Get your election issues straightNorthwest Territories/News North - Monday, August 31, 2015
In preparation for the upcoming election season, think about which Northern issues will be the most important to you.
Is it the high cost of living? Whether or not the Sahtu should embrace fracking? How about education? The lack of an addictions treatment centre? The declining population and the amount the territory gets in transfer payments from the feds? Does the P3 model of funding projects such as Stanton Territorial Hospital renovations in Yellowknife and the Mackenzie Valley Fibre Optic Line rile you up? Or how about the high unemployment rate in the communities, regulation of the caribou hunt or the resolution of land claim negotiations?
Now, think about who is responsible for your pet issue. Some of these topics, such as the high cost of living and land claim negotiations, are problems that straddle both federal and territorial jurisdictions. Others squarely fall at the feet of one or the other.
For example, Conservative candidate Floyd Roland recently told Yellowknife media that the NWT doesn't necessarily need to allow hydraulic fracturing in order to have a sustainable economy. That's a nice thought and it might earn him brownie points with voters but the controversial oil extraction method is no longer a federal issue. Now that devolution has passed, responsibility over the territory's resources belongs to the territorial government. The issue of whether to frack and how to regulate it is actually a hot topic among MLAs, as it comes up regularly in legislative assembly.
Other topics, on the other hand, straddle jurisdictions. Take for example Premier Bob McLeod's recent letter to the four federal candidates.
He identified his own list of concerns he'd like Ottawa to address, including economic development, growing the territory's population, energy, infrastructure, climate change and opening a new funding partnership on public housing. The premier stated he would post the responses he receives by Sept. 19 on the GNWT website.
The interesting thing about McLeod's list though, is that almost every single one of the issues he identifies is primarily under his own jurisdiction.
This illustrates just how much the territorial government depends on federal support in order to work. For example, transportation construction and maintenance is planned and funded by the GNWT but contractors wouldn't be carving the $300-million Inuvik-Tuk Highway out of permafrost right now if it weren't for Ottawa's $200-million contribution.
Who knows how much negotiating went on between the GNWT and Ottawa in order to make this happen.
This leads to possibly the most important quality our next territorial leaders and federal representative will need to have -- a quality that must not be overlooked - the ability to effectively advocate for NWT's interests in Ottawa.
The issues, and who is responsible for them, are like a Venn diagram -- complicated, overlapping circles of responsibilities. Not only should voters take the time to familiarize themselves with how this diagram looks but our prospective leaders will need to be adept at using it to their best advantage.
Real assessment missing from appeal court rulingNunavut/News North - Monday, August 31, 2015
People unfamiliar with the history, geography and traditional uses of the land in Nunavut have only to look at a map to gain a better understanding of the importance of the ocean to the Inuit.
There are good reasons for communities on north Baffin Island to be situated along the coastlines. Clyde River, Pond Inlet, Qikiqtarjuak, Arctic Bay and other Nunavut communities are situated on the water because that's where the Inuit inhabitants have for generations harvested wildlife.
We believe it is ludicrous, therefore, to suggest that there will be no disruption to the Inuit way of life by a consortium of exploration companies undertaking seismic testing, intended to discover oil or gas deposits, in the very waters that Inuit have depended upon for thousands of years, long before the world became dependent on fossil fuel for energy.
Any right-minded individual would agree there is potential for harm from the seismic testing. High-powered air-gun blasts bounced off the ocean bottom, to be measured by sensors, travel for kilometres and are heard by all manner of marine life. Some species may ignore the sounds, particularly if the blasts are short in duration, while other species will sense danger and leave the area.
Certainly there will be an impact on marine life, which in turn will affect people's ability to harvest seals, whales, fish and other creatures of the sea.
We understand the world's thirst for more sources of oil and gas. But what possible benefit is there for Inuit residents of the coastal communities?
The first step taken by mining companies wanting to do business in Nunavut is to meet with Inuit beneficiaries with an eye toward forming mutually beneficial agreements. Included in that process is a recognition of land ownership, respect for the environment, and adoption of Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit, the guiding principles.
Federal Court of Appeal Justice Eleanor Dawson, who ruled earlier this month against Clyde River in its attempt for a judiciary review of the National Energy Board's approval of seismic testing off the hamlet's coast, said she was satisfied with the energy board's consultation with Inuit communities and organizations, noting that consultation does not equal veto power.
She also suggested Inuit organizations can still express concerns as the project progresses.
We say that acknowledging consultations and allowing airing of further concerns falls far short of understanding legitimate fear for the future.
In the final analysis, court arguments and dialogue provides little comfort to the hunters who can no longer catch a whale in the ocean where they have hunted for generations, should seismic testing go ahead.
Paradise preserved Weekend Yellowknifer - Friday, August 28, 2015
They've blasted paradise and put up a condominium.
This fusing of a Joni Mitchell classic with the reality atop Twin Pine Hill has made one thing adamantly clear: the push is on to preserve paradise.
Twin Pine Hill meets city streets from many angles. It touches School Draw Avenue, looks down upon Franklin and sits alongside 52 Avenue.
Residents were rattled earlier this summer by the blasting that knocked the crown off the vantage point that arguably boasts some of the most beautiful, panoramic views of Yellowknife Bay and Great Slave Lake.
While the demise of the hill as people know it was planned more than a decade ago, many have left their hearts on Twin Pine Hill and have begun advocating ferociously to ensure a trail system - promised alongside the plan for the original development - becomes a reality.
The city did it right with Pilots' Monument, which set the standard for the care and dedication required in not squandering the finite views of Great Slave Lake the city has access to.
Originally Twin Pine Hill was zoned to allow for a hotel and convention centre, which coincided with the promise of a trail. The planned development changed, and earlier this year council approved rezoning the land to allow for a 126-unit condominium development - the construction for which has already begun.
The trail plan remains though, as does the funding for it. Both the City of Yellowknife and Det'on Cho Corporation have dedicated $250,000 to build a trail - but any forward motion on that particular development is seemingly stalled.
In early July, after Yellowknifers began publicly lamenting Twin Pine Hill, News/North reported Coun. Adrian Bell saying, "Spending a quarter million on a trail system for a hotel and conference centre is one thing but basically private trails for the neighbours in the area is kind of a different situation entirely."
At the time, the paper reported the discussion was expected to come back to council. Last week, the city told Yellowknifer talks on the trail are now set for after the Oct. 19 municipal election. While most councillors have expressed their support for keeping the promise made long ago, the dissent illustrated in Bell's comments makes this a crucial discussion to have - sooner than later. Spokesperson Nalini Naidoo said the city is asking itself, 'Do we bring this forward now or after the election?' on many topics.
The public pressure on council should make this a priority. It was this council that approved the rezoning that has resulted in a new Twin Pine Hill, therefore it should be this council that sees the trail plan through to completion.
To defer it is to put down the reins of responsibility.
Small spill, big impactDeh Cho Drum - Thursday, August 27, 2015
It came to light recently that a barge owned and operated by the Northern Transportation Company Ltd. (NTCL) grounded in the Mackenzie River near Jean Marie River.
The grounding breached the hull near a popular local fishing spot, Rabbitskin River. Unfortunately, although reports of the incident conflict, a small amount of gasoline may have leaked into the river.
Low water levels have made travel treacherous for barges hauling supplies to Northern communities. However, accidents do happen.
If protocol had been followed - the incident reported to the proper authorities, along with the potential spill - that would likely have been the end of it.
A small amount of gasoline, while alarming, is unlikely to negatively impact the local habitat in any long-term way.
However, the extent of the spill could not be determined by Transport Canada and the Coast Guard because a report was not made within the required time frame.
Spill reports are supposed to be made immediately following an incident.
But after the grounding on July 27, nine days passed before a report was made.
Many business sectors across the country are under immense pressure to keep their operations free of accidents and spills. Although transportation companies are among those closely watched for environmental transgressions, this was not a catastrophic event by any stretch of the imagination.
In fact, it could probably be classified as the opposite: a minor event.
But the lack of reporting is problematic.
Whether the company deemed a report necessary or not, it seems wise to err on the side of caution.
If a fuel tank is punctured in a water body, it should not matter how much gasoline spills - or if any fuel is released, for that matter. It is not just the major events that require reporting. By omitting even small spill reports a company can be cast in a bad light.
When it comes to NTCL, the company seems to have had a good track record so far when it comes to accidents and spills.
But while it takes companies a lifetime to build a reputation of environmental responsibility, that reputation can of course come crashing down with even a tiny misstep.
The people of Fort Simpson and the surrounding area deserve to know when accidents occur on their river.
But while it is not a requirement to report such events to the community, they should at least be able to rest easy knowing there are agencies overseeing the reporting and, if necessary, cleanup.
Silence is less than goldenInuvik Drum - Thursday, August 27, 2015
When I was little and I did something wrong, I knew that not saying anything was probably my best shot at not getting in trouble.
Even when my parents found out about whatever I had done, I knew the more I talked, the more trouble I would be in.
Least said, soonest mended. It looks like the Conservative government has taken that motto to heart.
The military is in town and has been for some weeks. By and large, the Armed Forces members are relatively unobtrusive, despite their camp in the middle of town, and they are a pleasant boost to the local economy, in the form of the rental fee for the recreation centre if nothing else.
The military has organized a community day for Aug. 26, complete with a barbecue and a whole slew of fun activities for youngsters and adults alike to thank the community for hosting them.
The one thing Armed Forces communications people won't do, however, is talk on the record.
This is not limited to the military branch of the government, nor is it limited to the North.
On the surface, the number of people this actually affects on a day to day basis is restricted to journalists who hit brick walls when looking for information about something happening right in front of them. Spokespeople are happy to give background information, but nothing that can be attributed. Journalists' queries are often replied with "no comment." But this is something else.
This is ostensibly to maintain a perfectly neutral position in light of the federal election. Now, a neutral military in the face of an election is a very good thing. The opposite is a terrifying thought.
However, stories about something that is typically as well-publicized and widely reported as Operation Nanook is hardly asking soldiers and their handlers to take sides.
This silence -- this blanket silence on any and all subjects -- reeks of my strategy to avoid trouble when I was little.
It is hardly a secret that the current federal government has put gag orders on everyone from scientists to, most recently, its own supporters attending events. Telling federal departments, including the Department of National Defence, to be silent for the duration of the election is hardly a stretch.
The thing about silence, as my parents can certainly attest, is that it just invites more questions. My mother knew whenever I stopped talking that something was wrong and didn't let up on her questions until she knew what it was.
Guidance done rightYellowknifer - Wednesday, August 26, 2015
The K'alemi Dene School is supporting its graduates in a way that should serve as a shining example to others.
When high school graduates walk off the stage after receiving a diploma, they enter a new world very unlike what they had experienced during their academic careers.
Students spend 12 years following the same routine of going to school each morning, coming home and then maybe doing some homework. Then they graduate and enter a world of choices previously inaccessible to them. Rather than simply choosing what classes to take, they find themselves choosing what schools to attend or whether to attend at all.
Every choice has its cost, whether it be tuition or time. Even applying to college or university requires a fee. Students may be interested in a career and the schooling required to get them there but have no practical means of experiencing it without investing great deal in time and money.
Some may be disappointed after years of hard work and training, leaving them with two choices: start over or grin and bear it until retirement.
What K'alemi Dene School offers is a taste of what students' careers will be like before making a burdensome investment. The school has been in touch with Northern employers and have connected them with students who have shown a particular interest in a field with an aim to get them a co-op position.
That's a win for employers and Northerners. Employers win because they have the chance to develop employees who have proven themselves capable. They don't have to pay the associated fees to fly up and train a new hire. The NWT wins because have trained and educated Northerners helps build society and government investment.
And students themselves can decide whether their career choices are right before possibly going down the wrong track.
Beyond that, the schools follow grads after they enter the workforce and post-secondary education. There's even help for applications and their associated fees, fees which have the potential to stunt the future of even the most accomplished student.
That's a good thing for students, because the supports high school students get shouldn't be over when they walk off the graduation stage.
Growing local simply makes senseYellowknifer - Wednesday, August 26, 2015
An effort to grow fresh, locally-produced food is benefiting not just gardeners but the city as a whole.
The Yellowknife Community Garden Collective has a mandate to share their bounty with people in need. Every person who registers must agree to donate a quarter of their harvest to various community organizations, such as the Salvation Army, Centre for Northern Families and Avens seniors home.
Yellowknifer has reported on some of these groups receiving donations and all say they are grateful because it allows them to prepare nutritious meals for their clients, teach them about locally-grown food and healthy diets while helping to lower their food bills.
Gardeners also learn from season to season what kinds of plants flourish in a Northern environment. One gardener, Lone Sorensen, said she discovered Swiss chard and edible chrysanthemums and prepared a diet with vegetables and fish sourced entirely from the North.
Sorensen said growing one's own food amounts to a freer lifestyle, and this is true.
The North is not known as an agricultural hot spot but Yellowknife's garden collective is demonstrating successes can be had despite the harsh climate.
On the heels of the latest consumer price index from Statistics Canada showing a 6.9 per cent rise in food prices over last year, it's becoming apparent that growing one's own food is becoming more than a mere summer diversion for some people but a cost-crunching necessity.
Continued success key to hockey developmentEditorial Comment by Darrell Greer
Kivalliq News - Wednesday, August 26, 2015
A huge tip of the helmet to Arviat minor hockey coach Ryan O'Connor and his experience at the national level with the under-17 camp.
I've officiated a number of tournaments in which a team coached by O'Connor competed and, the odd difference of opinion aside, it was easy to see he brought a lot to the table as a coach.
The vast majority of his players were well-disciplined, hard working, fully prepared and respectful of the officiating crew and the game.
The best thing about O'Connor's success is that it's further evidence living in a remote Kivalliq community does not preclude having one's efforts recognized by the right people, nor is it detrimental to continued development.
O'Connor is bang on in the way he describes Hockey Canada's approach to teaching the art of coaching or, for that matter, officiating.
The learning curve is, in reality, a series of building blocks, with each one leading to the next until a coach or official's talent, determination and dedication takes them to the highest level they are capable of obtaining.
Getting our Hockey Nunavut coaches and officials out to high level development camps is imperative to growing the game properly in the Kivalliq and across Nunavut.
The recipients of such training bring what they learn back to our communities, and pass it on to other coaches and officials in our programs.
It's an essential cog in ensuring our players learn to play the game properly, and that they're provided with a safe and balanced environment to display their skills.
Some of O'Connor's observations on the politeness and respect exhibited by these top-tier players should be quite illuminating to those involved with the game in our region, as well as the parents of the kids who love the sport so much.
For the vast majority of the top minor and junior players in this country, respect for the game is not expected of them, it is demanded.
The players seen causing all sorts of chaos on the ice on YouTube are rarely, if ever, representative of the best this nation has to offer.
Another of O'Connor's observations that should stand out for folks in this hockey-crazed region of ours, is how the coaches at our highest levels still strive to keep their instruction as simple as possible.
For all the talk of fancy statistics and team systems we hear being used in today's game, the best players are almost always the most dedicated, who never take a shift off and excel at the basics of shooting, passing, skating, checking and stickhandling.
With O'Connor also being a coach's instructor within the Hockey North Branch, his experience from the national camp should benefit a number of coaches in our program.
It should also serve as motivation for many to strive to reach the highest levels of coaching they can, knowing the opportunities do, in fact, exist to reward them for their efforts.
O'Connor's selection as an assistant coach at the under-17 national development camp is proof positive that it can be accomplished.
We have levels of hockey talent in the Kivalliq that far surpasses what our population numbers would suggest.
And, with more success stories such as O'Connor's, we will be well on our way to developing and highlighting that talent.
