NORTHWEST TERRITORIES
Don Cherry's disparaging remarks about eating seal meat drew the ire of several politicians in Yellowknife last week, including Environment Minister Leona Aglukkaq.
The Coach's Corner host caused a stir after he called co-host Ron MacLean a "barbarian" and a "savage" for eating seal meat during a live broadcast of the show Feb. 7.
During a sitting of the legislative assembly two days later, Sahtu MLA Norman Yakeleya requested Premier Bob McLeod seek an official apology from Cherry for his "racist and derogatory" comments.
Early last week, Cherry took to Twitter to explain himself, but stopped short of an apology.
"Mr. Cherry, when he was asked about it, didn't apologize," McLeod pointed out in response to Yakeleya. "He just said that he was thinking out loud or something to that effect."
Rather than seeking an apology from Cherry, McLeod said it would make more sense get in contact with the local fur industry and draft a letter to CBC -"the guys that pay his salary" -to complain about the incident.
A seal-clad Aglukkaq happened to be in the capital city to make an announcement at the legislative assembly last week when Yakeleya made his plea.
The minister had previously made a Twitter post calling on Cherry to make a public apology and she reiterated her request in an interview with News/North.
"His comments were very hurtful and not sensitive at all to many Canadians that (have) depended on that industry for thousands of years," she told News/North.
"CBC is paid by Canadian taxpayers and Inuit are taxpayers and that's on their coin that he's spreading this kind of stuff."
Media representatives for CBC did not return a request for an interview with Cherry.
In the meantime, McLeod had advice for people across the NWT who watch Hockey Night In Canada.
"Every time (Cherry) comes on, turn your TV off," he said.
Decentralization debacle
Frame Lake MLA Wendy Bisaro stuck her neck out Feb. 10 to criticize the way the government implements its policy of decentralizing jobs to smaller communities.
Bisaro questioned whether the government considers the financial and personal impact of transferring Yellowknife-based jobs outside of the capital.
She argued the government is losing valued members of the public service who would rather stay in Yellowknife than uproot their families and pointed out decentralizing jobs costs the government more money at a time when it has less to spend due to stagnant revenues.
"I've been pretty much silent on the subject to date, but I can no longer be silent. I have grave misgivings about this policy and its implementation," she said.
Bisaro's comments caused Inuvik Boot Lake MLA Alfred Moses to jettison his prepared member's statement in favour of a rebuttal, pointing out he has already noticed the positive impact decentralizing government positions has had in his own riding.
"I honestly couldn't bite my tongue on this one," he said "I do have to speak up for the people in the regions, speak up for the people in the small communities and speak up for people that need the programs, need the services, need the jobs so that they too can have a lifestyle."
In a later exchange with Bisaro, Premier Bob McLeod said the GNWT's policy of decentralization is focused on maximizing the efficiency of delivering programs and services.
Since devolution, the GNWT has decentralized approximately 150 jobs, he said. Over the next three years it plans to spend $21 million to build additional housing in remote communities to facilitate more positions.
When asked by Bisaro whether employees were retained when a position is transferred outside of Yellowknife, McLeod said first priority is given to incumbents. In the most recent cases, the incumbents opted not to move when their job was relocated, McLeod said.
"It sounds as though what's in the best interests of a policy is going to be followed through, never mind the best interests of the employee and/or their families, and I have a problem with that," said Bisaro.
Nahendeh needs more housing: MLA
Nahendeh MLA Kevin Menicoche called on the minister responsible for the NWT Housing Corporation to address the lack of affordable housing in his riding last week.
According to a 2014 housing survey conducted by the GNWT, Nahendeh was listed as the one of the most under-served regions in the territory.
In Fort Simpson alone, Menicoche said there are over 30 single homeless people who are on waiting lists for housing units. Some have been on the list for as long as seven years. With a private developer about to have between 12 and 14 units condemned, Menicoche said the housing situation is going to get worse before it gets better.
Pointing to Yellowknife's Housing First Strategy, Menicoche suggested the government should set up similar initiatives in smaller communities to address homelessness.
"In my Nahendeh riding and throughout the other regions of our NWT, there is a need to increase the amount of housing units and even homelessness shelter complexes, much like Yellowknife has planned," he said.
According to Robert C. McLeod, the minister responsible for the NWT Housing Corporation, the territory's Northern Pathways to Housing project is currently being implemented in Aklavik and Behchoko and there are currently ongoing attempts to have similar programs set up in Fort Simpson and Fort Good Hope.
The pilot project will provide up to $100,000 to renovate existing units as well as an additional $70,000 over five years.
McLeod added he would look into the impact condemning more units in Fort Simpson would have on the community.
