Monday, November 29, 2010
The governments of the Northwest Territories and Canada took a lot of criticism for rejecting 27 of the panel's recommendations. However, a review of the rejected recommendations clearly indicates the governments were justified in their responses and the JRP travelled well beyond the scope of the Mackenzie Valley Pipeline project. Many of the recommendations the GNWT turned down had the potential to nullify any bargaining power the government has in its dealing with aboriginal governments for future land claims and land use agreements. For those agreements to be fair the GNWT and First Nations must come to the table on relatively equal ground. During these negotiations the Mackenzie Valley Pipeline already provides many First Nations groups suitable leverage. To accept designated timeframes to negotiate agreements and agree to have them in place before pipeline construction commences would be irresponsible on the part of the GNWT. The JRP also demonstrated brash audacity when it made recommendations in relation to the GNWT's ongoing devolution negotiations and health care funding. Deciding how the GNWT will distribute devolution money and its health care priorities is the job of our elected officials and should be guided by the people of the Northwest Territories, not seven overpaid bureaucrats who spent years soaking up the rich honoraria paid to them. Other recommendations relating to future developments, legislation in Alberta and one directing the Canadian government to guide the actions of an agency it has no control over were obviously beyond the JRP's scope. It's time to move the pipeline project forward and determine once and for all its long-awaited fate. The National Energy Board must do a better and more efficient job than the Joint Review Panel did.
Open season on women NWT News/North - Monday, November 29, 2010 We are flabbergasted by two recent court rulings involving violence against women. The first is the case of a man who pleaded guilty to raping two of his sisters beginning when one was nine years old. The abuse lasted for years, violated their childhood and left them unstable and suffering even as adults. Unfathomably, the Crown requested a four-year prison sentence for the crimes. Justice John Vertes was correct when he increased the jail time to nine years and said anything less would cast the justice system into "disrepute." Although nine years seems far too little time to suit the heinous acts this man committed on family members it is far better than the Crown's absurd request. The second case is the sentencing of Terry James Vital to seven years in prison for manslaughter in the death of his spouse. Not only is seven years an insult to the family and the community, Vital, who had a history of violence against Alice Black, should have been charged with murder. In both these cases the courts have failed to protect women of the Northwest Territories and instead have sent the message these disgusting and violent acts are not taken seriously enough.
Nunavut's most vulnerable at risk Nunavut News/North - Monday, November 29, 2010 In 2000 the Supreme Court ruled that section 7 of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms applied to the seizure of children under child protection legislation. In that decision, the judges stated a two-week delay, or thereabouts, between the removal of a child from its parents and the screening of the grounds for it by a judicial officer would be "at the limits of what is constitutionally acceptable." Nunavut's act allows a maximum of 135 days - four and a half months -- between apprehension and a hearing to determine the merit of the application. Other provinces and territories updated their laws to comply with the charter by legislating judicial reviews of the apprehensions be done in a timely manner. Of Canada's 13 jurisdictions, only Nunavut allowed 10 years to pass without addressing its Child and Family Services Act's inconsistency with the charter. That resulted in Justice Robert Kilpatrick having to declare the act invalid, though he has suspended the declaration for one year to give the GN even more time to fix it. Meanwhile Kitikmeot Law Centre defence lawyer Peter Harte warns a lack of intervention on the part of social services is contributing to at-risk youth ending up in the criminal justice system. The Department of Health and Social Services is in the process of reviewing child and family services laws, and has held a number of community consultation meetings to get public input on possible changes. The GN is also planning to create a child and youth advocate position, but Premier Eva Aariak estimates that won't happen until 2013. However, updated legislation alone won't fix the current problems which are an indication the social services workers, like so many other services in Nunavut, are understaffed and overburdened. In the case heard by Kilpatrick, the GN attempted to argue that a longer time between child apprehension and a judicial screening was justified in Nunavut because of a chronic shortage of staff. The judge rejected this argument, stating that Nunavut had other options than to "burden its beleaguered social workers" with legal work. The GN should consider bringing in help from other departments or make arrangements to bring in assistance from outside the territory. That would free up the few social workers Nunavut has to do the work they were trained for.
Get rid of the buoy Nunavut News/North - Monday, November 29, 2010 An old mooring buoy in Iqaluit's harbour has been a hazard for boaters for decades. The rusted, unlit obstacle is hard to see and has caused accidents before. Last month a man was killed and two other people were injured when their boat struck the buoy at night. No matter who put it there or whose responsibility it is, the buoy is a deadly hazard that has been ignored for too long. It needs to be removed or at the very least painted and outfitted with a flashing light and reflectors before another person dies or is injured.
RCMP double standard Weekend Yellowknifer - Friday, November 26, 2010
And not only uphold it but also ensure the highest possible standards. That's one of the reasons why Canadians naturally assume our country is better run than most others, because our country is well-policed. It's expected the corruption that infects law enforcement agencies elsewhere will not to be tolerated here. That's why the spectacle of RCMP officers stalling an investigation of one of their own is so disturbing. That was revealed during a court hearing last week into an assault charge against Const. Jason Muzzerall, who was found not guilty Thursday of injuring a prisoner brought into RCMP cells on April 18, 2009. Crown prosecutor David McWhinnie told the court one of the reasons why it took so long to charge the officer and bring the case to court is because fellow RCMP officers declined to give statements "until it was made clear by their supervisors that they had to." Regardless of whether the charge against Muzzerall had merit, it's hard to ignore the double standard on display here. Would officers withhold making statements if allegations involved someone outside the RCMP detachment? Why did three police officers make notes of incidents prior to and after the one in question, but no one had written references to a situation in which a prisoner was injured? Why did the Mounties allow a video tape taken inside the cell after the complaint was laid, to be erased, costing the justice system a potentially key piece of evidence? When police officers close ranks around a fellow officer accused of a crime - or are even perceived to be doing so - public confidence in their ability to do their job fairly is shaken. The public has now learned that criminal allegations - unspecified and unproven so far - have been made against other RCMP officers, including Sgt. Andy Ing, the officer in charge of the investigation against Muzzerall. Those allegations date back a couple of years, according to McWhinnie. What more is being done to prove or disprove those allegations? Will this affect the ability of all of those officers to provide testimony in future cases? There's no doubt that RCMP officers have a terribly difficult job and they do it admirably in most circumstances. The organization's reputation is among the finest in the world. That's why it's critical that RCMP be seen upholding the law, and not avoiding it.
Affordable housing 15 per cent closer Weekend Yellowknifer - Friday, November 26, 2010 City council's push for more affordable housing in Phase VII of Niven Lake is a signal it is taking the need seriously. At a Nov. 1 council meeting, councillor Shelagh Montgomery said requests for proposals on how to develop the remaining 12 lots in Phase VII should be weighted to include 15 per cent on affordable housing. This was the second time the draft for a call for proposals was tabled - the first draft included nothing on the issue and council wisely sent it back to administration for re-working. Trying to find affordable housing in Yellowknife is like searching for a needle in a haystack. Housing affordability - and availability - has plagued Yellowknife for years. Fifty-six per cent of rental units in Yellowknife cost $1,500 or more, according to a 2009 territorial government housing survey. Thirty-two per cent of rental dwellings cost between $1,000 to $1,499 and 42 per cent of all households cost more than $1,500 a month. In 2007, a single parent average income was $49,071. If monthly rent is $1,500, the parent spends $18,000 a year on just rent, not including utility costs - some 37 per cent of their income. While this is an extreme example of the high cost of living in the city, the issue of affordability affects everyone and council's call for cheaper housing is a step in the right direction.
Reconciling old adversaries Editorial Comment Roxanna Thompson Deh Cho Drum - Thursday, November 25, 2010
For years the Deh Cho has had a troubled relationship with the idea of resource development, particularly non-renewable resource development. Environmental concerns have been at the root of most of the issues surrounding proposed developments. The Joint Review Panel hearings on the Mackenzie Gas Project were a case in point. At the hearings in the Deh Cho person after person came forward to voice concerns about how the pipeline might negatively affect local wildlife and the land. Similar issues have been raised about the other potential development in the region, the Prairie Creek Mine. The mine has long been the villain in doomsday-like predictions of environmental disaster featuring mine tailings and barrels of cyanide escaping and poisoning the South Nahanni River and the Nahanni National Park Reserve. Economic development has been the flip side of the issue for both the pipeline and the mine. Many people at the Joint Review Panel hearings also spoke about the need for local employment and business opportunities to arise from the pipeline construction. The same is true for the mine, particularly in Nahanni Butte. For years the environmental concerns and the economic opportunities have been at loggerheads, incapable of co-existing. Now it appears a rethinking is underway. Both the Nahanni Butte Dene Band and Liidlii Kue First Nation are in negotiations with Canadian Zinc to reach impact benefits agreements would outline what types of jobs, education and training the bands' membership would receive if the mine opens. Chief Jim Antoine of Liidlii Kue First Nation said the band needs to be prepared to take advantage of the economic opportunities the mine could bring. Headway is also being made on the pipeline where negotiations resumed last months between Dehcho First Nations and the Mackenzie Gas Project on access and benefit agreements. It seems opinions in the region are beginning to shift. While environmental concerns still rank highly communities are finding ways to successfully mitigate them, opening the way for local economic development. If these early examples succeed the Deh Cho may find a balanced way forward that has been absent until now.
Who's paying attention? Editorial Comment Andrew Rankin Inuvik Drum - Thursday, November 25, 2010
No doubt a few of the affected residents are frustrated. The water line froze and subsequently burst on Nov. 11. The town is in the process of preparing a report to get to the bottom of the incident. Once that report is finished it would be a good idea to invite those residents to a public meeting to discuss what went wrong and to reassure other residents such an incident won't happen anytime soon. Mayor Denny Rodgers commented earlier this week about the difficulty of engaging the public in municipal politics and most people only become involved when an issue arises affecting them. But just because people appear disinterested shouldn't mean council should just play along. In fact the onus is on council members to find ways to engage people. Two people showed up to council's last few committee of the whole meetings. That's not something to write home about but at least it's a start. On the advice of Coun. Jim McDonald council agreed to publish its draft code of conduct on the web with the intent people will offer feedback on the document. Plans are underway to meet with residents to discuss it. That's something that hasn't been done before but just might pique the interest of some people. If they're prepared to help author a code of conduct for council they may well be given an incentive to pay closer attention to their councillors. Council had been talking about installing cameras in council chambers so residents could watch meetings from home on the community channel. The idea appears to have fallen by the wayside. Surely at least handful of people would like to tune in on one or more occasions. Perhaps council could be making more of an effort to connect with residents now that it's in the midst of developing the town budget for next year. Maybe a questionnaire could be sent to households asking where they'd like to see their money spent. Yes, public meeting will be scheduled but for whatever reason many people won't show up. So alternative ways to getting people involved are what's needed. Of course councillors only have so much time to spend being councillors and constituents live busy lives. Residents should be more involved in municipal politics. But they also have to believe that being involved will make a difference.
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