 |
|
|
|
|
Subscriber pages
 News Desk
Columnists
Editorial
Readers comment
Tenders
Demo pages Here's a sample of what only subscribers see Subscribe now Subscribe to both hardcopy or internet editions of NNSL publications Advertising Our print and online advertising information, including contact detail. |
Elders vital to education NWT News/North - Monday, March 28, 2011
Academic learning is, unquestionably, vital to our future success, regardless of the paths we choose. Yet there is another kind of teaching that is equally important: cultural lessons. In many aboriginal communities across the North, traditional knowledge has largely become fragmented. Residential schools created a cultural rift between parents and grandparents and subsequently that gap has widened to the point that the next generation is at risk of losing touch with their heritage completely. The void created by residential schools means aboriginal communities are a generation -- nearing two - behind in passing down many teachings of the past. For that reason, including elders in our schools is imperative to the success of aboriginal students, not only academically but as individuals as well. There has always been a link between a strong sense of identity and self-esteem and from there to both academic and personal achievement. At the foundation, however, there must be strong families with roots in their values and culture. Putting elders in schools accomplishes two important goals -- it rebuilds the lost trust in the school system and it provides a cultural link to the territory's rich aboriginal heritage. Teaching extracurricular programs on cultural skills, advising and helping in aboriginal language classes, giving presentations during studies concerning local culture and history and speaking with students one-on-one are roles elders can take on. An official with the Department of Education, Culture and Employment told News/North the department "supports elders in the school programs as experts." We think that is an essential policy. However, although Yakeleya's heart is in the right place, we don't agree elders need teaching certification to legitimize their skills. There is a possibility this initiative could backfire and prove to exclude other elders who may wish to share their knowledge, but do not want to go through a formal certification process. We do, however, agree with Yakeleya's intent. The GNWT should find more ways to make use of elders' skills in territorial schools. Compensating those elders - some of whom are too modest to ever ask for anything in return - should not be forgotten. Whether it's money, or having students devote time in return to cook or clean for an elder, their generosity should be returned in kind.
Bonuses need transparency Nunavut News/North - Monday, March 28, 2011 The Government of Nunavut paid out nearly $873,000 in merit salary increases and performance bonuses in the 2009-2010 fiscal year. That's hard to stomach for those who aren't senior government managers but whose lives are affected daily by their decisions - people whose enormous electricity bills are piling up, who are struggling to afford to feed their kids and keep them in school, and don't know if their health centre will deliver proper care for sick infants. Does the Nunavut government need to award performance bonuses to its employees? With close to one-third of GN jobs going unfilled and qualified bilingual personnel in high demand by both public and private employers, the GN says it has to pay out merit increases and performance bonuses to retain employees. The rewards are not automatic. It's worth noting that senior managers in the Nunavut Housing Corporation in 2009-2010 received $0 in performance bonuses. That's reflective of the housing corp's $100 million in cost overruns due to flawed management, which has strained the budgets of every other department. It can also be argued that the poorer the performance of a given department, the more valuable the carrot of performance bonuses ought to become in order to lure and retain the best candidates to get things running the way they should. However, in the current fiscal climate of restraint, these bonuses were supposed to be capped at four per cent. It was for senior managers, but it is not clear whether this was also supposed to apply to deputy ministers. As Quttiktuq MLA Ron Elliot pointed out, it should have, if only for fairness' sake. If merit salary increases and performance bonuses are necessary, as the government argues, how they are earned, applied and capped should be made crystal clear to regular MLAs and the public.
Uranium a hot topic Nunavut News/North - Monday, March 28, 2011 The fact that the recent community forum in Iqaluit on uranium mining in the territory lasted five-and-a-half hours shows the issue is a hot and contentious topic even more than a thousand kilometres from where the exploration is taking place. The Government of Nunavut is in the process of holding community uranium forums to collect input for the establishment of a policy on uranium mining. The next one will be in Baker Lake March 30 to 31 and in Cambridge Bay April 12 to 13. At the forum in Iqaluit, there were speakers from all sides of the issue, whose concerns ranged from jobs to health to the environment to world peace. Many good points were raised, showing how difficult it will be to establish a policy that satisfies everyone's concerns. That's illustrated by the criticism of Nunavut Tunngavik's forum for its uranium policy, which many considered to be pro-mining. The day after the Iqaluit forum, NTI issued a press release stating it was reviewing its uranium policy, and was seeking input from beneficiaries. Because the issue is so divisive, it's even more imperative that everyone speak and be heard so that the forthcoming policy accurately represent the wishes of Nunavummiut.
Don't burn families financially Weekend Yellowknifer - Friday, March 25, 2011Friday, March 25, 2011
The Westman family experienced tragedy just before Christmas last year when their Latham Island home was badly damaged in a fire. The family received a second shock a couple months later when the city sent them a bill for $12,354.54 to recoup the costs of fighting the fire, stating they had 30 days to pay it.
The bill included a $500 minimum charge for the first two hours firefighters were on scene, $1,200 for additional hours, and $10,654.54 in overtime paid to the firefighters. Mayor Gord Van Tighem previously stated that the city made a decision 20 years ago to start charging victims for the cost of fighting fires in response to community pressure for more fee-for-services instead of hiking property taxes. That's fair enough. But Dan Westman made some valid observations during his presentation to city council last week. The order to pay within 30 days, the 25 per cent annual interest rate for late payments, the overtime charged for firefighters who are not even at the scene - all of those terms seem like overly harsh demands on families left traumatized and without a home. Most homeowners have insurance, but as Westman points out, that often takes months to collect. It would be a sensible gesture for council to review the city's fees and charges bylaw and revise its more uncharitable contents so those who have suffered a devastating loss aren't quickly facing further undue hardship.
Politicians can spout wherever they like Weekend Yellowknifer - Friday, March 25, 2011 In a democracy we expect our elected officials to air their views publicly and often; we also expect politicians to be biased toward positions they'd be naturally inclined to support. Yellowknife resident David Prichard was at city hall last week to complain about city councillors and staff posting comments on a Facebook page called "Yes We Con." The page was created in support of the city's bid to build a district energy system using geothermal heat from Con Mine. While we agree it may be inappropriate for city employees to express opinions publicly on city projects, particularly when it's coming from senior level managers, it's hard to support Prichard's demand that councillors be prohibited from commenting on third-party websites. He argued that because comments from city officials on the Facebook page were universally in favour of district energy even while the web page administrator was allegedly deleting dissenting posts from others, it made it look like the city itself had something to hide. A real tragedy would have been had city council remained absolutely mum on the Con energy project, and left it to administration to advance it. Thankfully, most city councillors had plenty to say: on air, in print, and on web forums like the one Yellowknifer created, which featured views from all sides. Whether the politicians' comments were right or wrong is something for the voters to decide in the next election.
The case for growing your own Editorial Comment Roxanna Thompson Deh Cho Drum - Thursday, March 24, 2011
Approximately 33 community members attended the afternoon session, which focused on creating organic soils, choosing the right plants and storing them afterward. The recreation centre was even more crowded in the morning when approximately 50 students were brought by their teachers to learn about gardening. Watching participants leave after the sessions had finished with information packages and even packets of seeds in hand there was a sense that they were all ready to plant a seed, any kind of seed, in some soil and see what happened. The Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment organized the workshop under part of its mandate to promote and support community self-sufficiency and reduce the cost of living in the territory. The department should be thanked for its initiative. Every Deh Cho community could benefit if its residents gardened a bit more. The arguments in support of gardening are diverse. In these economic times the lure of saving money is a powerful motivator and it applies to gardening. Some of the shock people experience when they look at the price of produce in their local stores could be lessened if they grew some of their own vegetables. According to Jackie Milne, the president of the Territorial Farmers Association, $100 worth of seeds and transplants can produce $2,000 worth of food. Some gardeners in Fort Simpson already grow enough of certain vegetables including potatoes and carrots to last into the spring. Not only can gardeners save money, they can also promote their health. If you grow your own vegetables you know exactly where they came from and what fertilizers or pesticides, if any, were used on them. Anyone who has hoed weeds also knows the act of gardening itself is good physical exercise. Other arguments for gardening include that it's better for the environment, considering fossil fuels associated with transportation used to ship produce, and it's a safeguard in the event of a disruption of the food supply network. Residents of the Deh Cho have an adequate growing season, good soil and few pests to deal with. It's a gardener's paradise and there's no excuse not to take advantage of it. Residents should press local and territorial governments to support gardening in any way possible including more workshops and access to high-grade soil so gardening efforts in the region can be as successful as possible.
Subsidy extension a waste of money Editorial Comment Kira Curtis Inuvik Drum - Thursday, March 24, 2011
Though we all groan over cuts, especially in government-funded programs, on some level we know we must slim down. Now, something that should not be cut and should remain as a staple in government funding is health. Not just fix-a-broken-leg health, long-term health, too - that's only logical as the results of our society's increasingly unhealthy lifestyle are higher costs to the next generation of taxpayers, plus the heartbreak of sick and dying people. In an attempt to keep affordable and healthy foods and necessities reaching families in the North, the Government of Canada is going to replace the Food Mail program with a newer and hopefully better alternative. Nutrition North Canada starts April 1, 2011, and will cost around $60 million per year. But earlier this month, after complaints from Northerners on the increase of prices of some foods, the Government of Canada reinstated some less healthy foods it had dropped from the shipping subsidy list last October. These foods will continue to be subsidized until October 2012. This is great that they are putting money into the affordability of healthy foods to people in the North, but the glitch here is that this reinstatement is estimated to cost an extra $1 million per month, according to Indian and Northern Affairs Canada. That's right, in a time of recession the government's second-guessing will cost taxpayers an extra $18 million by October 2012. Think of what $18 million could buy. You could feed whole communities healthy food for a year on that. The removal of subsidies from certain products last October did cause a bit of outrage among some Northerners and caused a media stir that led to this re-evaluation. And honestly, some complaints were not that justified. Bacon was one item to be stripped of its subsidization and made some Northerners angry. This, I think, is plain foolish. I mean bacon should not be considered a necessity of one's diet. It does nothing beneficial in the long run. But this backpedalling of a program seems like another bureaucratic disorganized waste of money. Studies have been done, current information gathered, why the delay? This is not a time in our economy for weak leaders and indecision that wastes what little money we have. I suppose that's foolish of me to hope for as when do we ever need indecisive, weak leadership?
Shaky ground for a lawsuit Yellowknifer - Wednesday, March 23, 2011
The aging subdivision recently suffered its sixth water line break of the year. Not only do these ruptures disrupt some residents' water supply, it is costly. Yk Condominium Corporation No. 8 has to pick up the tab for not only the repairs to the pipes but also for all the wasted water, somewhere between $6,000 to $18,000 per month. It's little wonder those responsible for the park want assistance and action, but talk of filing a lawsuit against the city over this mess is misguided. "I know a lot of people want us to take the city to court and that might be an option," Ralph Creed, a member of the condo corp. board told News/North last week. Simply put, the city is not responsible for the trailer park's crumbling water and sewer lines. Residents of the subdivision voted in favour of forming a condo corporation 20 years ago. That meant they took on full responsibility for the area, including its infrastructure, much of which was installed in 1970-71. Condo fees were a mere $65 a month per household as recently as 2005, a ridiculously low rate that made it impossible to build a substantial reserve fund to cover routine maintenance, let alone an emergency. Only over the past few years have the condo fees been raised to $200 per month, which still doesn't go far in this city. The condo corp. estimates it's going to need $18 million to address the crumbling roads and the deteriorating pipes beneath them. That's a daunting figure for the 260 or so homes - occupied by some 1,100 residents - in the park, and one they hopefully won't have to tackle without federal assistance. Less than two years ago the condo corp. figured that each homeowner would be facing a bill of $92,000 over 15 years - approximately an extra $500 per month - to cover the coming mountain of debt and associated interest. The city has so far taken the following steps: lowered property taxes, offered its engineering expertise and has lobbied Ottawa for funding to help bail out Northland residents. A potential federal election may throw a wrench into plans, at least temporarily, but the fight will have to resume if and when the next government is formed. The city will inevitably find itself in the eye of the storm if the situation gets so bad that the trailer park becomes "a floodplain," as Mayor Gord Van Tighem predicted may happen without preventative measures. The municipality could also harness its borrowing power to secure low-interest loans for the beleaguered residents of Northland. But the city is under no obligation to assume the financial burden, and surely any judge is going to come to that conclusion. So a court case would result in legal fees and even further strained relations with the city, added burdens that trailer-park dwellers do not need.
Lots of spin, but no answers Darrell Greer Kivalliq News - Wednesday, March 23, 2011 OK, maybe they honestly didn't realize it would be a good idea to have someone speaking Inuktitut while they were discussing such an important program in front of a mainly Inuit crowd in Rankin Inlet. And maybe they really didn't think people in Rankin would actually expect them to answer questions about the Nutrition North Canada program while they were here, even if that's what the meeting was supposed to be all about. After all, they're government folks and they're not always that enthusiastic about answering tough questions - in any language. And, if we try to dig down deep enough, maybe we can even cut them some slack on not truly understanding why we might need just a tad more convincing when it comes to our major retailers not passing along savings like they should. As Coun. Kyle Sheppard pointed out, there's this little thing called a track record people often use in their decision-making process. Yes, Mr. Greg Rickford, Parliamentary secretary to the minister of Indian and Northern Affairs, we understand you lived in remote communities for about eight years of your life. In fact, we understood you when you brought it up the first time. At least those of us who speak English did. Those who didn't, I'm sure, figured it out at about the 20th reference later in the evening, when the translator was actually getting a chance to translate (I don't like being condescending, but I make exceptions when warranted). Make no mistake about it - assurances to every second speaker that the program is still a work in progress aside - this meeting was a government spin session, designed to convince the participants that the new Nutrition North program is the best thing since sliced bannock (made with white flour). The first major assurance from the government, issued about a year or so ago, concerning the new program actually didn't sound too bad. Senator Dennis Patterson (he's spent some time in remote communities, too) was involved in some of the research and groundwork on behalf of Nunavut MP Leona Aglukkaq, and it looked like they were trying to strike a balance between the needs of the consumer, both small and big business, and the overall high prices on all food and necessity items in the North. It's been pretty much all downhill since then. As one gentlemen whispered in my ear during Mr. Rickford's spiel, "Boy, that's one heck of a polite way to say you will shop at the Northern store." The majority of people in the Kivalliq are not happy with the way the new program is shaping up, and all the gloss in the world isn't going to change that. Since the majority of complaints about the old system originated in what we lovingly refer to as the south, maybe there is something to the contention some people there don't like to see programs that actually benefit the North. Either way you slice it, we're going to be paid more visits by our southern friends with a federal election appearing to be looming in the not-too-distant future. Hopefully, the next group will spend less time talking, in both languages, and more time listening. And, if votes are needed, they may actually answer the odd question or two. Wonder what the freight charge on a Liberal vote is these days?
|
