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Votes for change NWT News/North - Monday, Oct 22, 2012
Voter interest in Norman Wells was not surprising considering the community's ongoing energy crisis. The next council will be tasked with solving the pressing issue of how to replace natural gas. Mayor Dudley Johnson, who was ousted by challenger Harold McGregor, had an ambitious, yet costly plan on the table to convert the community to a centralized wood pellet boiler system. It was a campaign point he and McGregor differed on substantially. McGregor also took a cooler approach to development in Norman Wells in advance of an anticipated oil and gas exploration boom in the region, saying the town has time to move slowly and do things properly. Johnson, on the other hand, expressed a sense of urgency to build more housing and be prepared for an increase in population - something McGregor wasn't convinced is going to happen quickly. McGregor's message must have resonated with voters, as a commanding majority chose him to take the helm of the next council. Fort Smith, which dealt with a divisive municipal staff strike prior to the election, seemed to cast its votes in reaction to that incident, ousting Mayor Janie Hobart in favour of challenger Brad Brake. Brake's campaign focused, in part, on smoothing over damaged relations at town hall following the strike. In Inuvik, former premier Floyd Roland will lead the least-changed council - all but one incumbent was re-elected. Energy is a hot topic in Inuvik as the town seeks solutions to its dwindling natural gas supply. Since the solution will likely involve co-operation from all levels of government, Roland might be the best man for the job. He comes to the table with a host of political contacts in the GNWT and the Government of Canada. In Hay River, residents have been hit hard over the past term by council infighting and the mayor's resignation, which sparked an investigation into the town's finances and contracting practices. If that wasn't enough, residents have endured three tragic killings this year. This combination created a community yearning for change. Hay River's election attracted 1,200 voters to the polls and with only one incumbent running - Ken Latour dropped out mid-race and Andrew Cassidy threw his hat in for mayor - the community will have a host of new faces offering leadership at the council table. It will be vital that this new council, under Cassidy, who was elected mayor, demonstrates both co-operation and openness not only among each other but also with the community. That is the only way a positive direction for change can be set. In Fort Simpson, a mix of new and old politicians will convene around the council table. The community will be looking for its civic politicians to address infrastructure issues and lobby the territorial government for improvements to the highway system leading into the community. Congratulations to all the new and returning members of council, and a kudos to the residents who exercised their democratic duty to help select the people will lead their communities over the next three years. Although the election is over, those taking office must work to keep their communities informed and conduct themselves in a manner that best serves community members. Residents also carry an obligation: they must keep a watchful eye, to hold councillors and mayors to the promises that earned their votes.
Not camera shy Nunavut News/North - Monday, Oct 22, 2012 Though pricey airfare and accommodations can make Nunavut a tough sell as a tourist destination, it is a part of Canada that inspires much fascination from our southern neighbours, and that interest is bankable. The GN spent $233,000 to bring CTV's Canada AM to Iqaluit for a two-part special in July. Whether that investment results in a spike in tourist traffic to the Arctic is yet to be seen. Dramatically increased website traffic on both the Nunavut Tourism and GN websites recently, as cited by Economic Development and Transportation deputy minister Robert Long, is a positive indicator, at least. The Economic Development department estimates a TV advertisement campaign with exposure similar to the Canada AM show would have cost $1 million. This is a good example of the GN taking advantage of a creative and relatively cheap way to market the territory. For good or ill, people watch a lot of TV. Newfoundland and Labrador has seen a marked boost to tourism which it credits to its Find Yourself ad campaign over the past few years, which features breathtaking shots of pristine landscapes and rural life. According to that province's Department of Tourism, Culture and Recreation, non-resident visits rose 7.9 per cent in 2010 compared to 2009, with 518,500 visitors - the first time it's broken the half-million mark. While Nunavut wouldn't realistically be shooting for figures in that range, largely due to the cost of a trip north, the benefits of increased understanding and interest in Nunavut and Inuit culture might be realized outside the territory as well. Inuit arts and crafts are sold in many southern galleries, and piqued interest from smart marketing would surely attract more sales. As well, with more mining in the territory will come more mining executives, board members and shareholders who might want to take advantage of business trips in Nunavut by touring communities and shopping for art. Though it's unlikely tourism will be a major factor in the territory's economy in the near future, the $233,000 spent on landing Canada AM was a sound risk. Perhaps it will make someone check out the Nunavut art section of a gallery in Montreal, or consider embarking on a cruise through the Northwest Passage, or maybe businesspeople might extend their stay in the territory when they get the chance to fly up on a business trip. It's also not a bad thing to show off the territory and its culture to Canadians who are all investing in Nunavut with their tax dollars which, through federal transfer payments, pay for most of the territorial budget.
Never forget Weekend Yellowknifer - Friday, Oct 19, 2012
The crowd of close to 100 people gathered in the auditorium that afternoon bowed their heads as a slideshow displayed the names and faces of some of the Northerners who are among the hundreds of aboriginal women and girls who have been murdered or have gone missing in Canada in recent decades. The late Mariella Lennie, who at age 17 was found in the water near Con Mine Dock in 1992, and Charlene Catholique, who disappeared after accepting a ride with a stranger from Behchoko to Yellowknife at age 15 in 1990, were two of the lives being remembered. The Yellowknife vigil, which was held in solidarity with more than 150 similar events across the country, was organized by the Native Women's Association of the NWT as a call for awareness and change. The organization wants all levels of government to work with aboriginal women and their representative organizations to right the circumstances that have allowed so many aboriginal women to be killed or go missing. Justice Minister Glen Abernethy and several RCMP officers attended the Yellowknife vigil. Nationally, the RCMP has identified the need "to address the fact that aboriginal women face considerably higher risks of violence and homicide," as stated on the force's website. In addition to being over-represented as victims of homicide, the site adds that aboriginal women are three-times more likely to be victims of violence than non-aboriginal women. The 1996 Report of the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples identifies "the breakdown of healthy family life resulting from residential school upbringing, racism against aboriginal peoples, the impact of colonialism on traditional values and culture, and overcrowded, substandard housing" as issues that need to be considered. The Oct. 4 vigil reminds governments and police officers in Yellowknife that no matter how deep, complicated and dire the problems are that compromise the safety of aboriginal women and girls, those who hold the responsibility to protect all members of society must heed the demand to bring an as-yet unseen degree of safety and security to the lives of all aboriginal women and girls.
Back the bid for Yk-based search and rescue Weekend Yellowknifer - Friday, Oct 19, 2012 There is more than meets the eye regarding a proposed joint bid by Yellowknife-based aviation company Discovery Air and Spanish aircraft manufacturer Airbus Military to replace Canada's aging fixed-wing search and rescue fleet with the C295 aircraft and establish a search and rescue base in Yk. In short, it's huge. First, keep in mind that the whole issue of a new search and rescue fleet has been initiated by Ottawa. Following on the heels of the 2008 Canada First Defence Strategy was a 2009 call to industry for feedback on high-level requirements for the air fleet, with an eye to replace the CC-115 Buffalo and the CC-130 Hercules. Second, despite the use of volunteer spotters from the Civilian Air Search and Rescue Association, search and rescue operations have been, and are proposed to continue being, an undertaking of the Canadian Forces. The military aircraft are staffed by military pilots and military search and rescue technicians and are serviced in part by the military. Third, this has the potential to become a 20-year contract worth approximately $3 billion. The federal government is developing its request for proposals and has asked industry to propose the type and quantity of aircraft and where they will be based. Fourth, the method of search and rescue has changed dramatically. No longer will it be reliant on eyeballs scanning vast tracts of land and sea, trying to find a black spot on the white snow. Instead, the new aircraft will be equipped with infrared sensors and search radar capable of finding lost people quicker and easier. The twin-engine turboprop C295 has a rear ramp for dropping life-saving equipment and allows SAR technicians to parachute to the scene during a rescue mission. Because Canada is reviewing the locations of its four search and rescue bases - in Comox, B.C., Winnipeg, Trenton, Ont. and Greenwood, N.S. - and since Prime Minister Stephen Harper has repeatedly spoken of the need for greater sovereignty in the North, we think the Discovery-Airbus proposal to supply the aircraft and establish a search and rescue base in Yellowknife deserves support. When the request for proposals is made, we encourage Northern politicians to back the bid to benefit Yellowknife.
Updated dog bylaw an improvement Editorial Comment Miranda Scotland Deh Cho Drum - Thursday, Oct. 18, 2012 Up until Oct. 1, the village of Fort Simpson has been working with a rather antiquated dog bylaw which was drafted in the 1980s and amended slightly over the years. Similar to the old NWT Dog Act, the village's bylaw focused more on canines affecting human lives than the other way around. In the old bylaw, only Section 22(i) referred to dog abuse while a number of other areas referred to dogs causing a nuisance, running at large and attacking persons, animals or personal property. That said, the penalty for poorly treating a dog was reasonably high with violators facing a fine of not more than $2,000 or imprisonment not exceeding six months or both. The new bylaw, however, goes a step further by introducing fines for not providing dogs with necessary needs, such as fresh drinking water or suitable food, adequate outdoor shelter, a sanitary pen or a sufficient area to move. This is no doubt a step in the right direction yet there is still room to grow. The bylaw was updated so that it fit with the territory's new dog act but in a study released July 9 the NWT placed near the bottom of the list in a report that analyzed the animal protection laws of each province and territory in Canada. This was the fifth year the territory has taken one of the bottom slots in the Animal Legal Defense Fund's report. One of the biggest criticisms of the Dog Act is it only covers canines and not cats or other domestic animals. For these reasons, the village should have referred to Dog Acts and bylaws created in other provinces, including Manitoba which took the top spot in the rankings. Nonetheless, the new bylaw is better than the old and for it to work the bylaw officer will not only need to continue to be diligent in her job but she will also need the support of the community. The village's bylaw officer is responsible for a number of duties and enforcing the dog bylaw is only one of them. Part of the reason for the revision of the bylaw was the numerous calls the village received regarding ill-treatment of dogs. Now that the officer has the ability to respond to these situations with more force, reports of abuse are even more important because a greater difference can be made. Don't forget to thank our volunteers Editorial Comment Danielle Sachs Inuvik Drum - Thursday, Oct. 18, 2012 There's no way to dance around it, that's just bad news. The festival would have taken place this coming weekend. It would have been a place to experience different cultures without booking an insanely expensive flight out of Inuvik. Now, I haven't had the chance to experience the Heritage Festival yet, but missing it is not an option, from what I've been told. Food from around the world is apparently one of the highlights, and the thought of a different kind of community feast makes facing the increasingly shorter days a little more bearable. Let's be clear, the festival isn't cancelled forever. For now, it's just postponed until maybe January or February. Different groups just didn't have enough funds for food and volunteers to prepare for the event. It's understandable that with all the concerns raised about the economy and the high cost of living, groups have decided it's just not feasible to provide a free meal. However, putting it off until the future doesn't seem fair. Organizer Tony Devlin said the decision was made because the food is one of the biggest draws and it would have been more like a half-festival without it. But why not get out there and learn about a different culture? For a town of less than 4,000, Inuvik has a remarkable diversity of residents. But it wasn't only the lack of food that was an issue. Volunteers, or the lack of them, was another big issue. I know, we often talk about the importance of volunteers. Does it take the cancellation of a prized event to cement their importance in our minds? There are so many causes, events and celebrations in Inuvik and you'll often see the same people volunteering at each one. No one is trying to lay blame on people who can't volunteer. Everyone has commitments that have to take priority. Family, work, sleep and basic hygiene are a few that come to mind. And that's if you don't take any free time for yourself. I'm confident the Heritage Festival will be back and maybe it will even be bigger than ever. But in the meantime, take the time and nominate someone you know for the volunteer appreciation dinner. The dinner is Nov. 10 and, while it might not be a few hours of much-needed rest, it's one way to give thanks for the difference they make in the community. New mayor, new city hall? Yellowknifer - Wednesday, Oct 17, 2012
Inside, there was a sparse crowd of people gathered to watch the election results roll in and the usual media, with only a handful of council candidates. There was none of the breathless anticipation of past years when apprehensive candidates and excited voters thronged the main foyer, gasping as their favourites won and lost a seat on council. This was the sorry scene at the end of the 12-year reign of Mayor Gord Van Tighem, probably the most personable municipal leader on the planet, whose door and ear was open to everyone. Despite the low-key crowd, it was an eventful election. Runner up mayoral candidate Tim Doyle positioned himself as the voice of change. He raised issues people were talking about in the coffee shops and over their dinner tables - the problems downtown, the merits of the geothermal project. Probably the most contentious issue he raised was that of city administration's dealings with ordinary Yellowknifers. He was not alone in that. Other candidates acknowledged they had been hearing the same thing -- Adrian Bell, Niels Konge -- and both outgoing councillors Lydia Bardak and Amanda Mallon spoke of their own problems with administration. Even seven-time councillor Bob Brooks freely admitted he had been receiving e-mails and hearing on the doorsteps that city hall was not people-friendly. "First order of business" after the election he vowed. Mayor-elect Mark Heyck took it all in stride, agreeing communication could be improved but declining to get into more detail or discuss personalities. Judging by his solid win, the majority of Yellowknifers support his steady hand. But that does not mean Doyle and the other candidates were wrong to raise the difficult issues publicly. Yellowknifer has had its own experience with the wrath of city hall. After extensive coverage in advance of a referendum on the city's desire to borrow $49 million for its geothermal project, including a standalone website bringing together all the information sources and different discussions about capturing heat energy from the defunct Con Mine, Yellowknifer was labelled an opponent of city hall when the voters said no to borrowing the money. Then there were the recent stories about the floatplane owned by the city's senior administrative officer. It was parked in Old Town close to where administration wanted to put a new floatplane dock. That fact was pointed out by Old Town citizens opposed to the dock and Yellowknifer reported as much and again later on the floatplane's new parking spot at the city public works garage. The city then advised that it would no longer advertise with Yellowknifer or its affiliated publications. During one of the debates, one council candidate repeated a rumour that copies of Yellowknifer have been banned in offices at city hall. We have to ask: Is it appropriate for a government body to target the free press? In a democracy? What can individual residents expect if they disagree with city hall? We'll let Yellowknifers and the new council decide that. But it's clear our new mayor has his work cut out for him. In the past, some mayors have considered themselves chairman of the city corporation and felt bound to defend city hall's actions come hell or high water. A far better business analogy is that the mayor is chairman of the board of city councillors and all Yellowknifers are the shareholders who should and do call the shots, as we see in each election (and referendum). We hope the newly elected councillors follow through on bringing a new attitude to city hall. That means shining new light on the dark areas, improving communication with residents and recognizing that the newsroom at Yellowknifer serves its readers, regardless of threats or intimidation.
In the expert opinion of science Darrell Greer Kivalliq News - Wednesday, Oct 17, 2012 The past month hasn't been kind to environmentalists who latch onto every report that supports their cause, especially when it comes to climate change and the impact of the Alberta oil sands on the environment. Today's science wars leave many wondering how so many experts can have such wildlyvarying opinions. Further muddying the waters are hidden agendas, and those in the scientific community who have become science's version of guns for hire, mimicking the 'expert' testimony one comes to expect at criminal trials and the like. Even worse these days, scientific studies will often be paid for by an entity with a vested stake in the result. In fact, many simply dismiss the results of any study funded in such a manner no matter what the results. And a fair amount of the time they're right to do so, but that's not always the case. A recent study done on the Alberta oil sands was funded by Suncor Energy Inc., a big-time player when it comes to oil sands developers. The study says the vast majority of pollution from oil sands operations still remains local, which puts a damper on claims from places downstream of Fort McMurray that oil sands pollution is responsible for contaminating fish and water. According to reports in such esteemed publications as the Globe and Mail, not only did the study show negligible levels of pollutants from lake bottom sediment samples, but deep drilling into the sediment found many lakes were cleaner now than they've been in decades or centuries. Of course critics with credentials close to study researchers Roland Hall (University of Waterloo professor of biology), Brent Wolfe (Northern research chair from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada) and Waterloo vice-president George Dixon were quick to debunk the results. But the researchers found levels of airborne metals peaked in the late 1950s and 1960s, when oil sands extraction was still a concept, and then began a rapid decline. They think the reason for the decline could be tied to the move to unleaded fuel and the closure of smelting operations at none other than Yellowknife's Giant Mine, a huge emitter of arsenic. Then there's International Climate Science Coalition executive director Tom Harris's work claiming language tricks are a prime weapon being used in the increasingly intensive war of words over global warming. Harris says phrases such as "climate change is real" and "we must stop climate change" are nonsensical: tools for environmental alarmists and those with vested interests to scare people into supporting multibilliondollar schemes. When it comes to carbon emissions and taxes, Harris suggests a return to the Grade 9 science that taught us carbon is a solid, naturally occurring, nontoxic element found in all living things. He reminds us pure carbon only appears in graphite and diamonds, and wonders if we should tax graphite pencils or diamond jewelry? To Harris, it's silly to ignore the oxygen in carbon dioxide (CO2). He says throwing a pencil into the air could be considered more of a carbon emission than even the CO2 from coal stations. You can bet somewhere an environmentalist has an eraser out and is holding it in what they believe to be a firm grasp on reality.
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