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Minister steps into the octagon
Yellowknifer - Wednesday, May 20, 2015

The recent postponed mixed martial arts event lost a tough fight to a system that, while set up to keep politics out, failed at just that.

The NWT Liquor Licensing Board refused to license a beer garden for the Northern Invasion event - to be run by and benefiting the NWT SPCA - which forced organizer John Stanley to call it off rather than risk losing money.

The board cited various reasons for its decision in a report, including a late submission, advertising liquor sales on its posters, as well as deeming it a "high-risk event from the perspective of liquor enforcement and policing."

The board is overseen by the Department of Finance, and its minister Michael Miltenberger stood by the decision, even defending it to the public.

Comparing the quasi-judicial board to a judge, he said the board should not have to answer questions on its decisions, so he fielded them instead.

While the minister is not able to change the decision - a protection built into the legislation to keep political pressures out - it is becoming difficult to separate the board from the minister after his latest comments.

The fact is, this apolitical issue was politicized the minute Miltenberger became its spokesperson.

This was highlighted - in an unmistakably fluorescent hue - when he took to the airwaves, comparing the animal rights and protection organization's intention to garner funds from a seemingly violent sport, to Alcoholics Anonymous raising money through beer garden sales in order to help people quit drinking.

While the off-the-cuff analogy misses the mark, its sentiment is clear.

This event is not favoured by the politician heading the department that oversees liquor licence approval. From Miltenberger's perspective, these events are violent and not an ethically sound environment for fundraising by the SPCA.

Whether or not he is able to directly affect the board's decision, this opinion, provided on a public platform, is political.

While the board argued previous events have seen fights among patrons, putting the public in danger, Stanley insists that is not the case.

Yellowknifer, which must be noted is one of the main sponsors for the event, talked to several people who attended previous MMA fights who all said security in the past has been adequate and fighting among patrons has been minimal.

Unable to point to specific incidents of violence, it would appear neither Miltenberger or the board are basing their contention of fan violence on fact.

Clearly, the minister and the board are on the same page when it comes to MMA; while fighters go toe-to-toe, this sounds a lot like a tag-team takedown to everyone else.


Food Rescue helps helpers
Yellowknifer - Wednesday, May 20, 2015

Sometimes the most obvious solutions can stare people dead in the eye without them noticing them there and it takes someone with real vision to take advantage.

That's what former Yellowknifers Ruby and Laurin Trudel, the founders of Food Rescue, did in a nutshell when they created an organization that gathers up food destined for the dumpster and takes it to the Salvation Army, the YWCA, the Centre for Northern Families and the Safe Harbour Day Centre among other places.

Now they have the recognition to show for it.

"Thanks to their vision, action and dedication, 1.6 million pounds of food and other items have been diverted from the landfill for processing and redistribution," reads the descriptor to the Governor General Caring Award given to each co-founder recently.

Feeding the hungry is a wonderful thing to do. Reducing waste may not tug at the heartstrings in quite the same way but that's important too. What the food rescue program does goes beyond that.

The city's most vulnerable face powerful obstacles. Those organizations that take in the offerings from Food Rescue are working to do what they can but the day that no one suffers from addiction, homelessness, domestic violence and mental illness is still a long way away.

Until then, it looks like Food Rescue will continue to make sure those seeking to lend a hand have one less thing to worry about.


Better to be in the game!
Editorial Comment by Darrell Greer
Kivalliq News - Wednesday, May 20, 2015

Anyone who thought Areva Resources Canada's Kiggavik uranium project near Baker Lake was going to get a thumb's-up from the Nunavut Impact Review Board (NIRB) was dreaming.

But it had little to do with the lobbying efforts of special-interest groups, the what-did-you-expect-it-to-do resolution against the project by the Kivalliq Wildlife Board or Areva's environmental impact statement.

And Nunavummiut Makitagunarningit's release claiming a clear majority of Inuit in the Kivalliq expressed opposition to the project is downright misleading.

That is, unless you subscribe to Stephen Harper's take on democracy, where one shepherd tells every flock what's best for them.

Areva took due diligence and community consultation to a whole new level in addressing every concern that arose.

And it was heavily engaged with Kivalliq communities to establish training programs to ensure as many Inuit as possible would be employed on the project, had it proceeded.

Areva was snubbed by NIRB due to the fact it was not prepared to give the company a carte blanche approval on a project which may not see movement for decades, due to the instability of the uranium market at this point in time.

And it was the right call -- for now!

But should the day come the global market supports the project, Kiggavik will return and, hopefully, the final result will be favourable for the project and the hundreds of high-paying jobs it will provide for Inuit families.

The world is opening-up quickly and Nunavut is fast-approaching a crossroads in exploration and development, and the huge economic spin-offs that come with them.

If the territory decides to stubbornly sit on the sidelines -- especially with the opening of previously non-existent shipping lanes and access to previously non-obtainable areas of exploration -- it will inherit all the risks associated with the expansion with little say into, and no benefit from, the proceedings.

Tensions are rising over Arctic sovereignty because of the belief in the incalculable riches in fossil fuels that await the nation(s) that eventually gain access, and the billions more there for the taking should the Northwest Passage become the Suez Canal North.

Far better to be actively involved with the process to ensure proper monitoring of every project within a harpoon's throw of our territory, and to get our share of the insane profits that will go to somebody.

The world's population will reach 7.2 billion this year, with the majority demanding the lights go on when they flick a switch.

And therein sits the paradox.

It's all well and good to clutch the electronic device of your choice and fill cyber space with ramblings on alternative energy sources (which still don't exist), and take an anti-everything stance covering it all from the Alberta oil sands to fracking, Northern exploration, the continued use of fossil fuels, tanker shipping and, of course, nuclear energy.

Then you turn your thermostat up and expect your living environment to be warm.

We can be players, or we can be spectators, as the needs of 7.2 billion people continue to be met, but, one thing you can depend on, the game will continue with or without us.


Domestic abuse court plays catch up
Northwest Territories/News North - Monday, May 18, 2015

It has been common knowledge for a long time that the court system is not effective at rehabilitating those stuck in the cycle of domestic violence.

It's a cycle that goes something like this: somebody gets hit, RCMP lay an assault charge, the Crown might get a successful conviction and it might not if the alleged victim refuses to co-operate. This happens often. But if the Crown gets a conviction the offender will serve a sentence and likely return to the violent relationship, leaving the root cause of the violence unaddressed.

In 2011, the NWT justice department introduced a program to divert low-risk cases to treatment programs in Yellowknife. This program was introduced in Hay River at the beginning of the month.

The program is news here but it's far from revolutionary. According to a 2008 University of Alberta study, diversion options for domestic violence cases have become increasingly common across North America over the past two decades. Yukon has had a program for 15 years.

The study identifies a number of benefits to doling out treatment rather than punishment. Diversion also diverts victims from the traditional court process, which makes them more likely to co-operate with investigators and prosecutors. Also, studies have shown out-of-court treatment is effective to reduce the likelihood of re-offending.

Fifteen years after watching the rest of North America divert low-risk domestic violence cases away from the court system, our territory finally caught up with the times. Now Hay River is catching up. This is a good thing.

Two decades of missed opportunity have flown by, which represents an entire generation of people outside of Yellowknife and Hay River who continue to spin in this vicious cycle across the territory despite the fact there is a proven, better way for the courts to handle domestic assault.

The territory is doing well to innovate, but there are still 31 more communities to go.


Error in judgment corrected
Northwest Territories/News North - Monday, May 18, 2015

Imposing a three-year prison sentence on a man who spent over a decade sexually victimizing boys in the Saskatchewan residential school system didn't make sense then and it still doesn't today.

The difference today is that the Saskatchewan Court of Appeal agrees.

Paul Leroux, the former Grollier Hall residential school supervisor who previously spent time in prison for a separate set of assaults against residential school boys 40 years ago in Inuvik, has seen his three-year sentence for sex crimes against boys in his charge at Beauval Residential School in Saskatchewan expanded to eight years.

The 50-page decision isn't shy about criticizing Saskatchewan Court of Queen's Bench Judge Murray Acton's method of reaching his decision. One of the more egregious flaws in the sentence is Acton's total neglect to cite reasons for a portion of his decision, leaving the Crown and appeal judges bewildered as to how he reached an outcome of three years. Also, the Court of Appeal disputes Acton's assertion Leroux had taken responsibility for his crimes.

"I conclude the judge completely misapprehended the circumstances in which Mr. Leroux came to be convicted in this court by saying Mr. Leroux ought to be credited for returning to 'face these charges and take responsibility for them.' He did nothing of the sort," reads the decision.

"In fact, the charges came about by reason only of the diligence and persistence of the RCMP and, once charged, Mr. Leroux was compelled to answer to the charges. Moreover, as we have seen, Mr. Leroux put the victims to testify at a trial and to this day denies that he committed the offences."

While Leroux was handed five more year's prison time for his crimes, the decision also addresses his appeal of the convictions. Representing himself, he managed to earn an acquittal on one of the assaults against one of the eight boys who accused him.

Maybe this tiny victory will give Leroux a bit of reprieve as he heads back to prison to serve what is closer to a just sentence.


Astounding that MLAs in trouble for drinking
Nunavut/News North - Monday, May 18, 2015

Talk about setting a poor example.

First it was South Baffin MLA David Joanasie who was remorseful after being charged with impaired driving following an incident in Charlottetown, P.E.I., where he was pulled over by police for going the wrong way down a one-way street on July 7.

He later gave a breath sample that was more than two times the legal limit.

Then it was Rankin Inlet North-Chesterfield Inlet MLA Tom Sammurtok, who was charged with drunk driving April 13 and is scheduled to appear in court on May 21, just five days before the legislative assembly is set to resume sitting on May 26.

Both MLAs offered statements of remorse and asked for forgiveness from their constituents and others.

"I accept full responsibility for my actions and make no excuses for my lack of judgment. I am very grateful that nobody was injured as a result of this incident," read a statement issued by Joanasie last summer.

"I realize that I made a mistake and it is not acceptable to put myself or others at risk," read a statement by Sammurtok last month. "I deeply regret my actions, and I am immediately taking steps to seek help and healing from professionals."

To their credit, both MLAs took steps to mitigate the damage after apologizing.

Joanasie quickly pleaded guilty to the charge, appearing in front of a judge in P.E.I. on July 24. He had to pay $2,200, was banned from driving for one year and was placed on probation for one year.

Sammurtok has yet to be convicted but, after being stripped of his cabinet portfolio as minister of Community and Government Services by Premier Peter Taptuna shortly after the incident, he voluntarily resigned from cabinet May 5. Taptuna does not have the power to remove a minister from cabinet. Because a consensus vote in the legislative assembly would be required to remove Sammurtok from cabinet, with its higher rate of remuneration, he did the right thing by resigning as a minister without portfolio.

These two examples are not the first time elected officials have gotten into trouble for incidents related to alcohol. What is astounding is that, despite a widespread change in attitude among society about the foolishness of impaired driving, two MLAs have found themselves having to answer to a judge for Criminal Code offences involving alcohol.

Joanasie remains a sitting MLA and there is no word whether Sammurtok will continue representing his constituents after the criminal justice system comes to a conclusion.

Both politicians should feel fortunate they are able to continue as sitting MLAs and, we suggest, should take meaningful steps to repair the damage to their reputations.

Spreading the word about the dangers of alcohol might be a good place to start.


Yellowknife's last gold mine
Weekend Yellowknifer - Friday, May 15, 2015

The city's latest gold mine doesn't need a headframe or a holes drilled into the ground.

In fact, it has nothing to do with gold at all but rather the international tourism market.

The numbers boggle the mind.

In just one year, visitors recorded at the Northern Frontier Visitors Centre nearly doubled with more than 6,000 making their way to the city last winter. Tourists from China alone increased to a whopping 4,000 this winter season from only 100 in 2010, according to the same numbers.

Statistics from the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment (ITI) show 21,700 visitors came for aurora viewing alone in the 2013/2014 season, mostly from Japan. This marks an increase of 38 per cent from the year before.

While the tourists have essentially been dredged by private entrepreneurs, all levels of government have a role to play.

Canada became an approved tourist destination by the Chinese government in 2009, which opened the floodgates to that market.

This momentum was maintained by ITI in 2013 by increasing the budget of NWT Tourism - the government-supported association of operators - which allowed the organization to market directly to China.

While reaching out to Asia is beyond the City of Yellowknife's mandate it too has a responsibility to ensure visitors feel accommodated.

This includes putting in signage that non-English-speaking tourists can read and allowing for the developments that cater to the industry.

The city also made some important strides in the development of Government Dock in Old Town but in its revitalization efforts it must remain cognizant of maintaining the character of the area. Because Old Town in all its whacky, non-conformist glory is a tourist attraction by its very nature.

The city can rely on people such as Les Rocher who has developed the area while preserving the neighbourhood's uniqueness. Beyond developers and tourism operators we have non-profit organizations that naturally attract tourists, including the Snowking winter festival, Long John Jamboree and Folk on the Rocks.

Yellowknife is on the shores of the deepest lake in North America. It is directly underneath the aurora oval that produces some of the best Northern lights in the world under skies that are clear almost every night of the year.

Whatever tourists want we either have or have an entrepreneur willing to create it.

Everybody's a miner.


Poor mental health response not unique
Weekend Yellowknifer - Friday, May 15, 2015

The recent death of Timothy Henderson has sparked a review of the 19-year-old's medical file; records that show incidents of self-harm - one while at Stanton Territorial Hospital where he was admitted numerous times.

This reactionary measure by the Department of Health and Social Services seeks to identify gaps in service, to lessen the chance of another unfortunate story like Henderson's.

There are numerous examples of people falling through the cracks, whose plea for help is not answered. But this is not unique to the Northwest Territories.

While the review of Henderson's file is reactionary, the department's soon-to-come rewritten Mental Health Act is not. It is a long-standing necessity that the department has been working on for more than a year.

Health Minister Glen Abernethy has said he is hopeful to give the act - which has yet to be made publicly available - first reading during the spring session. He noted that additional resources have been devoted to the project.


Tax forgiveness raises hard questions
Deh Cho Drum - Thursday, May 14, 2015

Forgiving taxes is a sensitive subject.

Deputy mayor Stella Nadia clearly wrestled with the fairness of forgiving Dolly Tsetso's taxes to the tune of $68,000 before making her vote.

And it's simply not fair that one person might have her taxes forgiven when plenty of other people are struggling, confused by laws or otherwise in similar positions.

But fairness is a murky concept, and like in life itself, nothing is fair with the government.

Councillors were worried about the precedent this might set, whether more people would start coming forward asking for tax forgiveness now.

Coun. Leah Keats was right to call this decision treading on thin ice.

Tsetso was sure there had been a mistake all along and the taxes charged to her were inappropriate and unfair.

Tsetso, a Liidlii Kue First Nation band member, believed the land she wanted to build a house on in 1989 was band land and said the chief at the time, Jim Antoine, assured her it was.

But problems arose in 2003 when she received a notice from the villwage that she owed taxes.

It should not have taken 12 years for the issue to be handled.

If this originates from the band's error, why isn't LKFN helping monetarily?

Why is the onus falling on Fort Simpson taxpayers to fix this lengthy miscommunication?

With the complication of land claims, Tsetso's situation is unique and it is understandable how the problem manifested itself. We can all empathize, and it's not a clear case of someone disobeying the law.

But as Nadia said during the council meeting, everyone's situation is unique.

We could come up with reasons every person in the country should have tax forgiveness.

The village was worried about what precedent this might set, but we should also consider the message it sends.

Is it that the bigger someone lets their problem get, the higher likelihood they might get bailed out?

That's a snub to people who make sacrifices to keep on top of their bills and pay off debt.

Fort Simpson council has shown it's willing to selectively enforce laws depending on who you are and what circumstances you have.

The only way residents can judge the fairness of that is in the voting booth.


Existence of college remains encouraging
Inuvik Drum - Thursday, May 14, 2015

"The Aurora Campus will always have a future in Inuvik."

That's the word from Aurora College president Jane Arychuk on May 8.

That comes in the wake of months of questions and angst from Inuvik residents, some of whom have been openly skeptical of the future of the campus.

Most of that worry comes from the college's decision to drop its popular business-related programs at the campus for this academic year. Those courses, along with the environment and natural resources technology program, have been the mainstays at the college over the last several years.

This year, the personal support worker program has been introduced by the college, which is responding to requests from the community, who saw a need for the kind of graduates it produces.

It's a perfect example of the cyclical nature of education programs in the North, since a similar program was offered at one time. Demand for its graduates fell off and the program was mothballed until a need re-appeared.

This year, the focus was on Inuvik and area students. The program will return next year, geared towards Sahtu residents.

The business administration program is returning next fall, so that should also be reassuring to local residents that the campus will continue to operate.

Many Inuvik people recall they had a similar concern and fought the same battle over the college's fate several years ago. People in the delta have long memories, and are sensitive to any suggestion that their education system is in danger.

College officials should, in a way, be heartened by the college and campus being a common topic of talk around town.

It shows that people in Inuvik, and by extension, Fort McPherson, Tsiigehtchic, Aklavik and Tuktoyaktuk, have a deep and abiding affection and appreciation for the college and the all-important educational opportunities it offers.

The continued existence of the Aurora Campus means that delta residents don't have to travel as far to receive post-secondary opportunities, and that's also important in an area trying to staunch the "brain drain" pipeline that runs directly to the south.

Arychuk acknowledged that she and the college leaders are well aware of that sentiment and the large responsibility they carry for the NWT in general, and more remote locations such as Inuvik and the Western Arctic in particular.

She's made her declaration. Now it's up to the delta to hold the college to the promise.

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