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Public perception still in the dark ages Yellowknifer - Wednesday, March 2, 2011
For the general public, it is a fuzzy condition suffered by the intellectually disabled and psychotic killers alike. Out of ignorance, people are largely unsympathetic or fearful. If it hits someone in their family, often a disturbing mix of embarrassment and dread is the first reaction. Due to the lack of science, even doctors have great difficulty diagnosing and treating mental illness. Their efforts to research and heal are hampered by public apathy and politicians buried in many other, much more clearly defined competing medical and social priorities. The result is that some patients afflicted by mental illness can walk away from hospitals and risk death. And who can stop them? Anyone who has dealt with a hospital's psychiatric services knows privacy rules and human rights considerations, noble as they may be, can stand in the way of getting a hesitant loved one help for emotional and mental problems. Too often the patient is the last one to recognize the symptoms they are suffering, a resistance which is tied to the general perception of "crazy people." Who wants that label? Those with more severe forms of the illness can end up in jail, undiagnosed, untreated and targets for abuse, circumstances of neglect that can transform a treatable condition into a threat against public safety. Government and advocacy groups are doing what they can to educate the public but it is a very big job and progress is slow. There are government sponsored telephone helplines, promotions for Mental Wellness Week, conferences, informative publications, websites, all designed support and educate. But until the general public comes to understand mental illnesses are like any other, a cancer on the soul to be studied, diagnosed, treated and finally accepted without fear, we will continue to see loved ones walk away from the very help they need.
Bright lights in Northern skies Yellowknifer - Wednesday, March 2, 2011 The numbers don't lie. There were fewer tourists in the NWT last year. Our territory attracted 68,004 visitors in 2009-2010. That's a 7.4 per cent drop from the 73,419 people who came the year before, and quite a fall from the high of 79,572 that came in 2007-08. There were also fewer dollars spent: Tourists injected $107.6 million into the NWT economy last year, 17.6 per cent less than the $130.5 million in tourist spending the year before. An important point to bear in mind is that those dollars are fresh ones to our market. Those who help bring in that money are doing a major service to the NWT and its economy. At the head of that class are tourism operators Don Morin and Ragnar Wesstrom. Both were honoured last week as co-winners of the Outstanding Business Performance Award through the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment. Morin is president of Aurora Village, which is not only one of the few aurora tourism businesses left standing in the NWT, it's an expanding venture that also offers snowmobile trips, snowshoeing, dog team rides and boat tours. Wesstrom, owner of Enodah Wilderness Travel and Trout Rock Lodge, has built a lodge that lies 15 minutes from Yellowknife by air, but it offers all the comforts of home. The lodge accommodates 28 people with tours aboard snowmobiles, canoes and kayaks, in addition to fishing and aurora viewing. It's come a long way since 1990 when guests stayed in tents. Wesstrom credited the government for its assistance over the years. The GNWT does have a key role to play in helping to foster tourism and promoting the natural wonders of the NWT. That will be made easier with the $3.5 million in pan-territorial tourism funding from the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency, which was announced last week. Entrepreneurs like Wesstrom and Morin are encouraged to keep growing for their own prosperity and for the sake of our economy. Staking partnerships with a network of other NWT operators would be one way to provide tourists with even more attractive options on a Northern trip of a lifetime.
Big bucks lurk behind smoke and mirrors Darrell Greer Kivalliq News - Wednesday, March 2, 2011 I was somewhat surprised by the number of people who took the time to share their opinions with me in response to my thoughts on the Northern store's 25 cent charge on plastic bags earlier this year (New bag policy will hurt those who can least afford it, Jan. 19, Kivalliq News). And, as always, I thank everyone for their opinions, even if those who managed to draw a parallel from bags to my support of the mining industry were stretching the plastic just a tad. There's no doubt many folks look at the Northern store's 25 cent charge on plastic bags as a great environmental initiative. However, promoting a small initiative to create the illusion of doing something to solve a much greater problem is an effective diversionary tactic that's been around for a very, very long time. A great magician always gives you something to look at in one hand, so you don't notice what the other one is up to. They were the original harbingers of the smoke-and-mirrors approach, which has long since been perfected by governments and the corporate community. It's kind of like when all those Wall Street types were getting huge bonuses during the recession. The corporate line was they deserved mega-bonuses in the face of billion dollar government bailouts because they got us into this mess, and they were the only ones smart enough to discover how to get us out! Shovel that into bags and you could keep Nunavut green in the dead of winter. But what better way to convince people you're doing something to combat a problem than to focus their attention on your bold initiative and declare it as non-profit? Then get some great publicity shots of happy shoppers using the reusable bags, and keep tossing big numbers around about how much plastic you're keeping out of the system, and the illusion of a great environmental effort becomes reality. You can bag a lot of people with that approach. If a retailer truly wants to start an environmental initiative that really makes a difference, it would no longer sell single-use disposable diapers. They are Canada's number one non-recyclable part of household garbage, and 2.4 million trees die in Canada every year to produce them. A store may brag about keeping hundreds of thousands of plastic bags out of the environment, but, in Canada, 1.7 billion disposable diapers are tossed into our landfill sites every year. And it takes 65,500 tonnes of plastic and 9,800 tonnes of packing materials each year to support our disposable diaper industry. Disposable diapers also put 84 million pounds of raw fecal matter into our environment every year. And, in case you're wondering, up to 100 different viruses can live in a soiled diaper for up to two weeks, So, why would a store be more concerned about plastic bags than disposable diapers if it truly wants to aid the environment? Because disposable diapers are a $400 million per year industry in Canada. As always, big bucks lurk behind the smoke and mirrors.
Sex education saves lives NWT News/North - Monday, February 28, 2011
A recent Statistics Canada report reveals a shocking nationwide increase in diseases such as chlamydia and gonorrhoea over the past decade. The NWT is, unfortunately, keeping pace. The Department of Health and Social Services has reported an upward trend of infections between 2000 and 2010 -- the peak came in 2009 when the infection rate hit 300 per 10,000 people - or close to 33 per cent of the population. Statistics Canada reports that last year approximately 45 per cent of sexually active youth between the ages of 15 and 24 did not use a condom. Mix in multiple partners and these youth are playing a sexual version of Russian roulette. Jennifer Schmidt, principal at Angik School in Paulatuk, sheds light on why NWT youth are engaging in unsafe sexual practices. She said 2008 was the first time sex education was offered at the school and at the time she was amazed at the myths many of her students believed when it came to sexual relations. Unfortunately that program is no longer available in Paulatuk because the teacher offering it left and funding ran out. It's no wonder STIs are rampant when sexual education is obviously not a priority. It's not the fault of schools in the territory; as Schmidt said, she would jump at the chance to offer the program in the school. Funding for sexual education programs across the NWT should be a priority for the GNWT. We realize that funding programs in the communities can be difficult and finding staff to offer the programs is a challenge, but with one in three people infected with an STI it's a problem that needs to be addressed. The departments of Health and Social Services and Education should partner to find funding for a territory-wide sex education program that follows the formula of the highly successful Health Education Awareness Response Team. That program involves youth in its delivery, a fact that is credited for its success. But, education isn't the only tool against sexually transmitted infections. Drugs and alcohol lead youth to make poor decisions and substance abuse problems are rampant in the North. The government can offer countless programs but individuals must also take responsibility for their own actions and for the health of their communities. Parents must take it upon themselves to get educated when it comes to sex and share that information with their children. In the age of the Internet the information is readily available. The GNWT has a number of tools on its Health and Social Services website to help people teach and learn sexual education. In the absence of a good official program in our schools, which parents and community education authorities should fight for, then Mom and Dad are well advised to sit down and have "the talk" with their pre-teen sooner than later. It could be the difference between being healthy or a lifetime of medications and topical creams.
Food fight Nunavut News/North - Monday, February 28, 2011 A month from now, perhaps appropriately on April Fool's Day, the Nutrition North Canada program will come into full effect. Retailers say the prices of a selection of healthy, perishable foods will drop by about five to seven per cent. The prices of other not-as-healthy perishable foods, which previously had shipping subsidies, have already risen since those subsidies were eliminated in October. These items include Cheez Whiz, margarine and jugs of cranberry cocktail -- and their current prices in Arctic Bay raised eyebrows this month when MLA Ron Elliott circulated photos taken at the community's Northern store. A large bottle of Cheez Whiz: $29.39. Three pounds of margarine: $27.79. A bottle of cranberry juice: $38.99. Breaded chicken strips: $77.39. The full impact of the changes may only become apparent this summer, when it's possible some basic non-perishable foods no longer subsidized - such as pasta, canned soup and coffee and tea - may run out before the sealift arrives. One can only imagine how much an unsubsidized can of coffee flown into Arctic Bay will sell for - and if there will be bootlegging to feed caffeine addictions. There are promises but still no evidence of how retailers will show they are passing on subsidy savings to the consumer. Arctic Bay's prices sparked a furor of finger pointing and buck passing. The federal government can blame retailers and retailers can blame poor planning, but the people literally paying the price are the ones who appear to have the least say in how the shipping subsidy program is managed. The establishment of Nutrition North Canada came with the set-up of an external advisory board of selected Northerners, from whom we have heard little so far. When the program takes full effect, Nunavummiut should expect this board to hear their concerns and act on them. Also, Elliott has asked the legislative assembly to invite federal officials, retailers and transportation companies to appear before the legislature so MLAs can have their questions answered and any misunderstandings about the changes can be cleared up. The federal government has recently launched a number of initiatives designed to reiterate its idea of how Nutrition North Canada will work. But an open and frank discussion, in the North, with all parties involved, is the only way to clear the air.
Investment dollars mean jobs Nunavut News/North - Monday, February 28, 2011 Mining exploration and development is on the rebound in Nunavut after a few years of hesitant investment following the global economic meltdown of 2008. One company, Newmont, is set to spend more on its Hope Bay gold project in 2011 - $300 million -- than was spent on all Nunavut projects combined in 2010. This puts Nunavut on the path to surpassing the $432 million in exploration spending in the territory in 2008, pre-recession. Shear Diamonds is in the midst of assessing the viability of reopening the Jericho diamond mine. Agnico-Eagle's Meadowbank gold mine near Baker Lake began producing ore last year, and it continues exploration work on the Meliadine gold project near Rankin Inlet. The Mary River iron project near Pond Inlet has passed to new hands - global mining giant Arcelor-Mittal and its partner Nunavut Iron Ore. And Areva continues its exploration of the Kiggavik uranium deposit near Baker Lake. Nunavut is rich in resources. To benefit, Nunavummiut need to be prepared for the exploration camp, mining and contracting jobs that keep multiplying.
Collision course Weekend Yellowknifer - Friday, February 25, 2011
There is a possibility a vehicle will come flying over the hill from the direction of Giant Mine, making for a close call or an accident. Of course there is also a chance that the person turning or merging onto Highway 4 will not be paying enough attention and will cause a collision. There have been a number of serious crashes at that intersection over the years. It happens to be the busiest convergence of two roads in the territory, with close to 6,000 vehicles passing through each day, according to the Department of Transportation. There have already been two accidents at that site this year. That's on par with an average full year. Michael Conway, an official with the Department of Transportation, frames the issue this way: There are nearly two million vehicles going through that intersection each year. There are an average of two collisions in that area annually. Therefore the chances of a crash are one in a million. For that reason it's tempting to leave well enough alone and let common sense rule the day. The problem is that common sense doesn't prevent accidents. If drivers could simply be left to manoeuvre without the aid of stop lights and signs, then we wouldn't have so many crashes on our roads. Creating a three-way stop at the junctions of highways 3 and 4 - which already has one stop sign for turning vehicles and a yield sign at the merge - would likely prevent the few accidents that occur each year. It would compel those who drive too fast on Highway 4 to put the brakes on as they crest that hill near the intersection. It would also mean that if a driver turning left from Highway 3 or merging from Highway 3 is not fully attentive, then the consequences will be much less severe. One more stop on the way into the city, or the way out, may be an inconvenience to many drivers, but it may save a few others. That would make it worth doing.
More worrisome things than energy drinks Weekend Yellowknifer - Friday, February 25, 2011 Here's a statistic: in Canada, between 1990 and 2007, there were 328 cases of children ages 13 and under who were injured by magnets, primarily by ingesting them, according to the Public Health Agency of Canada. More alarming than that, between 1993 and 2007, there were 5,403 children reportedly injured by bunk beds. It's a wonder then, in light of this carnage, our MLAs aren't pounding their fists in the legislative assembly and demanding a ban on bunk beds and magnets. But raise the subject of so-called energy drinks and suddenly at least one Yellowknife MLA is pleading for prohibition against selling the caffeine-loaded beverages to kids. Armed with mainly anecdotal information, Frame Lake MLA Wendy Bisaro told the legislative assembly last week that energy drinks are "evil," and a ban on their sale to youth should be considered. There certainly is reason to believe these beverages - some containing 160 milligrams of caffeine or more per can - should be consumed with caution, but there are bigger fish for MLAs to fry. Particularly when statistics show smoking rates among NWT residents 15 years and older still hover around 40 per cent, and 53 per cent of youth ages 15 to 24 report having five or more drinks of alcohol per sitting. Why is Bisaro wasting time pursuing a ban on energy drinks when kids are obviously still sidestepping restrictions an alcohol and cigarettes? We realize the February/March session of the legislative assembly is the longest of the year and it's probably difficult dreaming up new things to talk about as the session grows long. Bisaro has had some good ideas, including her bill protecting food donors from lawsuits, which has led to a marked increased food donations in Yellowknife, but her latest bout of prohibitionist pandering is hardly a priority.
Solar converts Editorial Comment Roxanna Thompson Deh Cho Drum - Thursday, February 24, 2011
>With a five kilowatt array, the gym is the largest solar-powered building in the region. The array is expected to fully meet the gym's energy needs in the summer months when the Deh Cho sees more daylight hours, as long as energy conservation measures are in place. In winter months, when energy output from the array is lower, the gym will still need to draw from the community's electricity grid but not as heavily. Commercial electricity rates in the community have dropped to 42 cents per kilowatt hour from 214.65 cents since December, but reduced dependency on diesel-created energy is still good news. Over its 25-year lifespan, the array is expected to save the community approximately $400,000. That's a lot of money Nahanni Butte will be able to put towards other projects. The high cost of electricity is a major factor in the cost of living and doing business in the Deh Cho. The region, however, has untapped potential for a variety of alternative energy sources. One of the sources, hydro-kinetic energy, was explored last year during a pilot an in-stream hydro-kinetic turbine project on the Mackenzie River; the turbine worked as expected but the design has to be modified to deal with the debris carried by the river. In-stream turbines clearly have a ways to go before they can be used in the Deh Cho's conditions, and there is untested potential for wind and geothermal energy in the region. Bright sunlight in the Deh Cho is almost constant during the summer months. That light will keep the power in Nahanni Butte flowing. These panels have advanced in both reliability and effectiveness. While other energy alternative sources are too expensive or untested, solar panels - with the help of government subsidies -- are within the reach of communities and homeowners alike. Electricity costs have dropped across the territory but by following Nahanni Butte's lead, the Deh Cho can create its own energy.
Small town, big hockey Editorial Comment Kira Curtis Inuvik Drum - Thursday, February 24, 2011
The banter being thrown back and forth between Tuk and Inuvik's Northwind Industries matched the longtime fan rivalry of the NHL teams. At times the decibel levels made me cup my hands over my ears, something I've never had to do at a Canucks game, though I somehow doubt GM Place would allow air horns or pots and spoons. That a senior men's hockey tournament could stir up as much energy as an NHL game was a shock to me and I spent most of my time bundled up and happy, standing between benches, feet stuck to the weekend's worth of spilled hot chocolate below me. The feeling of a big city game was great to absorb on a Sunday night, but it was one of the differences I noticed that made the weekend greater. The rivalry was loud, yet light-hearted. Like a beach ball thrown up into the crowd and thwacked back and forth, the team fans passed their cheers around like they were playing their own game. "Let's go Northwind. Let's go. (Bang, bang, bang)" was instantly countered with: "Let's go Tu-uk. Let's go. (Bang, bang, bang.)" And while there were definitely pockets of like fans all glommed together, there seemed to be no animosity in the portions of the stands that were peppered with mixed fans. At one point some smug-faced teenage boy tried: "Let's go Tu-uk. Northwind su-ucks," but it didn't catch on and he sat there looking embarrassed, like he showed up naked for class. When the Zamboni began its final run after the second period I dropped into some kids' conversation - face pressed up against the glass as we chatted - and asked them who their favourite hockey players were. You know, Martin Brodeur, Alexandre Burrows or Miikka Kiprusoff? No, it was none of those. It was Mickey Ipana, Corey Wainman or Greg Connell. It was my first IRC Cup and I had no notion of what it would be like. But even with no expectations, I was surprised. I left the rink with the horde of tired hockey fans that night feeling all warm and lethargic, like the shallow trays of hot, gravy-smothered French fries - a weekend favourite.
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