Home page

Text size

E-mail this page

If the federal government had hoped it was winning the public relations battle over its handling of the Giant Mine file it better think again.

It's bad enough that its past policies on mining appear to have amounted to nothing more than an effort to rake in royalties. But if its clean-up plan for Giant Mine didn't cause alarm before, it should now that it seems to involve a bottomless pit of taxpayers' money. This is what's become apparent following an Alternatives North access-to-information request of a Giant Mine remediation report dated Sept. 1 that shows the projected clean-up costs at $903 million - twice as much as previously reported.

The clean-up price tag for Giant Mine has been catapulting upward like a puck in a carnival strongman game ever since the government took over the abandoned mine site in 1999.

But most assumed it would eventually strike the bell like the territorial government did with the Deh Cho Bridge, which finally rang in at $202 million after an estimated cost of $55 million the previous decade.

However, as the progress report reveals, taxpayers may have to shell out a lot more money on Giant Mine, including annual maintenance costs that presumably will carry on forever as 237,000 tonnes of arsenic trioxide remains frozen underground. The costs have turned the Giant Mine project into a money pit for taxpayers. Canada made only $454 million from the operation - in 2002 dollars - not counting the costs of forever maintaining the site.

Unfortunately, the revised $903 million wasn't revealed during public hearings into the federal government's clean-up plans in September, even though the government has known about the true cost estimates since as early as last March.

This is nothing less than a black eye for the federal government. Despite having a small army of information people on staff, supposedly there to answer people's questions on this project, the government chose to keep a lid on this embarrassing figure. What's the point if it's only going to be dredged up by people who are already skeptical of the government's clean-up plans? Meanwhile, it has yet to explain why it has withheld the revamped figures from this newspaper and the House of Commons when asked by Western Arctic MP Dennis Bevington.

The Department of Aboriginal and Northern Affairs can point all it wants to its information kiosks and the soft-pedalled columns it submits to this newspaper as evidence of keeping the public informed.

But when Alternatives North digs up this kind of dirt while the department is trying to strong-arm the Mackenzie Valley Environmental Impact Review Board and other levels of government into accepting a supposedly urgent surface cleanup this summer, it does so without an ounce of credibility.

Meanwhile, as a devolution agreement with Ottawa approaches final approval, the GNWT is insisting it can do a better job ensuring future mine sites under its watch will be cleaned up properly.

Part of the GNWT's strategy for better oversight includes enhanced site inspections and ensuring companies post the necessary bonds to cover future reclamation efforts.

"We're certainly a more accessible and transparent government," Martin Goldney, the GNWT's chief devolution negotiator, told Yellowknifer last week.

Well time will tell, won't it?

The first day of spring has come and gone and what does the Deh Cho have to show for it? Even more inches of powder as a snowstorm from northwestern Alberta empties its contents on us.

At this point there are probably a few Deh Cho residents who'd be willing to take the joking criminal indictment filed against groundhog Punxsutawney Phil last month for incorrectly predicting an early spring and make it a bit more serious. The furry creature got people's hopes up. After about six months of snow, promises of warm weather and green grass are not something that should be toyed with lightly.

While people are gazing out their windows at the falling deluge of white flakes and seriously considering moving to New Mexico, there are a few mitigating factors that they should keep in mind. This snow, after all, is practically a blessing.

Consider that obesity is a rapidly growing problem in Canada. Exercise, we are told, is one of the things that people need more of to help combat this trend.

Exercise equipment can be expensive, but snow isn't. This late snowstorm is a ready-made workout for people who are looking to shed a bit of their winter padding. Instead of grumbling, people should be grabbing a shovel and wielding it with gusto.

Along the same lines, if the snow keeps falling and temperatures stay low the hockey season in the Deh Cho could go on indefinitely. Hockey, after all, has got to be more exciting and burn more calories than summer sports that people are desperately waiting for like, for instance, golf.

For people who are fond of clean floors, but not necessarily mopping, this snow should also be celebrated. Spring is not known as one of the Deh Cho's cleanest seasons.

Just think how much easier it is to clean a puddle of melted snow off of the floor in your front entrance compared to thick, goopy mud. Just remember what happens to dirt roads as snow begins to melt and rain begins to fall.

Finally, if the weather holds the three ice crossings in the Deh Cho will continue operating and no one will be inconvenienced as they wait for the ice to break and ferries to be put in the water.

In theory, spring sounds like something that can't come soon enough. After a bit of consideration, snow, snow and more snow coupled with frigid below-zero temperatures are what we need most of all.

The way people usually discuss nutrition and healthy eating has the potential to give people intellectual – if not physical – indigestion.

This is why it was good to see some government types in Inuvik last week taking positive and sensible steps to address the issue and talk about these important topics in a meaningful way.

Too often, I've seen discussions about eating habits degenerate into health professionals offering somewhat impractical pronouncements while their audience tunes them out.

I've often wondered when interviewing nutritionists and similar professionals whether they've ever studied any of the social sciences, particularly psychology and sociology. That's because they just don't seem to "get" what motivates people to eat well.

The only reason I can think of for health professionals' propensity to sermonize, rather than actually talk to their clients, is that many professionals are blissfully unaware that talking down to people rarely works.

On to the good news. Last week, during a community feast, some of the healthier traditional food choices were presented to people in an atmosphere that was mostly free of hectoring and judgment. In fact, the addition of a Zumba demonstration added some fun to the event while also encouraging people to be more active. When "dancercize" looks fun to me, you're on the right track.

Also, organizers of the event, including Kevin Floyd, demonstrated a good grasp of human nature when they spoke about a general lack of cooking knowledge and skill.

The various conveniences of modern life could be the scourge of our time. I firmly believe one of the over-riding cores of human behaviour is a high capacity for, well, laziness. Most of our technological advancements are geared toward making things easier so we have less work to do.

Laziness is why restaurants and processed foods are so seductive. No longer do people have to master the arts of cleaning, cutting and otherwise preparing raw foods. Just open a package or a can. The ease of it is irresistibly appealing. Not only do people not know how to cook from raw ingredients, they don't want to spend the time or the effort.

It's going to require a great deal of education, collaborative discussions and events like last week's community feast to make the idea of cooking from scratch more palatable.

Still, we have to start somewhere, and a grassroots campaign is better than talking down from a tower. So thanks, Kevin and your compatriots, and I wish you all the luck in pursuing this. At times it's going to look like Sisyphus and his rock, but it's a noble fight.

It hasn't been an easy trail to travel but the city seems to be taking the right tack in its efforts to make improvements in Old Town.

Yellowknife's premier historic neighbourhood has a lot going for it already. Tourists regularly check out the art galleries, walk up the stairs to Pilot's Monument and wander around Government Dock.

Plans to revitalize the area have been on the city's radar for quite a while and, thankfully, have evolved significantly as a result of input from the many people who live and play there.

Old Town has an eclectic population. Among them are the unique denizens of the Woodyard and houseboating communities who value their privacy and easy access to the water. There are also a variety of businesses with long-time ties to the area ranging from tourism operators, airlines, service providers and retailers.

The views of residents from outside Old Town cannot be dismissed. Many Yellowknifers flock to such events as this past month's successful Long John Jamboree, the Snowking Winter Festival and an assortment of events during the summer months.

It is the public areas where the city can make a difference. We see the waterfront in Old Town as one of the city's most precious resources, one that has not been exploited enough. The city's move to take over Government Dock from the federal government and clean up the area is to be applauded.

But what next? Detailed design concepts have been discussed by hundreds of people who attended public consultation workshops in February to look at plans for tables, chairs, benches and an information kiosk at Government Dock. Plans for Pilot's Monument include a wheelchair-accessible ramp to the summit, a new aviation memorial and a playground. Both landmarks would be connected by a trail.

A farmers market to be located in Old Town this summer is also in the works.

The key to success has been a conciliatory planning process involving all the diverse interests.

Next on the agenda is a presentation of the modified design concepts at a municipal services committee meeting May 6, followed by at least one more public presentation.

Plans for the evolution of Old Town are nearing the end of an admittedly rocky road. We're impressed with how far the vision has evolved and have hope and confidence that the transformation will result in a unique and welcoming waterfront area that is accessible to all.

Performers who desire to make their talent into a business must first climb a mountain of hard work and dive into an ocean of commitment, but Yellowknife artists ready to turn pro don't have to go it alone.

Since 2007, the Northern Arts and Cultural Centre (NACC) has guided performance artists on their journey toward transforming their acts into marketable products through its mentorship program.

By providing personal development training that covers business planning, marketing, promotion and bookkeeping, NACC has helped artists navigate festival circuits, showcase event bookings, and other specialized networking opportunities in the entertainment industry.

Launched by former executive director Ben Nind, the NACC mentorship program has assisted some of the best-known acts in town, including Juno-winning recording artist Leela Gilday, Juno-nominated songwriter Diga, a.k.a. Jesse James Gon, storyteller and instrumentalist Pat Braden, hip-hop artist Aaron "Godson" Hernandez, and actor and playwright Tiffany Ayalik, to name a few.

Current executive director Marie Coderre expanded the mentorship program this winter by opening it up for applications. Depending on the number of applicants, NACC will mentor three artists over a two-year cycle, during which the artists will be provided with their own office space.

While the NACC mentorship program may be a newly-available resource for members of the

The National Arts Centre in Ottawa, one of the most prestigious stages in Canada, is hosting several program alumni as part of its Northern Scene Festival later this month, including all the artists mentioned above.

The gifted performers who regularly entertain Yellowknife residents at pubs, community gatherings, theatre and dance events, and during last month's Snowking Winter Festival should consider the NACC mentorship program if they dream of working as a full-time, professional performer.

An incredible transformation seems to take place after any rational human being gets elected to office.

They seem to lose touch with the real world they so recently inhabited.

And, the higher they go up the political ladder, the further removed they seem to become from common sense.

Spin and deny become the most operative words in their new vocabulary of bureaucratic speak.

They quickly subscribe to the theory that when it comes to things in vogue, the vast majority of folks will accept almost anything at surface value without a second thought.

You know, kind of like when the anti-tobacco lobbyists in Ontario beat the heck out of the fact a full 40 per cent of adults in the province supported hiking the taxes on tobacco products yet again.

That many people couldn't be wrong, could they?

Absolutely not. Unless, of course, you're silly enough to ask the other 60 per cent what they think.

Health ministers frown as finance ministers chortle about the boon to the coffers cigarette tax provides, while retail store after retail store reports no drop in tobacco sales when asked by the media.

The Government of Nunavut (GN) recently crowed a little about a 2.9 per cent drop in the sale of tobacco products between March and November of 2012.

I don't doubt that's true, but I suspect the money is still being spent on tobacco, just not in Nunavut.

That $750,000 the GN claims stayed in the pockets of Nunavummiut is probably closer to $250,000, with the other $500,000 being spent on far cheaper tobacco products from other locales.

The only one who lost out entirely on his cut of the $750,000 is Finance Minister Keith Peterson.

That just happens to be about tobacco, because the ongoing war over the overtaxed legal product continues to be waged in every form of media in North America.

Cigarettes are a huge health risk to those who choose to smoke them and only an idiot would argue otherwise.

But, if Big Brother were to decide to more than double the price of any legal product in Canada used by 25 per cent or more of the population tomorrow, you can bet your bottom dollar a good percentage of folks would do their shopping south of the border, and a large number of 18-wheelers would be rolling down the Trans-Canada full of the product, legal or otherwise.

But denial is a wonderful thing.

It's like implementing a new shipping policy on a select product group, yet not be the least bit curious as to how a major retailer suddenly has the magical ability to see sales drop by about 20 per cent, but still have profits increase by more than 10 per cent without drastically raising prices.

Of course, if that bugged you, you'd be forced to ponder whether any product shipped after its best-before date should still receive a subsidy.

You don't have to be an overly smart head to realize a huge load of lettuce, for example, bound for nowhere but a dump, and shipped under subsidy with outrageously low cargo rates, will be a neat little tax writeoff at year-end.

And if you can use the poundage to boost the percentage of supposed folks better off because of your program -- bonus!

A spin any politician would be proud of!

Over the years, the southern and central portions of the NWT have benefited from the bulk of the NWT's development.

The construction of the Deh Cho Bridge, rich diamond mines, oil and gas development, new construction projects, new roads and road maintenance has meant millions of dollars in jobs and economic spinoffs in the South Slave, Tlicho and Sahtu regions. Unfortunately, the Beaufort Delta has been left to watch and wait from the sidelines.

With the approval of funding for the Inuvik-to-Tuktoyaktuk Highway, people in the Northern reaches of the territory have an opportunity to access the hundreds of jobs that will be created during construction. They will also reap the rewards from the economic benefits the road will create - such as cheaper costs of shipping, increased tourism, more opportunities for resource development and alternative travel options.

The construction jobs might not be permanent but increased tourism, higher levels of disposable income and more development activity will lead to more permanent employment options.

This means more money flowing to the community and staying there, always a good combination.

Some MLAs from Yellowknife question whether the cost of the road is justified and if it will balloon out of control as construction progresses. With the lessons learned from the Deh Cho Bridge, we hope the GNWT moves forward responsibly to keep costs under control and to finish the project in a timely fashion. It should also work to ensure as many jobs as possible go to Northern residents.

Spending nearly $300 million on a single project is a hefty price tag but it is also an investment in the future of the Beaufort Delta.

In 2012, approximately 15 per cent of the territory's workforce involved some sort of skilled labour, according to the GNWT Bureau of Statistics.

That translates into approximately 3,000 workers. As the territory works to expand its resource development activity, increase telecommunications technology and improve infrastructure, the need for skilled labour is not expected to decrease.

With that in mind, the federal government's announcement of financial assistance to support apprentices across Canada is welcome news.

Under the grant program, apprentices are eligible for up to $15,000 in assistance during their apprenticeships.

The funds must be matched equally by the federal and territorial governments and the employer, meaning to receive the maximum each must contribute $5,000.

Although the downside is only apprentices in large organizations will benefit from the maximum amount, every little bit helps.

Skilled job training is essential in the NWT. Mining companies stated earlier this year that finding Northerners with the necessary skills to fill their hiring commitments can be difficult.

Developing incentives to attract people to the trades can only help and bringing down the cost of training is never a bad idea.

Cynicism and doubt will continue to surround Nutrition North until the program's workings, from southern warehouses to subsidized retailers, are laid bare for all to see.

Despite the federal government's assertions of Nutrition North's superiority to Food Mail, and retailers' assurances subsidies are being passed along to consumers, people complain prices remain high.

South Baffin MLA Fred Schell raises an interesting point that these subsidies, on top of discounted bulk freight shipments for Nunavut's large grocers - North West Company and Arctic Co-operatives Ltd. - should be enough to drive prices down.

However, the Co-op's Duane Wilson said fuel and government fees must be factored in. How are we, the public, to know if we are paying fair prices to feed our families?

On one hand we have a very business-oriented federal government running the program, and on the other we have corporations that are, of course, out to make money.

Stuck in the middle are the consumers, many of whom are faced with a rotten combination of low employment opportunities and high food costs.

Premier Eva Aariak said the GN is planning a 10-community survey this month to allow the GN to create a clearer picture of food prices and the cost of living. It's unfortunate this won't cover every community, but hopefully it can be used to help shed light on the effect Nutrition North has had on the cost of groceries.

Either the survey is a success and comprehensively evaluates food prices, subsidies and southern bulk prices, settling the question of whether savings are being passed on to the consumer, or there will be more calls for a full audit by Canada's auditor general.

The auditor general's position has proven itself to be an instrument of reason and integrity, and Auditor General Michael Ferguson has shown he is not afraid to ruffle Tory feathers.

If the GN's survey doesn't determine Nutrition North is working, Ferguson must step in to settle the issue once and for all.

The federal budget's inclusion of $100 million for 250 homes proves the territory's housing crisis isn't off Ottawa's radar. The Government of Nunavut says there is a shortfall of between 3,000 and 4,000 homes in the territory and projects each year an additional 90 will be needed.

A portion of $52 million - the amount yet to be determined - allocated for aboriginal health services, with a focus on mental health, is also a sound investment.

In a budget low on frills, the investment should be appreciated.

While it can be argued these are just drops in a nearly-empty bucket, the money has the potential to help more than a few Nunavummiut lead more comfortable lives.

Nunavut MP Leona Aglukkaq and Prime Minister Stephen Harper should be acknowledged for these investments in a time of austerity. That being said, we must continue to make our voices heard. Nunavut's needs are great and have been compounding over the years. However, the problems can't be fixed overnight and it is going to take a lot more investment to make a real dent in the problem.

We welcome your opinions. Click here to e-mail a letter to the editor.