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Not many people turned out for Finance Minister Michael Miltenberger's latest round of budget dialogue meetings.

Over two months, the minister and a representative from his department hosted meetings in seven regional centres, seeking input on how the roughly-$1.6 billion budget should be spent.

According to the government's Budget Dialogue 2014 Results, 97 people turned out for the public meetings and 11 other individuals and organizations made written submissions. The tour itself cost the government an estimated $40,000 - working out to a little more than $400 per person engaged in the process.

While the best attended meeting was unsurprisingly the one held in Yellowknife, only 30 people attended that session. Twenty Inuvik residents turned out to speak with the minister, followed by 17 in Fort Smith, 11 in Norman Wells, eight in Hay River, six in Behchoko and five in Fort Simpson. Once the reporter for Northern News Services and Nahendeh MLA Kevin Menicoche are taken out of the mix, that leaves just three residents at the Fort Simpson meeting - certainly not an ideal justification for making the trip.

If people want to be engaged in the GNWT's budget process - even if they just want to complain - they need to start coming out to these meetings.

Once the minister steps into a community hall, residents had his undivided attention. There is no good excuse not to take advantage of that.

In a jurisdiction as diverse as the Northwest Territories, without a road system to connect all the regions, these consultation tours are extremely important - but residents have to meet the government halfway.

Nonetheless, spending $40,000 to get input from 100 residents is a small price to pay.

Especially when the GNWT's recent junket spending - totalling more than $1 million in the past two weeks alone for promotional trips to Japan, China and now Ottawa - is taken into account.

While face time has a different importance in Asian cultures than it is here in the west - as Industry, Tourism and Investment Minister David Ramsay pointed out in defending the government's $300,000 trip - it is even more important the territorial government puts in some face time in the communities.

This year's budget is shaping up to be an important one. If Ottawa does indeed approve an additional $1 billion for the territory's debt ceiling -- which Miltenberger now hopes will happen before the federal budget is announced in April -- there will be an unprecedented amount of money to spend.

Perhaps some of the issues that continue to nag the territory - living conditions, food availability, medical travel, transportation, elders care, affordable energy, quality education, etc., etc., etc. - can finally see some extra funding.

In this territory, the needs are great and the resources few.

There will not be many more opportunities like this to throw some real money at some of these problems.

However, without an engaged public, politicians and bureaucrats are left alone to make these decisions - and to take the fall if things don't improve.

That's the sort of Catch-22 situation that no one wants to be in.

There are a few more pieces of the Nunavut fishery puzzle required to make the most of some recent good news announcements.

The territorial and federal governments have teamed up with $7.1 million for new research. Over the next two years, $3.63 million is to be spent on inshore fisheries science, essentially studying stocks of char, turbot and clams in designated areas. Another $2.98 million is going into researching offshore fisheries stocks - crab, shrimp and halibut. A further $600,000 or so is going to demonstrate the viability of an inland halibut fishery in Grise Fiord and Qikiqtarjuaq.

Last fall, while doing an exploratory fishery off the coast of Qikiqtarjuaq, the Arctic Fishery Alliance boat Kiviuq I found an abundance of shrimp. This followed on the heels of the discovery of large numbers of shrimp at Grise Fiord. The shrimp not only represent an abundant food source for coastal hamlets, they also sell for a good price to processing plants in Greenland, Newfoundland and Labrador.

There is also the likelihood the Kiviuq I would have found shrimp ripe for harvesting at Arctic Bay and Resolute Bay. Unfortunately, the exploratory fishery was cut short. The Kiviuq I, low on fuel, had to sail off to Greenland after being refused access to Government of Nunavut diesel from tanks at Arctic Bay and a tanker offshore.

Meanwhile, as detailed in a two-part series that concluded last week in Nunavut News/North, there is an abundance of Inuit beneficiaries being trained for meaningful, full-time employment in the fishing and shipping industries.

The Nunavut Fisheries and Marine Training Consortium involves 14 partners, including federal and territorial government departments, Inuit-owned development corporations, representatives of Inuit beneficiaries and regional fisheries groups formed by hunters and trappers organizations in the hamlets.

Think of the new research funding, existing fishing enterprises, the recent discovery of new stock and active training efforts as a roadmap to prosperity. The problem is this roadmap shows no gas stations, no truck stops and no place to load or unload cargo.

Too often the Arctic Fishery Alliance is selling its catch and buying fuel at the closest geographical location - Greenland -- in Danish krone. There is only one small craft harbour in Nunavut, at Pangnirtung, but it is off the beaten path and has limited capabilities.

A deep water port and processing facility is desperately needed in Qikiqtarjuaq, the most logical location for the fisheries industry.

There has been talk about it for years, just as it has been on the radar of government departments. It has strong support by industry players and the hamlet.

So many other pieces of the puzzle are falling in place. A port could help complete the picture.

The inability of hospital security guards to physically restrain violent patients means only one thing: this dangerous responsibility will fall onto the shoulders of health-care workers.

This is neither hypothetical, nor a worst-case-scenario situation - it's a fact most recently highlighted just one week ago when it took up to 10 hospital staff - mostly nurses - to restrain a violent, kicking, scratching patient. At least three hospital staff members were injured in just the latest incident of violence at Stanton Territorial Hospital.

A document obtained by Yellowknifer late last year tells a grim tale of incident-upon-incident of spitting, biting, pulling hair and more against hospital staff by patients.

The very morning of the latest violent rampage last Friday, Health Minister Glen Abernethy's comments were published in Yellowknifer stating that steps have been taken to avoid a repeat of an incident that occurred Nov. 20, where a patient in the emergency room went ballistic, chasing around staff and destroying expensive medical equipment.

These so-called steps are clearly not working, and change must be swift before nurses end up in body bags for simply showing up to work.

Both hospital staff and security guards are trained to flee a situation should they not be able to control it with words, but Friday's incident illustrates that's not always possible. Somebody should be able to immediately stop a violent patient who - while staff and security are hiding away - could hurt themselves, other patients or seriously damage equipment.

Reaction from hospital administration has been vague. "We're meeting with staff," was the initial answer and they've been mum to Yellowknifer ever since.

There's a bit of a confusing haze surrounding what exactly prevents security guards from touching a violent patient.

Stanton's medical director Dr. Anna Reid initially told Yellowknifer territorial legislation prevented security guards from physically intervening before correcting herself later to say it was the "lack" of legislation that is the problem. In his Jan. 20 e-mail to Weledeh MLA Bob Bromley, Abernethy blames the media for the confusion before muddying the water further by insisting there is neither "legislation prohibiting" guards from intervening nor is there legislation "allowing" them to intervene. He later told Yellowknifer that the barrier to intervention is a "philosophical" policy at the hospital.

Frankly, this all just bureaucratic squid ink.

Clearly, staff will intervene and risk injury if there is an immediate crisis as last Friday's incident illustrates. The reality of the situation is that without security on hand who are capable of acting immediately, the responsibility will fall onto the doctors and nurses attending to the patient.

Following a stabbing incident at the hospital where a patient plunged a knife into his heart, the minister, as a regular MLA, supported special constables in the hospital when it was recommended in 2011.

Instead of going around in a great big circle to nowhere that seems to begin and end with a "working group," immediate action is required -- before somebody gets killed.

Last year's drought is a gift that keeps on giving.

It lowered water levels, raised NWT Power Corporation's reliance on diesel for energy and resulted in a territorial government announcement that it was diverting $20 million to cover the 40,000 litres of fuel per day the Jackfish Power Plant now requires to keep Yellowknife's lights on. This commitment comes with a $45,000 daily price tag.

It's an exponential jump from power corp.'s average diesel consumption in the North Slave of roughly 958 litres - or $1,164 -- per day.

Now, there may not be a city with less in common with Yellowknife than Dehli, the sweltering, bustling, ancient capital of India with a population of 16.7 million people, but it seems we have now matched it on a rather dubious milestone - commuters in Dehli guzzle the same amount of fuel per day as Jackfish.

Looking up "unsustainable" in the dictionary, Merriam Webster ought to inscribe a photo of Jackfish below it.

The idea behind the GNWT's decision was to get NTPC through last year's drought, but Finance Minister Michael Miltenberger admitted to Yellowknifer last week the GNWT might have to consider doubling down on its $20-million commitment because it's likely the drought will continue. Our finance minister has another idea - namely a higher credit limit.

He added "we're going to be going ahead with a maintenance approach (to energy) as opposed to an approach with some vision to it" if the federal government doesn't raise the NWT's debt ceiling.

So, according to the minister, either the GNWT uses credit to invest in energy infrastructure or it prays for rain while subsidizing the NTPC.

Miltenberger has created a false dilemma. To be visionary is to think outside the box and we pay our leaders generously to do this. With or without a higher debt ceiling, the GNWT needs to figure out a way to build a sustainable energy infrastructure.

A project that is expected to save homeowners and the GNWT money by switching from electric water heaters to fuel-fired water heaters in homes saw the last tanks installed in this region recently.

The pilot project run by the Arctic Energy Alliance and funded by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources is a good way to help reduce the cost of living and overall fuel consumption in the North.

Two years ago, homeowners in the Deh Cho and Sahtu regions were recruited to complete an energy audit of their homes followed by the installation of the water tanks.

There was a minimal cost for the homeowner, considering the potential to save between $225 and $400 per year on their power bill.

While the savings for the homeowner are less than originally envisioned by the alliance when crafting the program, it's still a worthy project.

According to the alliance, an electric water heater can be responsible for up to half of a home's power usage.

Across the territory, there will be 47 electric water heaters swapped out for oil or propane fired water heaters by March 2015.

The swaps were completed in the Deh Cho last year.

The new heater is expected to reduce electrical bills by $225 to $400.

While that will mean users will see their fuel bill increase, it's expected to not be more than they save on their power bill.

As well, it's more efficient to heat the water using fuel than by power generated at a station by the power corporation and then transmitted to a home.

As power represents a major contributor to the cost of living in the North, both through residential utility bills and to the cost of doing business later shouldered by those who purchase local goods, this appears to be a good pilot project.

Reducing power bills will make living in the North easier. It will help keep money in the pockets of consumers.

The money saved can be put to use in grocery stores or other shops, helping boost the local economy.

Or people could invest in further energy efficiency projects around their home, further cutting their bills.

At this point, it isn't clear if the government will extend the program. That depends on whether more funding is included in the next territorial budget.

Given the potential long-term savings this project could have for the users and the government through reduced spending on fuel for power plants, we believe this should become more than a pilot project.

A community's ability to progress in a positive direction hinges greatly on the connectivity of its population. If residents go through their days living separate lives, only knowing the world inside the walls of their homes and offices, the thin fabric that holds a town together will begin to quickly unravel.

The women's group recently started by Inuvik's Justice Committee is a thread in that fabric that will help strengthen a segment of the community with limited opportunities.

Outside of working hours, there are few options for women to come together and be in a space with other women. The group isn't shaped around a specific program philosophy other than a safe space for women to be together.

Organizers are leaving it up to group members to decide what they would like to do with their two hours together each week. As one organizer told me, it's important the women be taking part in activities and learning useful skills that they want to learn, not what someone else tells them they should.

It's crucial to the success of a town like Inuvik that all its members find a place where they can learn, cultivate friendships, nurture self-growth and rediscover self-confidence. We have these opportunities for youth and for men. The chance for women in Inuvik to construct a solid foundation of growth and happiness - in a space for women, by women - will not only have an impact on individuals, but their home and work lives as well.

Let's be honest. It's easier for men to connect with other men in their communities. The opportunity for male residents to construct a social world is a far less daunting task than it is for women living here. It's always been that way, not just here, but all over Canada and the world.

But it doesn't have to be.

The desire of Ali McConnell and Kat Scarf to fill the gap in after-hours programming for women should be applauded. Inspired by successful women's groups in other communities in the territory, McConnell and Scarf saw the need for such programming.

Providing a place for women of all ages to convene on and connect, helps bridge the gap between generations.

It allows for younger women to learn from their elders, and vice versa. It allows for women to weave new friendships and build on their knowledge of the world around them. This is crucial to individual and community success.

The positive impacts this group will have on bettering Inuvik as a town, its people and its families, makes this venture an important one to support.

The outcome of a recent court case involving a public housing tenant who challenged her eviction after she refused to give up her cats exemplifies how the justice system ought to work.

NWT Supreme Court Justice Louise Charbonneau rightly upheld the Yellowknife Housing Authority's decision to evict her, yet declined to saddle the woman with impossible-to-pay legal bills - deciding instead to award a more modest sum of $500.

Anne-Marie Giroux, who represented herself, argued the housing authority's prohibition on pets discriminated against low-income families. This may be true but landlords shouldn't have to pay for the mess left behind by irresponsible pets owners. Destroyed furnishings caused by pets means higher costs for public housing providers, which likely means more money that ought to go toward public housing is going toward clean-up bills instead.

Nonetheless, people must be allowed to challenge the system if they feel they have been wronged.

Equality before the law is a cornerstone of our democracy. It doesn't work if people rich enough to hire Edmonton-based lawyers like the housing authority did are the only ones who can afford to seek justice.

After ruling the housing authority had the right to evict tenants for keeping pets, Charbonneau asked the authority to present legal costs - a normal outcome in any civil case. These are usually paid by the losing party. The bill presented by the housing authority was $9,569.

Charbonneau's decision on court costs was both legally sound and fair. The $500 award won't break Giroux's bank but ought to be large enough to warn others against filing frivolous court cases.

Many people hear these days about a broken court system. This case, at least, provides some evidence to the contrary.

With so many city councillors undecided about running again in this fall's municipal election, the time for those who think they have something to offer is now.

Only two councillors -- first-timers Linda Bussey and Rebecca Alty -- have confirmed they're throwing their names in the ring for another round. Seven-term Coun. Bob Brooks has said he won't be running again, ditto for two-term Coun. Cory Vanthuyne. The frontrunner in 2012, Coun. Dan Wong, is undecided which puts him in a position shared by half of council.

This suggests there's plenty of opportunity for those who want to try their hand at municipal politics.

While the Sept. 21 deadline for nominations may seem a long ways off, election day is only a few weeks later, on Oct. 15. Candidates have until then to convince voters to mark their names on the ballot. But doing so can be costly and would-be candidates should start to consider how they will get the necessary resources to run -- namely, money and people.

At the start of the last municipal election, council candidates reported campaign budgets ranging from less than $1,000 to a high of $8,000 to pay for campaign items, including signs and website registration.

But elections are not only about the candidate.

In the run up to the 2012 election, candidates reported having teams of supporters ranging from one - Vanthuyne reported his campaign team included just himself - to between 20 and 30 for Bussey. Those who do not wish to run themselves but believe the city would be well-served with a particular man or woman may want to be one of those supporters. And they should take the time to consider who they would like to support.

It's a little less than nine months off, but for those considering the challenge, it may be just enough time to form a realistic plan that will work with their budgets and manpower.

It could be Trudeau's time
Editorial Comment by Darell Greer
Kivalliq News - Wednesday, January 21, 2015

Federal Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau made better use of his 30 minutes on the ground in Rankin Inlet than anyone had the right to hope for earlier this month.

The youthful Trudeau was charismatic, charming, totally engaging and thoughtful while mixing effortlessly with those who came to the terminal to catch a glimpse of the man who could be Canada's prime minister.

Too much time, in all honesty, is spent on the Liberal leader's family name, and trying to draw impossible comparisons between him and his father, Pierre Elliott Trudeau, at the same age.

Yet, it's impossible to resist.

Many people assume having such a famous father opens doors for Justin which, otherwise, would remain locked at this stage of his career.

Justin, however, while noting his appreciation for those who support him due to fond memories of his father, is quick to point out there are many with not-so-fond memories of Pierre Elliott, and, rightly so, because it's going to take a hard uphill climb to win their support. Pierre Elliott was this nation's prime minister during some highly incendiary times.

Although he was this country's last truly charismatic leader, Pierre Elliott was forced into making some very tough decisions that affected a lot of Canadians and their beliefs.

Modern patriarchs of the families whose dreams or ambitions he severely damaged with those decisions continue to loathe the Trudeau name.

And more than a few of those families can be found deeply embedded within the corporate world that has become so friendly with Prime Minister Stephen Harper.

A tough path to our nation's top seat, indeed.

But, one does not have to spend much time in Justin's presence before finding oneself wanting to believe. Justin has what Hollywood so clearly defines as "it!"

While having "it" won't be found on the list of criteria needed to successfully govern our nation, it certainly doesn't hurt one's chances of obtaining such a lofty position.

More Canadians are sick of political rhetoric and government speak than at any other time in our history.

The decline in voter turnout -- especially among first-time voters, where only about one-third cast their ballots -- speaks volumes to the voter apathy that grips Canada.

With voters tuning out the issues and seeing little difference between parties, "it" becomes a commodity.

Memorable baseball manager Billy Martin once said in every clubhouse one-third of the players despise you, one-third love you and one-third aren't sure.

The key to survival, to him, was keeping the unsure away from the despisers.

The analogy closely parallels the situation Justin finds himself in, with a significant portion of the population signalling for change if, for no other reason, than for change's sake.

Should that remain constant until election day, "it" only increases its magnetism.

Justin is a relatively young man to be put in control of a nation, and that, of course, comes with inherent risks.

But, judging the performance of our current majority government, we just might be better off with "it."

Surrounded by good people should he become prime minister, Justin may show a whole lot of substance beneath that flash, and that's a gamble a majority of Canadians may be willing to take!

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