Food trucks tough to defendYellowknifer - Wednesday, May 27, 2015
If food vendors wish to be accommodated downtown, the onus is on them to prove the benefits they provide the city outweigh the impact on businesses that have laid down brick and mortar roots in the downtown core and pay a hefty premium to be there.
Otherwise, their ability to serve a cheap hotdog is not going to cut mustard.
When Couns. Adrian Bell and Dan Wong pushed to get vendors into the city-owned lots on 50 Street, food truck operator Murray Jones of Curbside Treats and Eats responded by saying there needed to be a "significant cleanup" and that the city should step up its municipal enforcement presence, along with the RCMP.
Not to mention Fresh Squeeze food truck vendor Jennifer Vornbrock who felt as though language in a proposed bylaw restricting more than one vendor from operating on a single block was changed without consultation. She said she had left a meeting with city staff under the impression that the limit would be two vendors to a block.
Now, there's nothing wrong with making sure those most affected by city bylaws are kept apprised. To that end, it might be a better idea to choose a more reliable contact method other than e-mail, which city spokeswoman Nalini Naidoo said were sent but not received.
However, lets keep in perspective what the food trucks do for our city.
While food trucks are a welcome sight to those on their lunch breaks, owners still have a long way to go in order to prove their value as economic engines for the city in the same way that storefront businesses in the downtown core have.
Food vendors are not unlike houseboaters in Yellowknife Bay. Both enjoy city services but don't pay property taxes.
It doesn't help that food vendors hire few employees, and they are only seasonal when they do.
On the other hand, they draw people away from the established restaurants that operate -- and therefore employ people - year-round, putting staff at risk of shorter hours and lost jobs when forced to compete with the more mobile and easier to run food trucks.
If downtown commuters prefer buying lunch from food trucks now, they should ask themselves, 'What happens when the food trucks drive the restaurants out of business and there is no where to get a hot cup of soup come winter?'
As anyone who has walked by the empty storefronts can attest, this is not at all an unlikely scenario facing downtown's fragile business community.
Better to have the right tools than notYellowknifer - Wednesday, May 27, 2015
Two years ago, when a dog sledder plunged through open water on Yellowknife Bay, city emergency responders were criticized for not bringing several items that would have helped expedite his rescue, namely a toboggan, knife and some blankets.
The fire department's rescue truck carries countless pieces of equipment so preparing for the given situation can be difficult. Still, it's hard to imagine why the city wouldn't pack an item as unobtrusively portable as the EpiPen on its ambulances.
EpiPens have become an essential tool in saving the lives of people with severe allergies, so it doesn't make sense ambulances are not stocked with them.
City councillor Dan Wong was told the $135 EpiPens only have a three-to-four-month shelf-life, and ambulances are rarely more than a few minutes away from the hospital.
Never mind that the manufacturer states EpiPens are in fact good for at least 12 months, prudence suggests, when every second counts - such as when someone is experiencing anaphylactic shock due to an allergic reaction - having an EpiPen on board is a good idea. With warmer weather come insects, and the chance of someone being stung by a wasp or bee and having a severe reaction -- on top of all the other non-seasonal allergies that exist year round.
There are three ambulances in the city.
That's three pens for $405 - hardly a bank-breaking proposal for the peace of mind they will bring.
It might even be argued, sending ambulances to emergencies with no EpiPens on board is sort of like sending firefighters to a burning house with garden hoses.
Souring on the lunacy of privilegeEditorial Comment by Darrell Greer
Kivalliq News - Wednesday, May 27, 2015
Just when I thought there couldn't be any more groundless accusations of racism and privilege spewed over nothing more than the colour of one's skin, out come the milk wars.
This is the belief that drinking milk is a sign of white privilege because other ethnicities are more likely to be lactose intolerant.
To me, much of these concocted issues is garbage being strewn around by those who paint everyone with the same brush in hopes of hitting something, or someone, for personal gain.
And it just keeps getting sillier.
Contrary to what those who promote white privilege would have you believe, if I were to drive around a glitzy neighbourhood for awhile, you better believe many who live there would be wondering who I am and what I'm doing.
They wouldn't automatically accept me because my skin is white.
I'm not rich, nor am I privileged, and they would see that right away.
It's called class privilege and it's blind to all colour, save green, silver and gold.
I was once bumped from my flight in Rankin while trying to go to a minor hockey event because I was on a sports fare and an Inuk executive hauled out his company credit card and said he'd pay full fare.
Class privilege! It had nothing to do with the colour of our skin and everything to do with the colour of his money.
It's not terribly difficult to support, or debunk, almost every point in White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack, an essay by American anti-racism activist Peggy McIntosh.
It's a fool's game.
For every list someone compiles in today's world that professes to show examples of white privilege, another equally stinging list can be compiled showing how being white today makes you responsible for the majority of the world's ills.
Imagine every time you did something to help someone not of your colour, you were accused of having an ulterior motive in trying to make them more like you.
Not a nice feeling.
The race and privilege cards are played so much today, they are even being used on milk.
I kid you not!
Some studies show milk may not be the magic health elixir we thought it to be.
But in presenting the argument, we're told milk producers were able to pull the cud over our eyes for so long because it's enjoyed a privileged position in the North American diet.
We're also told government has long extolled the virtues of drinking milk, while knowing many ethnicities can have trouble digesting it because of lactose intolerance.
So not only has milk come under fire as a healthy choice, it's now been officially labelled as racist!
Seriously?
How do you decide what's a genuine concern and what's just so much poppycock with these terms being bandied about so frivolously?
While there may be credence to the dangers of drinking too much milk, I hold those who continue to use colour to make their point in udder disrespect!
You are the best defense against forest firesNorthwest Territories/News North - Monday, May 25, 2015
A heatwave has descended upon the territory over the past two weeks with temperatures reaching 30 C in the Deh Cho, 28 C in Inuvik and 28 C in Norman Wells.
The sudden and early May heat has wrought the beginning of the dreaded forest fire season as indicated by the NWT fire map, which is already showing blazes in the Deh Cho and South Slave. All indications point to this summer's fire season matching, if not surpassing, last year's.
In the face of such bad news, who can blame any of us for wanting to pour an ice-cold beverage, hitch a ride on a floaty toy and tune out warnings of the hazy, smoky air forecast to come our way.
Before we forget our worries and give in to the dog days of summer, it's important to acknowledge the Department of Environment and Natural Resource's (ENR) 2014 fire season report, which is filled with all sorts of lessons learned from the worst wildfire season in the territory's record. The report analyzes the government's role in managing wildfires and, even more importantly, residents' roles.
"There is a public expectation ENR will be able to protect all property, at all times, which simply isn't possible in an extreme fire season," states the report.
"Under the NWT forest fire management policy, the protection of human life takes precedence over all other values."
That's right. Those who own and maintain structures across the territory can't depend on the government to swoop in and save their property in the face of encroaching fire this summer.
ENR throws down the gauntlet later in the report.
"Many communities and property owners need to accept more responsibility to help in protecting their infrastructure or property through protection plans and/or FireSmart efforts," it states.
An organization called Partners in Protection created FireSmart in the 1990s and the territorial government has adopted this program to educate people about fire protection. Its list of easy, do-it-yourself ways to reduce the risk of fire damage is posted on the GNWT's fire website.
Things like making sure rooftops are clear of branches, pine needles and other flammable objects, making sure chimneys are up to code, removing grass, branches, shrubs and pine needles from within 10 metres of dwellings, making sure there is a nearby water supply and storing firewood more than 10 metres from structures.
So why not take a moment to peruse the site, get educated and then feel good about being proactive before going out to enjoy this hot and sunny weather before it gets too smoky.
Still open for business despite denial for mineNunavut/News North - Monday, May 25, 2015
Mining companies who keep a close eye on the climate for economic activity in Nunavut shouldn't get the wrong impression from a negative result experienced earlier this month by the owners of the proposed Kiggavik uranium project outside Baker Lake.
The Nunavut Impact Review Board denied approval for Areva Resources Canada's project, which would see one underground and four open-pit mines approximately 80 km west of the hamlet.
The basis for the decision, released May 8, is that the proposal as presented has no definite start date or development schedule. The review board, therefore, had no way of predicting the mining operations' impact on the environment, wildlife or people in the area, which may change as years go by.
The proposed mining operation is in between caribou calving grounds for the Beverly and the Qamanirjuaq herds and is near the Thelon Wildlife Sanctuary, considered the largest and most remote wildlife refuge on the North American continent.
The Inuit owners of the land have retained their integrity by successfully opposing the open-ended plan and the potential pressure it would place on the caribou herds some time in the future.
The Baker Lake Hunters and Trappers Organization was one of the opponents to the proposal as an intervener during a two-week hearing held in Baker Lake in March, going so far as calling for the hearing to be suspended on its first day because of uncertainty with the project start date and a lack of protection measures for wildlife in the immediate area.
Areva Resources Canada stated it could take up to 20 years for the site to be developed, depending on the market conditions for uranium, which is currently in a price slump.
Industry movers and shakers need to keep the status of the project in perspective to realize that the denial for Kiggavik does not mean Nunavut is closed for business.
In fact, the groundwork still has value. Areva has done a considerable amount of work and invested a great deal of money into the Kiggavik project. The 10,000-page Kiggavik Project Final Environmental Impact Statement required more than eight years of technical studies assessing the potential environmental, health and safety, and socio-economic effects of the project.
There is nothing to prevent the company from making an application to proceed again if market conditions improve.
If the price of uranium increases, Areva could see it makes economic sense to come up with a plan which sets a firm timeline and mitigates the mine operation's impact on caribou, fish and marine wildlife in consultation with Inuit hunters, fishers and trappers. The company could then negotiate Inuit impact and benefit agreements.
There are good reasons for the review board to rule against this mining project, several worthy of consideration by other industry players. Overall, Nunavut is very much open for business and its regulatory approval process has proven that it has the best interest of beneficiaries and the environment at heart.
Recipe for disaster Weekend Yellowknifer - Friday, May 22, 2015
Going out for a nice meal is usually a pleasant experience.
What is far less enticing is the knowledge that at least six Yellowknife eateries have gone without health inspections for more than two years.
The fact that another two establishments have gone unchecked for three and four years respectively is even less likely to whet one's appetite.
As alarming as that sounds, that is what News/North learned following an investigation of the territorial government's health inspection regimen within the city.
According to a health inspector responsible for carrying out the inspections, the six eateries did not require the government's seal of approval because he is familiar with their operators and trusted them to be clean.
This logic is obviously flawed.
Even the most vigilant restaurant operators - that is, the managers and owners who oversee day-to-day operations and enforce the rules -- cannot be expected to keep an eye on things every day of the week. This is even more apparent if more than one establishment is being operated.
Consistency is difficult to maintain in any business. It would seem even more so in the food trade where staff turnover is typically very high.
In the absence of regular inspections the only expectation is complacency. A lack of paper towel in the dispenser one day may very quickly lead to a workplace culture of not washing hands when preparing meals or making sure a broken dishwasher gets fixed - particularly if the expectation is that the health inspector never visits.
Oversights with the GNWT's health inspection regimen come as a surprise given that the department's standards are actually quite high - "high risk" businesses such as restaurants are supposed to be checked three times a year. Online records show that the majority of food establishments have been checked just once in the past year.
Fortunately, Health Minister Glen Abernethy seems as repulsed by the newspaper's findings as likely everyone else who read the story was and is now calling for an audit of his department's handling of inspections.
He also promised all establishments that have slipped under the food inspector's radar the past few years will be checked by the end of the month.
He should also make it easier for the public to access information about the results of the inspections. Although the reports are available online on the health department's website, in some cases they have not been kept up to date. Meanwhile, those digging for dirt on a given restaurant must search through the inspector's reports themselves rather than being able to resort to a comprehensive grading system.
A colour-coded scheme, prominently displayed both in the restaurant and online, already commonly used by other jurisdictions, would also go a long way to simplifying the process and restoring public faith in the government's standards.
With just two seven-day sessions left until the next election and promises to push through a new Mental Health Act already on his plate, Abernethy will be quite busy over the next few months.
Let's hope he can deliver the goods before the check comes.
Youth can bring unique ideas to political stageDeh Cho Drum - Thursday, May 21, 2015
Few places are as ripe for a career in professional politics as the Northwest Territories.
Between the high ratio of politicians to citizens and the flow of free money from Ottawa, government in the North is a booming industry.
Students at youth parliament in Yellowknife had a glimpse into the life of a member of the legislative assembly this month.
They got to draft statements, debate motions in the chamber and talk to reporters afterward.
Typically, good students go to these sort of events, ones who speak well in class and are confident presenting in front of a crowd.
Those students are impressive. Some speak so professionally, even using the right buzzwords, that they could step into a government office today and nothing would seem off.
But politics needs more than the good students. It needs the black sheep, the rabble-rousers, the troublemakers.
One of the great benefits of a free democracy is being able to capture the whimsical, idealistic, creative, progressive spirit of young people.
School teaches youth to act a certain way, fall in line and give the "right" answers.
That works for a career in marketing, but being a good politician goes far beyond public relations skills.
It's not easy to go against the grain in school.
Some exceptional youth go so against the grain they are seen as troubled students and underachievers through their school years.
This is a tragedy, but everyone eventually realizes the real world is a whole new ball game.
In youth parliament this year, students spoke at length about current issues and goals of the territorial government.
But youth are beings of a new generation. They have a lot more to offer than the continuation of current programs and enforcement of the status quo.
Sylvia Pascua-Matte, a Grade 10 student from Fort Simpson who attended youth parliament, said not many students signed up for the program.
She thinks more should.
She's right. Youth should eat up any chance they get to see the inner workings of government, no matter how staged and sanitized the event is.
Soon it will be their turn for real, and they'll get to call the shots.
Victoria Day holiday perfect for activitiesInuvik Drum - Thursday, May 21, 2015
Thank goodness for some peculiarly warm weather to give us something to talk about.
The Victoria Day long weekend was blessed with some spectacular weather, culminating in temperatures of at least 27 C on May 18, Victoria Day Monday.
That will likely establish a new record for the date, and it was certainly the talk of the town, with average temperatures expected to be between 7 C and 10 C.
Many people were obviously thrilled by the weather, if a little perplexed.
One person in particular I talked to on Monday simply couldn't believe how warm it was.
"I just don't know what's going on with the weather any more," he said. "We didn't have much of a winter, and now this."
We can ponder the reason why all we wish, but it's fairly obvious the climate is changing here in the Mackenzie Delta.
Considering that, it might be time to revisit what we can do with an early long weekend such as Victoria Day.
It's one of those long weekends that, so far as events go, was a bit of a dud here in town. Generally, it's a holiday that pales beside some of the others.
It's more than understandable that Aboriginal Day is the preeminent holiday here and Canada Day is a big day as well.
Victoria Day is more subdued, thanks in part to weather that has traditionally been a little suspect.
However, with the seasons changing rapidly, there's an opportunity to be grasped for community groups and government organizations to alter their thinking a touch.
A drive out to Gwich'in Park on May 16 showed it was at least half full of campers at a time when it's not officially open.
There were a number of cars lined up at the entrance to Jak Park as well, making me suspect that some people might have dodged the gate and packed camping gear up to the campground.
Parks here don't officially open until June 1, which has customarily been the time when the weather could begin to be reliably suitable for camping.
With the weather this year, the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment missed a glorious chance to take advantage of the weather, which had been predicted in the long-term forecast.
Likewise, the Arctic Market typically opens toward the end of June but with the lack of events happening around town, there would have been an opportunity there to open it early.
Adding to the potential is the fact that with the river crossings along the Dempster closed at the moment, there is a bit of a captive market here in town, which means people are also looking for things to do.
Perhaps it's time to escape tradition, and put a little more flexibility into holiday weekend planning.
