Fire response money well spentNorthwest Territories/News North - Monday, February 23, 2015
Reminiscing over a wretched day fighting and losing a battle to save Dave and Kristen Oleson's homestead at the mouth of the Hoarfrost River July 4, News/North columnist Libby Whittall Catling wrote "through the occasional patch of clear sky, we could see water bombers flying overhead. We knew they could see nothing below."
This is an observation NWT leadership should reflect on carefully as Department of Environment and Natural Resources (ENR) employees gear up for what they predict could be a repeat of last year's miserable summer of fire.
Even though the GNWT spent $55 million and brought firefighters in from across the country to battle these blazes, there were moments of disconnect between those monitoring the fires from their offices and the observations of those on the ground. In the case of the Olesons, this disconnect resulted in the destruction of a 27-year-old homestead the couple built with their bare hands.
On that July 4 morning, ENR representatives told Dave Oleson, who wasn't home that day, the department's remote sensing technology indicated that the fire wasn't an immediate threat to his and Kristen's home.
Kristen Oleson said she knew that if the wind continued to develop the way it did that morning, the fire would come.
"My friend (Kristen) says her numerous, increasingly panicked calls for help to the fire duty officer throughout the day as the fire obviously advanced were brushed off as hysteria," wrote Whittall Catling in her column.
Indeed, it seems those making decisions overhead could see nothing below.
For his part, Dave Oleson said he wished he would have pushed ENR to give him a set of pumps and sprinklers for his property. ENR had only offered pumps for along an adjacent river with a plan to set them up on Olesons' homestead if it became threatened, but of course a fire isn't going to wait for ENR officers out of Fort Smith to decide whether a house or cabin needs protection. And in the case of the Olesons, we know it didn't.
Looking at how ENR made -- and failed to make -- the decisions that led to the destruction of the Oleson homstead, a clear lesson becomes apparent.
Whether the government ends up spending its allocated $7.4 million or a repeat of last year's $55 million, News/North echoes Dave Oleson's request for the GNWT to use last summer to form a more efficient chain of command for this summer's firefighting operations.
"We're asking, why did these mistakes happen and what is going to be done about that," he said. "This could have so easily been prevented."
Photographs show tip of the icebergNunavut/News North - Monday, February 16, 2015
Show, don't tell. That is exactly what Iqaluit councillor Kenny Bell did at a council meeting Feb. 10 when he displayed a collection of photographs which show crumbling infrastructure in city-owned buildings around the territorial capital.
Published along with a news story about Iqaluit's million-dollar illegal deficit, grim predictions of the city's financial future and shortfalls in transfers from other levels of government, Bell's photographs show situations that are potentially life-threatening.
Imagine an emergency at the Arctic Winter Games arena which results in a crowd of people having to evacuate through an emergency exit which is not only barricaded with a broken hockey stick but is buried with snow on the outside. Walls of snow are blocking exits from other city-owned buildings around town, creating an identical situation to what sweat-shop workers have faced in Third World countries when fires hit illegally constructed buildings.
There is potential danger to human life in other locations, most notably the city fire hall where a firewall remains broken. The pictures Bell shared with this newspaper are worth a thousand words and represent a monstrous mess. The deficiencies are outrageous on their own and require immediate attention to avert tragedy.
What is worse is that this is just the tip of the iceberg, where only a small fraction of the ice mass is visible above water while the majority remains under water, invisibly representing the most danger.
That's why Bell's photos serve to illustrate the extreme financial peril the city is in currently.
Despite legislation that makes it illegal, the City of Iqaluit has been in a budget deficit for the past five years. The deficit is forecast to grow to more than $10 million this year, up from an estimated $5.8 million in 2014 after posting an actual deficit of almost $1.5 million in 2013.
How the city could possibly raise taxes or increase its revenue to reverse a $10-million deficit with such a small population base is in itself mind boggling. Add the urgent capital needs to the equation and any right-minded accountant would collapse in despair.
A new fire hall, estimated at $40 million, is urgently needed, a garbage incinerator is a must-have item considering last year's dump fire, which burned from May until September. There is also the urgent need for the city to do the work required to receive a water licence from the territorial government. There is also a majority of funding needed for the $40-million aquatic centre, where $8 million has already been spent and piles are in the ground.
Add a new city hall, an expanded arena and a turf field and the city is looking at a $200-million capital budget wish list.
The only saving grace on the deficit front is that there are no government transfers in the 2014 or 2015 budgets. The financial picture will become clearer by a March 1 budget preparation deadline.
Right now, all we see is an iceberg large enough to sink any ship.
Coming clean Groenewegen-style Weekend Yellowknifer - Friday, February 20, 2015
Hay River South MLA Jane Groenewegen wanted to "come clean" in the legislative assembly earlier this month regarding her fiery interest in the future of Northland Utilities -- Yellowknife's de facto power supply monopoly.
Groenewegen said her interest in the company was motivated by her interest in her constituency which counts the utility company as a major employer and community supporter.
But as Yellowknifer reported last week, "What the Hay River South MLA failed to mention in her statement to the legislative assembly ... is that her long-time constituency assistant, Wendy Morgan, is married to Duane Morgan, the company's Yellowknife manager."
Is this a simple oversight? After all, as well as promoting the company's important role to her constituency's economy, she did not fail to name two company managers who make their homes in Hay River and Fort Providence.
Innocent oversight or not, Yellowknife Centre MLA Robert Hawkins was correct to state the full story of Groenewegen's interests were not laid bare when she supposedly came clean.
This matters because citizens have to believe their elected leaders are acting in the best interest of those who voted them in. While no one can criticize Groenewegen's concern for a major Hay River employer and the company's employees, she is open to criticism for failing to disclose any and all potential personal connections to the company.
Failure to do this casts the suspicion that even her sworn duty to represent the interests of her constituents could be influenced by her personal relationships, whether directly or indirectly, as in this case where a close associate is married to a company manager.
This isn't just ink on a page. The Town of Hay River recently announced its interest in cancelling its contract with Northland Utilities because of skyrocketing power rates.
A reasonable person has to assume Hay River town councillors have not only the cash-in-pocket interests of the town and its citizens at heart, but also the interests of community members who work for Northland Utilities.
If it's clear to Hay River town council there is reason to question the future of the monopoly, why is Groenewegen so fiercely against the same question on a territorial level?
We don't need to belabour that this is not the first time Groenewegen has been caught up in questions surrounding conflict of interest.
It's too bad she didn't take the lesson fully to heart when in 2001, as deputy premier, the NWT conflict-of-interest commissioner ruled her in violation of conflict of interest law.
She may have good reason to defend the monopoly, but when coming clean leaves out a personal connection to company management, we are being asked to drink the bathwater and call it crystal clear spring water.
Mine progress positive signDeh Cho Drum - Thursday, February 19, 2015
It's not the rosiest time to be in the metals mining industry.
Despite a generally favourable outlook, commodity prices for things like lead, zinc and silver have slumped since 2011.
As the value has dropped so have stock prices for the companies trying to extract the metals.
That's the case for Canadian Zinc Corporation which owns the Prairie Creek mine northwest of Nahanni Butte.
The mine has a long history behind it and it hasn't even reached production stage yet.
There have been legal battles and starts and stops on the road to production.
Last year the company, after raising money, announced it would begin its underground program to move the mine closer to production.
In recent weeks, it has pumped the water from a tunnel which will allow more work to begin.
An outdated study is being revised so company executives can go to potential lenders and make a stronger case about the value of the metals underground.
The funds raised are said to be enough to cover the current work and then more will be needed.
Hopefully, Canadian Zinc can use the report results to secure more money to move the project ahead.
With the territorial books near what the finance minister describes as a "fiscal cliff" and production at diamond mines expected to dip over the coming years, there's a lot of potential riding on further development at Prairie Creek.
While careful monitoring of such projects is an absolute must to protect land and water, we hope Prairie Creek can move along toward extracting its resources.
While there are certainly environmental issues to closely examine when it comes to mining, especially in a national park, the business does bring benefits to the North.
Right now, more than a dozen people are working at Prairie Creek and the company has committed to hiring as many people as possible.
Community leaders should ensure that commitment is upheld.
An operational mine would support more jobs which in turn would support communities in the region over the estimated 11-year life span of the mine.
Athletes learned lifelong lessonsInuvik Drum - Thursday, February 19, 2015
Last week some 200 athletes from eight communities in the Beaufort-Delta region kicked, reached, jumped, snaked and jigged for two days of competition at East Three School.
The Northern Games Summit brought together students of all ages to participate in a variety of traditional games. In its third year, the games have become an important event for school-aged children. It's an opportunity for youth to connect with their culture, interact with elders, meet new people, and build a strong sense of community. The spirit of the games centres around friendship, encouragement and a positive space where youth can be themselves, thrive at what they know, and learn more about what they may not. I spoke regularly with lead organizers Sharla Greenland, Colin Phybus and Jill Nugent, students, and the many volunteers who put hundreds of hours into making the event a success.
Volunteers are the backbone of this community. On a regular basis people step up and offer support to help make events like the Northern Games Summit happen. Games officials who spent countless hours judging athletes were always smiling and engaged with the youth. In the kitchen, students and teachers worked almost non-stop to feed the students throughout the three-day event. Even after long hours and nearing the end of the summit, everyone, despite being tired, was happy to be there.
Students showed the utmost respect for those giving their time to the games, shaking hands, offering thanks, and showing they were open to learning from those with knowledge and wisdom. When an athlete was struggling, they clapped and cheered. If they were eliminated, high-fives, hugs and words of encouragement weren't far behind.
Events like the Northern Games Summit are crucial to youth success. By bringing together students from across the region, youth are not only able to learn more about the traditional games and culture that is embedded in their daily lives, but to learn life-long lessons and skills - problem-solving, confidence, determination - that will shape them as they carve their path in the world.
The enthusiasm shown by everyone involved in the event was incredible. If students didn't know the underlying goals of what the summit hoped to instill in them, by the time students got their medals during the closing ceremonies, many understood. It wasn't just about the one-foot high kick, the snow snake, Animal Muk or the bench reach.
It was the intangible growth, the character development that will have a longer-lasting effect on each and every participant. When they reflect on their time at the games in the future, they'll see what they learned and be grateful for the opportunity to have experienced the beauty of the summit.
Keep tabs on the cashYellowknifer - Wednesday, February 18, 2015
With Finance Minister Michael Miltenberger predicting tough times ahead in his budget address, we should all be closely following the approach Range Lake MLA Daryl Dolynny has taken in calling on cabinet to justify expenses.
"Most residents would agree the Government of the Northwest Territories has an obligation to support and promote, both globally and nationally, an open-for-business position. This is a given. But it's the blurred line of government travel that always has to be put in perspective," said Dolynny in the legislative assembly.
The question must be asked: Why $750,000 for travel to China, Japan and Ottawa? Dolynny suggested it could have gone to assist the junior kindergarten rollout but there are any number of worthwhile projects. Sahtu MLA Norman Yakeleya pointed out that the cost of a trade mission to encourage Chinese and Japanese investment might have gone to improve the living conditions of Tulita nurses living in rodent-infested homes.
"Somehow we find $300,000 to promote investments in the NWT but at the same time we can't take care of our basic, essential health-care workers in our small communities," he said.
Every time cabinet finds money for one project, it takes away from another cause, whether its reallocating money already in the budget or borrowing $20 million to avoid a 3.7 per cent power rate hike.
Priorities are based on values and that means they're usually up for debate.
But surprise announcements -- such as the premier's mention of an all-weather road estimated to cost $300 million and a study looking at an energy, transportation and communications corridor along the Mackenzie Valley -- squash that debate.
Cabinet controls the purse strings and is therefore responsible for making the calls but the ministers should also be transparent when doing so.
In light of the budget address Miltenberger gave with the most recent territorial budget, this discussion is only going to get more important.
"We have been spending everything that we receive. This can work when revenues are growing but with a forecast of flat revenue growth over the medium term we need to make sure our expenditures grow in line with our revenues," said Miltenberger.
In times of plenty, decisions become less difficult with fewer immediate consequences on the horizon. That may not always be the case.
Cabinet should see transparency as best practice and a failure to be transparent as a missed opportunity to get proper public input.
Downtown businesses need more support, not taxesYellowknifer - Wednesday, February 18, 2015
A proposal to form a business improvement district is not going to happen because there are not enough businesses to support it.
Coun. Adrian Bell once again floated the idea of creating a downtown business district last week. His vision calls for a designated zone where taxes apart from the property taxes they already pay would be used to fund services such security, beautification and marketing.
It was shot down by Yellowknife Chamber of Commerce executive director Deneen Everett, who reported a majority of businesses surveyed rejected the idea.
Bell has been pushing this idea since 2012, when he proposed a lobby group be formed to speak on behalf of downtown merchants to city council.
While a business improvement district may have merit elsewhere, especially in communities with a business base large enough to make the scheme worthwhile, it would in all likelihood be too much of a burden for downtown merchants. The core is simply not big enough to make much of a dent on fixing downtown. More likely, an improvement tax would only accelerate their closure and exodus to the suburbs. The central character in the city's quest to revitalize downtown is Centre Square Mall.
Until this split ownership group from down south gets its act together, any additional enhancement efforts are moot. As it stands, the two mall owners, Huntingdon Capital Corporation and Royal Host, seem entirely unphased by its dwindling number of tenants and a blocked off entrance to keep out vagrants.
The city can squeeze the remaining downtown small businesses all it wants but until the Centre Square owners are doing their part, a business improvement district is pointless. Bell should be commended for bringing ideas to the table while others remain silent. But downtown businesses would be better off spending their money on themselves and make their own improvements.
Pushing for a sequel
Editorial Comment by Darrell Greer
Kivalliq News - Wednesday, February 18, 2015
I appreciate everything former Rankin Inlet deputy mayor Sam Tutanuak had to say in a public farewell story I had the privilege to write in this past week's edition (The calm after the storm, Feb. 11, Kivalliq News).
I could relate to a number of things he said about stress and the toll it can take on one's overall health.
Yet I still have an empty feeling in regard to the situation and a compelling sense of some unfinished business with Tutanuak.
The odds are high the public will never know the true chain of events that went down from the time Nunavut MP Leona Aglukkaq picked up the phone in Ottawa and called the Hamlet of Rankin Inlet in regards to a piece Tutanuak took part in on an APTN-produced TV show.
The now infamous piece, in Rankin at least, insinuated a number of elders made a practice of scavenging the local dump for food.
The rest is, as they say, history.
For all the he-said, she-said attributes of this fiasco -- played out so dramatically and sucked bone dry by southern media -- there is only one certainty we are left with.
Both the community and the Municipality of Rankin Inlet lost a darn fine man!
They say time is a healer.
If that's so, despite the finality in his words and tone this past week, hopefully, the day will come when Tutanuak reconsiders his position.
The one part of his spiel this humble scribe will never be able to agree with, is Tutanuak's contention that it's OK not to be the voice speaking up.
But it's not OK. We have precious few in Kivalliq, or across Nunavut for that matter, unafraid to speak up and ask tough questions for fear of reprisals from the powers that be.
And that small number of people does not go up much when we include our politicians.
That's why the loss of a politician or community leader who has demonstrated honesty and integrity throughout his political career is such a serious blow.
We simply don't have many options to draw from in our perilously low political talent pool, especially at the municipal level.
All politicians, good or bad, occasionally rely upon theatrics to make a point.
Aglukkaq reading the daily papers while the food issue in Rankin Inlet was being discussed in Parliament was exactly that -- theatrics.
And, although she apologized for the move later (sort of), there can be no denying the effectiveness of the picture it provided us.
As insensitive as it may have been, the Nunavut MP casually reading the paper sent a message loud and clear on just how much credibility she gave the APTN report.
Unfortunately, there were no theatrics involved with Tutanuak's thoughts this past week.
As always, he was honest and sincere in expressing his thoughts on how he truly felt at that particular point in time.
Yet, he cannot change the man he is, and he is a man who cares deeply about his community and those who call Nunavut home.
Tutanuak has some teeth-grinding days awaiting him in his life away from the public spotlight.
And should the day ever come he decides to change his mind about politics, that would be a sequel worth watching for.
