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Keep your eye on the eyesore Weekend Yellowknifer - Friday, June 17, 2011
These include the homeless day shelter on 51 Street, Somba K'e Civic Plaza, and the redevelopment of a one block section of 50 Street on the west side of Franklin Avenue, completed in 2009. "Streetscaping" of 50 Street was all the rage three years ago when the city's now defunct downtown enhancement committee held public meetings and bravely suggested the infamous "Range Street" be closed to traffic and spruced up with new paving, sidewalks, planters and decorative garbage bins. It was even proposed the Gold Range Hotel be designated as a heritage site to lend a more trendy and tourism-friendly aura to the old rough and tumble saloon. The original plan was to complete this portion in 2010 but it has since been bumped to 2012. In the meantime, the southern-based owners of the lower level of Centre Square Mall have barricaded its 50 Street entrance and the city's dream of bringing back the boutiques remains just that. It's strange to think that just a few short years ago, this one block stretch was home to several successful stores: Langlois, Chic Chik, Wolverine Sports Store, For Men Only, not to mention the Bank of Montreal - despite the regular and common complaints about loitering, drunkenness and litter. Not much was done to encourage new businesses to move in when these ones left and now more than ever this street is ground zero for all complaints businesses and residents have about downtown. Part of council's solution, if we are to judge the amendments proposed to the city's zoning bylaw which passed first reading last week, seems to be more rules. These rules would require larger, new developments to have pedestrian-friendly "amenity spaces" outside and other open or retails spaces on the ground floor for those on Franklin Avenue. It also calls on new buildings to have at least two complementary colours and no reflective windows. Some of its contents seem reasonable enough, but considering the difficulties the city has faced selling land at Niven Lake and the Engle Business District in recent years, would not an encouraging carrot be more effective than a stick in attracting developers? But more than that, the bylaw amendments are pointless if revitalizing downtown is what council is truly after. The city points to the lost opportunity with the Gallery building replacement on Franklin Avenue, where some of its new schemes could have been applied had these amendments already been in place. But even if that opportunity has passed, the new building is better than the derelict structure that stood there before. Now that it's almost complete, we are not aware of a whole lot of new development plans in the downtown core to hyper-regulate. The new Shopper's Drug Mart is done, and the federal government's building spree is over. It will likely be many years before any major building activity takes place downtown, which takes us back to streetscaping and the successes already evident. People may say attempts to beautify Range Street will be thwarted by drunks and vandals but there is no hope to revitalize this street as it stands now. No business is going to build facades and patios unless there is the potential for pedestrian traffic. More streetscaping will take place this summer on 52 Street adjacent to the new Gallery building and on Old Airport Road. We say the more the better, especially downtown. It's a better remedy than focusing on bylaws for buildings that aren't being built.
A local solution Editorial Comment Roxanna Thompson Deh Cho Drum - Thursday, June 16, 2011
For the past approximately five years some Fort Providence residents have been growing increasingly concerned about the amount of sports fishing taking place in the waterways around the community. The problem isn't local residents but rather tourists and visitors who either bring along their fishing poles for fun, or arrive with the express purpose of going fishing. Local residents are worried about over-fishing and damage to spawning areas that could affect the catches some of them depend on as a seasonal food source. While the problem isn't great what's being done about it is. Deh Gah Got'ie First Nation has listened to its members' concerns and has taken action. In partnership with the Fort Providence Resource Management Board, the band has hired six residents to act as monitors. The monitors are creating a local presence on the waterways and using video cameras to record possible illegal fishing activity. The footage will be turned over to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, or Fisheries and Oceans Canada for further investigation. This is a clear example of self-determination. The First Nation has chosen a course that will allow it to have a measure of control over activities on its traditional lands. The band could have chosen to ignore the issue or depended on the government to deal with the problem. Instead local residents have been given the chance to participate in the reaction to an issue that directly affects them. The First Nation's initiative is being noticed. Staff with Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) will be holding a meeting in the community on Thursday, in part to listen to residents' concerns and possible solutions. The options for more permanent solutions, however, make it evident that there is a need for more room for First Nation self-determination. DFO has a number of ways it could restrict fishing in the areas the First Nation is concerned about if it becomes apparent there is a conservation issue. The problem is the restrictions would be applied equally to everyone. The fish population would be secure from over-fishing by non-local anglers but local residents who were previously practicing sustainable harvesting would also have their catches limited. In helping to preserve fish, community members would be penalized. A third way is needed to would allow Fort Providence residents to continue to fish in their traditional lands while the activities of non-residents would be curtailed. After Deh Gah Got'ie Koe First Nation deals with the initial problem of over-fishing, this may be the challenge they have to tackle next. Treat doctors better Editorial Comment Samantha Stokell Inuvik Drum - Thursday, June 16, 2011
However, in the rest of the communities there is only one permanent doctor and Inuvik is lucky enough to have her. There are 25.5 funded positions for the Beaufort Delta, Fort Smith, Hay River and Sahtu Health and Social Services Authority and only one is filled. Yes, all these communities are served by locum doctors, doctors who stay for six weeks and then return to their southern homes. None of them stay. And why would they? Locum doctors get free flights to and from Inuvik and free accommodations during their stay. Permanent doctors receive a salary, health benefits, moving expenses, special allowances, but no extra perks. How does this make sense? Why would the GNWT put its energy into providing perks for the temporary doctors and not the permanent doctors? Is it no wonder that locums, no matter how much they love the North, aren't willing to stay? The freedom and benefits they have now can't compare to a permanent position, which seems almost like a punishment in comparison. The GNWT is relying on the love of the lifestyle and not acknowledging the competition of other jurisdictions doctors could work in. They are recognizing the challenge, but not acting on it. The government should look at other Northern jurisdictions in the provinces and territories and see how they are recruiting doctors. What perks are they offering? Take the benefits they offer and one-up them. Offer more holidays, a number of free flights out per year, housing costs and even bonuses to keep doctors in the territory. It's basically what the government is offering locums, so why not offer it to the doctors who choose to stay in the territory? Residents of the North need permanent doctors. With continuous care from one doctor, they will be healthier because the doctor knows their conditions, will have knowledge of their history and gain their trust through regular checkups, allowing the doctors to catch minor health problems before they become huge issues. This will save the government money, too! –fewer medevacs from smaller communities, fewer specialists needed, reduced health care costs all around. It's time for the GNWT to look outside of Yellowknife, notice the smaller communities and compare them to and compete with other jurisdictions. Bring doctors to the rest of the territory. We need them.
Invest carefully, GNWT Yellowknifer - Wednesday, June 15, 2011
There will be less money available from Ottawa and we need to be very careful in the way we spend our funds. There is $150 million in the federal budget for the Dempster Highway extension, from Inuvik to Tuktoyaktuk, an amount that must be matched by the GNWT. This project will undoubtedly bring benefits to that region, but it won't bring significant gains to the NWT as a whole. The wheels may already be turning on that project, but the GNWT needs to think long and hard about the costs and benefits of its next infrastructure investments. A Mackenzie Valley Highway would be similar to the Dempster extension - it will really just benefit the residents of those communities which it would reach, and possibly bring a modest number of additional tourists, if they brave the atrocious Liard Highway or the awful stretch from Behchoko to Yellowknife on Highway 3. On that note, upgrading and paving our southernmost roads, which connect to the provinces, would be a sound investment so the gateway to the North doesn't look like a step backwards in time. Another option that deserves even greater priority is a road north to the Snap Lake and the Lac de Gras area to service and refuel the territories' three diamond mines, with the possibility of branching towards Kennady Lake, just southeast of Snap Lake, for the proposed Gahcho Kue diamond mine. This road to resources may even attract investment from the mining companies. Outside of transfer payments from Ottawa, the NWT's future revenue will largely come from both taxes and resource royalties from the mines, as devolution becomes a reality. Snap Lake and Gahcho Kue each have close to a decade of expected mine life while BHP is forecasting that cost-cutting measures could extend diamond extraction at Ekati until as long as 2040. There are numerous other prospects for metal and mineral finds in the area as well. A road to resources would be an investment in our economy - the type of project we need to invest in as the country and the NWT fight their way out of debt.
Vote of confidence in Ed Sangris Yellowknifer - Wednesday, June 15, 2011 Incumbent Ed Sangris is back as Dettah's chief for another four years after election results rolled in Monday. The majority of voters are obviously pleased with his leadership. Sangris, a longtime band councillor with four years of chiefdom under his belt, has a strong foundation in the community and has represented the people well. The Chief Drygeese Government Building was developed as a new meeting place in the community during his tenure. He has also fought beyond the boundaries of Dettah, working last summer to help reach an agreement for the Yellowknives Dene to split the cost of paving Ndilo's roads with the City of Yellowknife. Sangris has been strong in his stances on many issues, voicing his concerns over the NWT's devolution agreement-in-principle and how that will affect the Akaitcho territory if federal authority is transferred to the territorial government. He has also raised questions about why the city is proposing to relocate its water source to Yellowknife Bay from Yellowknife River and has openly criticized last fall's decision that Diavik Diamond Mines Inc. would reinstate Edmonton as a pick-up point for southern workers, possibly reducing job opportunities for members of his band. His platform continues to be structured around issues of housing, promoting the traditional language and protecting the land. Sangris' determination to create change for his community is hopefully just getting started.
A policy gone horribly awry Darrell Greer Kivalliq News - Wednesday, June 15, 2011 The Government of Nunavut's (GN) seemingly determined method of conducting its affairs in a clandestine and heavy-handed manner is a dangerous game, slowly opening a number of rifts which could prove most difficult to heal if they continue to grow. While conducting business devoid of transparency and accountability is, in itself, cause for utmost concern (please Google auditor general's report on the matter of $50 million in G8 Legacy Infrastructure Fund spending for a prime example), even more disconcerting is the effect the GN's way of doing business is having on regular folks. Leading the way in creating ill will between Inuit and non-Inuit residents in a number of communities, from businesses all the way down to students, is Nunavummi Nangminiqaqtunik Ikajuuti, known to most Nunavummiut as simply the NNI policy. The GN is fighting a behind-the-scenes battle with the NWT and Nunavut Construction Association which, if an agreement can't be reached and the association's members stay united, could see Nunavut contractors stop bidding on GN contracts. A number of contractors feel the GN has ramped up its clandestine efforts against them by quietly spreading rumours of missing materials and other issues in an attempt to point the finger of blame at them for the Nunavut Housing Corp.'s well-publicized $110-million-plus shortfall. They also feel the NNI policy is not being interpreted properly and the GN's implementation practices are going to increasingly alienate true Nunavut contractors and open the door for southern firms and fly-by-night operators. Concern is also rising over a growing number of student summer positions being offered to only one segment of our communities under the guise of the NNI policy. Most people with any sense would not doubt the validity of priority being given to Nunavut beneficiaries for most positions, skill sets not withstanding. But to discriminate against non-Inuit Nunavummiut, especially students, and not allow them to apply for summer positions in their own community -- jobs administered by a hamlet office which is supposed to represent the entire populace -- is close enough to racism to make most people feel more than a little uncomfortable. What better way to alienate youth who have lived the majority of their lives in Nunavut and encourage them to move south permanently upon completing their education than this approach? Or is that the intent? The GN and Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. should be challenged to explain how such an approach benefits the growth of this territory. Bright young adults who have spent the majority (if not all) of their lives here, understand the way of life, are comfortable and productive in a multi-cultural environment, and view the community as their home are denied the same opportunities as others based on the colour of their skin? This sound familiar? It is nothing short of despicable, in this day and age, for something such as the NNI policy to be twisted enough in its application to deny equal opportunity to those so young, and with so much to offer our territory in the future. It is a policy going horribly awry!
Good first impressions NWT News/North - Monday, June 13, 2011
Over the past year or so, that entryway into our territory has been given a complete overhaul. More than $1 million - including $150,000 for a new welcome sign -- has been spent to spruce up the first attraction tourists see on their way to the North. Last week, MLAs, park staff, community leaders, residents and passing tourists attended a grand opening for the new facility. Those who News/North spoke to gave glowing praise to the new centre, which replaced one built back in the 1960s. Considering tourism in the NWT rakes in $111 million per year, according to Bob McLeod, minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment, $1 million is well spent. Regardless of the amount the NWT pumps into tourism advertising, the industry relies heavily on word of mouth. A few good words on a website such as Lonely Planet can attract droves of people to our treasure trove of outdoor wonders. Obviously, a clean and new place to freshen up after hours of driving isn't going to compel thousands of new road trippers to pile into their cars and start the long haul to our borders. But, in the words of McLeod, you don't get a second chance to make a first impression. Once through the door into the NWT, our visitors' second and third impressions are of wide-open wilderness, abundant wildlife, and a vast network of streams, rivers and lakes. For any level of outdoors lover, the NWT is vacation paradise. However, our great home is not without its problems. Perhaps the greatest deterrent to RVers and other road warriors is the state of the territory's roads. Fortunately, the NWT has begun work to improve the worst of them, such as Highway 7 - known as the Liard trail. This year, more than $6 million is being spent to upgrade and repair roads in the Deh Cho region, helping to create a stable and easy-to-drive road link to the region. While these road improvements will benefit territorial residents by making travel easier and improving the supply link that brings much needed cargo to communities such as Fort Liard, attracting more tourist traffic does benefit our communities. Tourists bring money for gas, food, supplies and souvenirs. Those are dollars that boost local economies, add bulk to the wallets of small business owners and bring much needed income to our community artists. What's in a price? Nunavut News/North - Monday, June 13, 2011 Grocery retailers North West Company and Arctic Co-operatives along with Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC), got an earful from Iqaluit residents and Nunavut's MLAs two weeks ago. One of the 60 Iqalummiut who attended the public meeting May 31 brought along two boxes of raspberries. One was bought in Ottawa for $1.67, the other in Iqaluit for $4.99. He asked why he was paying $3 per box of berries for freight. MLAs grilled the retailers in the legislative assembly June 1, looking for an explanation of why the prices for food in Northern grocery stores are so high. Many people think retailers use their monopolies in remote communities to charge unreasonable markups. Nunavummiut want to know what that $3 difference in price between Ottawa and Iqaluit is paying for. They want a breakdown spelling out the cost of the item wholesale, the cost of shipping, the shipping subsidy, the cost of overhead (staff, electricity, rent, maintenance, vehicles, gas) and profit. Nunavut News/North has asked for this in the past, and retailers have refused to provide it, saying it was competitive information. We understand the costs of operating grocery stores in the Arctic are high. There are warehouses to maintain and massive sealift orders to co-ordinate. Labour is not cheap. Electricity rates are skyrocketing in Nunavut. Shipping is expensive. The cost of food itself is rising globally. According to the World Bank, the price of wheat and corn, for example, has risen about 70 per cent since last year. Rising oil prices are pushing food prices even higher. When Nutrition North was being rolled out, transparency was promised. Poster boards informing shoppers what the price was on an item prior to April 1 and what it is now (tomatoes now $12.29 per kilogram in Arctic Bay instead of $12.89), is not showing us what the subsidy is and how it's being applied. It's just a joint public relations campaign on behalf of the retailers and INAC. Nunavummiut want real answers. INAC has promised periodic audits of the new program. These audits need to be done sooner rather than later, and the reports be made public. Public money is being spent to make food affordable for Northerners, and the public has a right to know how much is being spent, where it's being spent and whether it's been effective at bringing prices down. However, is INAC's in-house auditing and evaluation department the best fit for the job? In the past, it hasn't kept up with its monitoring of third parties tasked with delivery of its programs. A 2008 INAC report on the food mail program found it had last audited Canada Post's food mail books in 1994. Considering that dismal record, the responsibility of monitoring the practices of retailers and the overall effectiveness of the Nutrition North program should be removed from INAC and added to the auditor general's list of tasks.
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