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GNWT financial priorities NWT News/North - Monday, Sept 24, 2012
Between now and February, territorial politicians will be deciding how to spend taxpayers' money. A wish list crowded with infrastructure needs, programming desires and rising costs of essential and basic services will present the usual challenge of dividing too few dollars among too many pots. The result is usually met with disappointment and protests as citizens disagree with such decisions. Although the outrage is often varied, it is frequently voiced the same way - "Why doesn't the government listen?" Well, perhaps this year the GNWT will be listening. Finance Minister Michael Miltenberger has embarked on a territorial fact-finding mission to discover what Northerners want their money - and about $1 billion of federal funding -- spent on. Miltenberger's tour, which began in Inuvik on Sept. 17 and wraps up in Yellowknife on Oct. 23, is bound to yield a bounty of spending ideas. Among the items near the top of the list, at least in dollar amounts, will surely be helping Norman Wells and Inuvik out of their present energy crunch, implementing a territorial midwife program, addictions treatment expansion, long-term care for our aging population, and the perennial call for more health professionals, better schools, jobs, and a road up the Mackenzie Valley. That small list alone is worth tens of billions of dollars. With an annual budget of a little more than $1 billion, the GNWT can't possibly hope to meet those demands. Miltenberger said the tour is sincere and not merely a publicity stunt. When the final spending plan is released early next year, his statement will be put to the test. It's simply not possible for every item suggested to make the final cut. But, hopefully, the government will choose the best priorities with the information it gathers. Come the next election this exercise should help voters decide if their elected representatives truly listen to them, and that should help them vote accordingly.
Collaborate to strengthen suicide prevention Nunavut News/North - Monday, Sept 24, 2012 The numbers don't lie. There is an epidemic of suicides in Canada's North. Strength and support can be summoned, however, by looking past territorial borders and learning from each other to stop these unnecessary deaths. Sharing observations, programming ideas and analysis of results will build better equipped armies working on all sides to combat the fierce pain and loneliness being felt by too many of the North's people. Between 2003 and 2007, 39 people in the NWT took their own lives. In Nunavut, the stats are even more grim. As of Aug. 31, Nunavut has experienced 18 suicides this year and a staggering 379 since 1999. The territory has a suicide rate 11 times the national average. The GN has failed to develop a mental health facility or addictions centre, and has made little progress in hiring more mental health professionals in the communities. Nunavut's Suicide Prevention Strategy was just launched 12 months ago after years of development, years of loss. The NWT is introducing its Mental Health and Addictions Action Plan this year. The initial steps to establish a sorely needed support system are being taken. The similar programming the NWT and Nunavut show the territories are already moving in parallel directions. Both territories have been laying the groundwork for community members to acquire the knowledge to act in raw, emotional and high-pressure situations through the Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST) program. This way, resources such as someone who knows the signs of a severely depressed person, someone who has intervention skills and someone who can aid in the healing and grieving process will be accessible right in the community, by someone who is invested in the place they call home. The wounds have common root causes for aboriginal people throughout Canada's North: forced relocation and assimilation, poverty, a disruption of cultural identity and a healthy community, struggle with addictions and a lack of mental health support. The victims of suicide are similar as well. The victims are youth. The victims are men more than women. Increased collaboration to guide our way through the darkness that has been plaguing the people of the North for decades would be wise. Governments play a key role, but cannot solely solve this problem. Looking to our neighbours for support, for suggestions and solutions is not an act of weakness. We don't know all the answers to stop this often silent killer, but by sharing strategies across the North we improve the odds of saving precious lives.
Giant Mine is forever Weekend Yellowknifer - Friday, Sept 21, 2012
Some opponents of the federal government's plans to freeze the arsenic in perpetuity complain that they haven't been properly consulted. This seems a bit rich considering the glacial pace at which the cleanup has progressed since Royal Oak, the mine's former owner, went belly up in 1999. Along the way there have been endless dialogues and information sessions by the Department of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Affairs to tout its efforts in dealing with what it is now estimated to be a $640 million remediation project, needing an additional $1.9 million a year in maintenance costs, possibly forever. Really, there hasn't been a lack of consultation, only an absence of will to pursue any other solution. The federal government made up its mind when it first proposed to freeze the arsenic in 2003, and it's not going to waver now. The chance that the Mackenzie Valley Environmental Impact Review Board, or the federal government, will do anything other than give the freeze option the green light is about as likely as Giant Mine being turned into an amusement park. John Duncan, the hopelessly conflicted minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development, is tasked with both overseeing the cleanup and accepting or rejecting the review board's recommendations. Having him responsible for both tasks is far from ideal. The goal now is to ensure the federal government remains committed to protecting the environment and the people who live here as long as the arsenic stays underground. Last year, Environment Minister Michael Miltenberger suggested the creation of an independent watchdog to oversee the cleanup of Giant Mine. Some form of monitoring authority independent of the GNWT and the federal government is needed because both levels of government are involved in the cleanup. The absurdity of the current situation was revealed last year when Baker Creek overflowed its banks and the federal government's water resource officer threatened to levy fines against his own department. It would seem logical and assuring to the public that this watchdog be composed of some parties that have expressed an interest in the mine cleanup during the hearings - the Yellowknives Dene, Alternatives North and the North Slave Metis Alliance. This watchdog should have the authority to inspect the site and instruct the government to take action when needed. As for the Yellowknives Dene's request for $75 million in compensation for decades of contamination on their traditional waters and lands, it is not without precedence. Last year, the B.C. government agreed to pay the St'at'imc band $200 million to compensate them for lost fisheries with the construction of a hydro-electric project. As well, the federal and Ontario governments handed First Nations bands $4.92 million in the 1980s as part of a compensation package for mercury contamination in more than 200 provincial lakes. The $75 million requested of the federal government seems a fitting negotiations point in the Yellowknives Dene's land claim negotiations.
Get educated about the issues and get set to vote Editorial Comment Miranda Scotland Deh Cho Drum - Thursday, Sept. 20, 2012 Residents of Fort Simpson will be going to the polls on Oct. 15 with hamlet elections following about two months later. Sixteen residents have expressed their intention to run for councillor positions while only Sean Whelly is vying for the mayoral seat in the village election. According to the unofficial list, all of the current councillors for Fort Simpson - Celine Antoine, Adolphus Augier, Gus Croatto, Robert Hanna, Marie Lafferty, Ron McCagg, Stella Nadia and Tom Wilson - have plans to run again, but they will be joined by a few fresh faces. Walter Blondin, Larry Campbell, Leah Keats, Dennis Nelner, Renalyn Pascua-Matte, Michael Rowe, Patrick Rowe and Gordon Thompson will also be in the race. It would be easy to stick with what's familiar and vote for those who ran in the past election but it's important that new candidates are given a chance to be heard. Residents should educate themselves on the issues, find out what matters most to them and decide which candidate will address the issues best. That being said, here in Fort Simpson citizens have already shown they're not afraid to vote for the new guy. In 2009, Whelly beat incumbent Duncan Canvin by a landslide. Whelly ran his campaign with the slogan "We can make life better" and promised to address quality of life issues in the village along with smaller local issues. The same year, the village saw a strong voter turnout. Returning officer Rita Cazon said it was the highest turnout she had seen in Fort Simpson. At that time a total of 359 people out of approximately 850 eligible voters showed up to cast a ballot. That means about 42 per cent of the voting population came out for the village election. In contrast, that same year, 49 per cent of registered voters showed up to cast a ballot in the Yellowknife election, which was better than the 29 per cent voter turnout the city saw in 2006. Nonetheless, although Fort Simpson had a good showing in the last village election, there is definitely room for improvement this year. So residents, let's start researching the issues and getting ready to vote! Paint it black Editorial Comment Danielle Sachs Inuvik Drum - Thursday, Sept. 20, 2012 Arts and craft activities happen with the Elders Day Program. The library integrates crafts into reading programs. There is pride to be taken in something created with your own hands. Whether it's picking up a pair of knitting needles for the first time and learning through a book or taking a tradition that has been passed down from generation to generation, creating an object does more for someone than just, well, creating an object. It's a process, one that only the individual has control over. You don't want the sky to be blue? Fine, paint it magenta, it's your world. Prevention has been a common theme throughout the week. How can we stop people from vandalizing community resources like the food bank and greenhouse? How can we stop people from lighting fires? At the public budget discussion, prevention was brought up more than once. Put more money into schools and less to justice, because you don't need as many justice programs if there are preventative measures in place for the early years. When Patricia MacAulay, the art therapist at East 3, was talking about the healing powers of art and play, the passion in her voice was clear. While her sessions are based on referrals and are for elementary school students, everyone can take a lesson in her passion. The emphasis in art therapy is in creation and exploration, not on creating "good art." MacAulay herself knew there was more to painting than just creating something to exhibit and sell. She understands what it can do and what it can mean. Promoting the arts in youth can teach them about that pride, possibly keep them from destroying someone else's creation years down the road. The food bank counts as a creation. It was created by volunteers and donations. Art is another form of prevention. Why let it get to the point where you have to destroy instead of create? Maybe it's time some of the individuals responsible for the vandalism pick up a paint brush instead of a brick. Strum a few chords on a guitar instead of unleashing the fury of a fire extinguisher over a garden plot. It's likely to be more fun and will probably result in pride. Power failure Yellowknifer - Wednesday, Sept 19, 2012
The occasional power outage is something Northerners have to live with, but people are beyond frustrated at the frequency of late having to constantly reset their blinking clocks, reboot computer systems, wondering if their electronics are on the fritz due to the repeated power problems and having to spend extra hours at work due to lost productivity - some tasks simply cannot be left until the next day. When a Facebook group called "Yellowknifers Want Power... OR MONEY!" was started last week, it quickly grew to more than 600 members. People's posts suggest many residents share a dim view of the power corp.'s requested 25 per cent power rate hike in light of the numerous outages. Many members of the group argue that it is power corp. that owes them compensation for inconsistent service. Business owners are also speaking out about the impact frequent outages have on their bottom line. Whenever electricity is lost, revenue is lost. Stores lose customers who cannot pay for their desired merchandise. Restaurants cannot provide food for patrons, and some of what was being cooked winds up as waste. Sometimes workers have to be paid overtime due to the power outages. The NWT Power Corporation and power distribution company Northland Utilities owe ratepayers an explanation as to why outages occur so frequently - ranging from single customer disruptions to citywide blackouts. The power corp. has recently developed an 18-point action plan to address problems. That was done with the help of outside experts in an effort to improve service. That's a start. Northland Utilities, on the other hand, continues to rely on existing checks and balances, according to spokesperson Dwayne Morgan. Surely the deteriorating situation calls for Northland to step up its efforts as well. The top officials at the power corp. are apparently going to shed some light on the issue today. Brendan Bell, chair of the power corp., and Emanuel DaRosa, the utility's president and CEO, called a press conference at Jackfish power plant, scheduled for 10 a.m. The information session is intended "to provide additional information about its plan to increase the reliability of its Yellowknife system," according to a press release issued Monday. Now that the power providers are in the spotlight, they should take the opportunity to enlighten their customers about precisely how they plan to keep the lights on longer and more. Michael Miltenberger, minister responsible for the power corp., should also be prepared to discuss the matter publicly so that ratepayers can be confident improvements are in the offing. Reassurances, it should be noted, will only go so far. There's only one thing that will truly appease Yellowknife residents, and that's reliably keeping the lights on at home and at work.
Squash seeds of abuse before they sprout Darrell Greer Kivalliq News - Wednesday, Sept 19, 2012 Regular readers of Kivalliq News know I often take an editorial stance against any form of government abuse, especially when it pertains to a misuse of power. Ditto the cone of silence when they throw credibility and accountability out the window to deal with an issue behind closed doors, or refuse to explain the reasoning behind an action taken. The cone of silence is a seed from which abuse of power often grows and, in a country where even access to scientists on the government payroll is being denied, far too many have begun to sprout in Canada during the past decade. But, still, we're far better off than many countries when it comes to just how far a government will take things to make a point. Or are we? I must admit, as mad as I was at the time, I forgot all about Bruce Montague of Kenora, Ont., until I read an exceptional piece in Troy Media by Karen Selick this past week, who is the litigation director for the Canadian Constitution Foundation. Selick's piece was prompted by the smug outrage of many Canadians over the two-year sentence given the Russian group Pussy Riot, following its political panning of government head Vladimir Putin in a Moscow church. Two years for such a relatively harmless display of protest was a tad heavyhanded for our liking, and we were relieved to know that could never happen in our country. Well, that's where Mr. Montague comes in. A mere decade ago, Montague had all the legal documentation necessary to run his arms business, but he wasn't exactly enamoured with this country's Firearm's Act (you remember that!). He joined a protest group and intentionally let all his documentation, including his firearms acquisition certificate, expire. By 2003 he had become an illegal business owner ready to challenge the act in court. In fact, Selick refers to him as the "poster boy" for the protest, which was exactly what he had become. Montague did just about everything he could think of to have himself charged with violations, but to no avail. Everything that is, but harm, threaten or try to scare anyone, or support violence in any form. He was always peaceful in his protest demonstrations. Finally, while at a gun show with his 12yearold daughter, he was arrested by six Ontario Provincial Police officers and faced 53 counts on 12 different charges. He was found guilty on 26, sentenced to 18 months incarceration, 90 days imprisonment in the community and a year's probation all for failing to comply with regulations. Now Ontario is trying to take away his home because it housed his gunsmith shop. He's been given the option of paying the government $50,000 and keeping his mouth shut about it to keep the house. And this is a man who never harmed a soul or as much as threatened anyone. In Nunavut, when so many were upset with the long gun registry, folks often conducted business as usual with unregistered weapons. Imagine what the authorities could have done if they'd decided to make an example of someone. Little seeds can grow into big trees very quickly - trees that cause a lot of damage when pushed over on you. That's why we should do all we can to prevent those seeds from growing, when first we notice they've been sown.
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