We're all in this togetherNorthwest Territories/News North - Monday, September 14, 2015
What happens in Yellowknife does not stay in Yellowknife, at least when it comes to electricity generation in the Northwest Territories.
This is an important concept to understand about the $30 million the territorial government recently coughed up to avoid a power rate hike due to low water levels at the Snare hydro facility near the capital city.
Residents who live in the Deh Cho, South Slave, Sahtu or Beaufort Delta can be forgiven for wondering why their tax dollars are offsetting the cost of diesel in the Snare hydro system. The answer is, it doesn't matter that the Snare hydro system only serves Yellowknife, Behchoko, Dettah and Ndilo. This $30 million is meant to avoid rate hikes for everybody.
To understand why, we have to go back to 2010, when territorial government leaders came up with an idea to combat the factors that drive fluctuating energy rates across the NWT. To do this, they introduced two new types of territorial-wide power rate riders: one for fluctuating fuel costs and one for low water levels.
Basically what these riders do is protect individual communities from dramatic fluctuations in their power bills. Before the territorial-wide rate riders came into effect, small, diesel-reliant communities were especially vulnerable to volatile global fuel prices. Now that the fuel rate rider is in effect, rising diesel prices are spread across residential power bills across all communities rather than just those who derive their power from diesel. It's a move that softens the blow for specific communities by spreading the impact across all 33 of them.
Same goes for those communities which derive their energy from hydro. The idea is, if the territory was to suffer a drought, a rate rider to offset the cost of more expensive diesel is spread across all communities.
Today we seem to have reached a point where even the cushion provided by the riders isn't enough to shield consumers from electricity bill sticker shock. The proposed low water level rider would have raised rates across the territory by an estimated $30 to $105 per month – for every NWT resident, whether they live in Ndilo, Tuktoyaktuk or Fort Smith, thanks to the policy of territorial rate-riders.
But Premier Bob McLeod and Finance Minister Michael Miltenberger's announcement makes another point clear – if rate riders aren't doing the trick anymore, we're gonna need a better plan.
Over the past few decades, territorial government leaders have considered a variety of ideas, including linking the North and South Slave hydro systems, linking the South Slave hydro grid to Alberta, constructing renewable energy projects in smaller communities, geothermal power and even nuclear power.
Eventually, the piecemeal $30 million here, $20 million there the GNWT has started throwing at Northwest Territories Power Corporation to avoid rate hikes will grow to the amount it would cost for the government to invest in one of these long-term energy projects.
So it's about time our leaders accepted that a long-term solution to our power crisis is going to be expensive, bite the bullet and invest in something better.
Pricey capital projects in list of election promisesNunavut/News North - Monday, September 14, 2015
At the end of the day, once you get past all the rhetoric, one of the primary considerations by voters in choosing where to mark the X on their ballot must be what the candidate and the candidate's party will do for the individual on a personal level, if elected.
Among the factors that come to play in that process of deliberation are the promises made by the candidate, the candidate's track record, the history of the party relative to the Nunavut riding and an estimation of what the candidate's party will do if it becomes government.
Certainly a well-reasoned voter will consider a political party's national platform, its leader's statements on issues of national and international significance and the various missteps and errors in judgment that come with a federal election campaign. In many cases, postings on social media tend to be precipitated by the vocal minority whose focus is on a single issue, are driven by bitterness or are inspired by the outrageous from the fringes, such as the widespread sharing of the video of a Conservative party supporter who suggested Senator Mike Duffy simply cheated on his taxes, then called a television journalist an assortment of bad names and suggested that reporters and a majority of Canadians in general cheat on their taxes, too.
But, by and large, it is campaign promises, evaluation of a candidate's integrity and past performance which is the best barometer for deciding where to place your vote. (And whatever you do, please vote!)
Under that scenario, incumbent candidate Leona Aglukkaq and the Conservatives hold a distinct advantage, because voters have access to the most information and can look at the past years easily to decide if she and her party deserve to be re-elected.
In a sense, Aglukkaq and the Harper government set a benchmark for other candidates and parties to reach and exceed.
After decades of neglect by previous governments, the money spent and the amount of attention given to Nunavut by the federal government cannot be ignored.
There is a new craft harbour in Pangnirtung, the Canadian High Arctic Research Station in Cambridge Bay is under construction and millions of funding dedicated to training programs to put Nunavummiut to work has been allocated. Up to $63.7 million for a small craft harbour, marine port and sealift facility in Iqaluit and a $40-million marine facility in Pond Inlet are promised, both contingent on shared funding from the Government of Nunavut.
What can the Liberal, NDP and Green Party candidates offer?
It is fine for Hunter Tootoo, Jack Anawak and Spencer Rocchi to be critical of the Harper government and Aglukkaq in particular. There have been promises about future infrastructure spending and honouring commitments made by the current government.
We suggest voters need to know more about what capital projects they would deliver to the territory if elected. At the very least, the list should include a new marine facility in Iqaluit and a small craft harbour for Pond Inlet.
NWT elections are ailing Weekend Yellowknifer - Friday, September 11, 2015
The recent zigzagging by the territory's chief electoral officer - as bizarre as it is - exposes an illness in the NWT's democratic system: election rules that favour the incumbent.
The first directive from chief electoral officer Nicole Latour was issued late in the afternoon two Fridays ago. It was as though she picked up the NWT Elections and Plebiscites Act, leafed through it, pulled out a clause that kind of, sort of gave her the power to change the legislation and declared -- based on absolutely nothing reflected in the legislation - that no candidate may promote themselves in any way prior to the beginning of the election period Oct. 26.
Three days later a tendril from the directive reached out and shut down MLA hopeful Julie Green's Twitter account because it violated Latour's based-on-nothing directive.
And it only got weirder.
Three days after that, Green was back on Twitter citing a misunderstanding and telling Yellowknifer that legislative assembly Speaker Jackie Jacobson clarified Latour's directive for her. That spurred a joint news release from both Jacobson and Tim Mercer, clerk of the legislative assembly, refuting Green's statement but acknowledging Jacobson met with Latour about her directive.
Finally, Tuesday afternoon, Latour issued a new directive meant to override the first one - and this time it was actually reflective of the legislation.
But we aren't out of the murky swamp yet.
Latour's original directive was inappropriate at best and unconstitutional at worst. But the directive fiasco did accomplish one important thing: it exposed an elections system that gives far too many advantages to incumbents.
The points in the new one can be attributed to various parts of the elections act. It states no person is a candidate until they've been accepted as such by the returning officer; no prospective candidate can accept donations until the writ is dropped; and prospective candidates can promote themselves prior to the election period, but only with their own funds, up to $30,000.
This sets the stage for a four-week scramble during which time MLA hopefuls have to scream and shout and wave their arms around and dot the city with campaign signs in a desperate attempt to get noticed by voters. Prior to the writ being dropped, despite a three-month pre-election period that prohibits them from using the perks of office to promote themselves, sitting MLAs can still easily campaign under the guise of office. Their very job is to engage with residents and that doesn't stop during an election year.
If the original directive chopped off heads, this one gives concussions.
The symptoms of the legislation's sickness are obvious. Territory-wide, of the 15 incumbents who ran in the 2011 territorial election, only one lost and three were acclaimed. Thirteen incumbents ran in the 2007 elections: only two were defeated and three were acclaimed. In the 2003 election, 15 incumbents ran, four were defeated and five acclaimed.
It is crystal clear the incumbents have the edge and voters - and prospective MLAs -- know it. Is it any wonder that open seats in territorial elections are highly competitive, often drawing four or more candidates while incumbents often face few if any challengers as evident by the high acclamation rate?
Voter turnout, meanwhile, especially in Yellowknife, is abysmal. In the 2011 election it averaged just 48 per cent, with a low of 30 per cent in Frame Lake. The high in Yellowknife was in Great Slave at 40 per cent.
Non-incumbents shouldn't have to wait at the start-line, poised to run until the writ is dropped.
Territorial elections law should be a pinnacle of democracy: it should be the governing legislation that evens the playing field between incumbents and non-incumbents where there are no political parties to override the reality of what consensus politics really is - a contest of personalities and name recognition.
At the very least, rules forbidding candidates from accepting donations ahead of the very short election period window should be relaxed to give newcomers more time to become competitive.
Our television screens have been filled with political ads since the last federal election. Nothing is stopping the federal political parties from stuffing their coffers with cash outside of elections. Why are NWT politicians so restricted?
While some limits must be in place to prevent an election free-for-all, the status quo in the territory is clearly harming democracy. Alas, the onus is on elected MLAs to fix it.
Youth participation inspiresDeh Cho Drum - Thursday, September 10, 2015
More than five per cent of Fort Liard's population is on the community's youth soccer team. That's more than 30 people in a community of less than 600.
For an initiative that is only six years old, the soccer program developed by Fort Liard's recreation centre blows most activities out of the water when it comes to participation and community enthusiasm.
As the community rallies around its soccer players, those youth experience achievements and success.
Recently, 16-year-old James Duntra was accepted into a prestigious soccer clinic in the U.K. affiliated with Manchester United.
He will now be training other youth in Fort Liard in a new form of indoor soccer known as futsal.
That is only one example of the impact a great recreation program can have.
The success of Fort Liard's soccer program is due in part to the sheer number of youth who participate. It is also due to the high level of enthusiasm those children bring to the sport.
Participation in sport keeps their school attendance high so they can attend tournaments, and it keeps them cheering each other on. The fact they are required to attend school in order to take part in games is another big step in the right direction, and it helps that there are numerous tournaments throughout the year to motivate players.
Participants are always looking forward to a game or an upcoming tournament, so much so that they hit the indoor soccer pitch five days per week, every week.
Younger players know they have to train well and hard for the annual February soccer tournament in Fort Simpson, and older players look forward to the annual Elks tournament in Hay River as well as the Arctic Winter Games, a true challenge for athletes who want to play globally.
Those who may doubt the soccer program's benefits have only to look at the fact that two-thirds, if not more, of participants are planning to try out for the Arctic Winter Games.
The community is fortunate to have such a well-built program to keep youth busy. Elsewhere in Canada, it is often a constant struggle, and sometimes a losing battle, to keep youth active and out of trouble.
Those communities could take a page out of Fort Liard's book. Having a sport the entire community can rally around affects everyone involved. It also provides a support system for any youth who might have otherwise gone astray.
Other jurisdictions country-wide should take note of Fort Liard's success and begin building accessible, affordable sports programs youth can be passionate about.
Far from homeInuvik Drum - Thursday, September 3, 2015
The refugee crisis in Europe and the Middle East is spilling over to Canada.
Despite months of headlines from across Europe signalling the problems, it took one photo of a drowned toddler to make people pay attention.
Now, there are demonstrations across the country pushing the federal government to not only honour its commitment to bring in 10,000 refugees, particularly from Syria where a civil war continues to rage, but to increase the amount of people Canada takes in. One demonstration took place in Inuvik on Sept. 6, drawing about 30 people who support welcoming refugees.
Canada has historically been a country of immigrants, frankly, to the detriment of aboriginal and Inuit people who were here from the beginning. That being said, more recent waves of migration have also been what made this country such an excellent place to live. People talk about Canada being a mosaic of cultures and that's what makes it strong, Canadians also like to see themselves as the good guys on the international stage; the peacekeepers, the providers of humanitarian aid, the people who stormed Juno Beach and liberated the Netherlands. If the country turns its back on this humanitarian crisis now, it will have truly lost any claim to good-guy status.
There are people who argue that the government should be helping people at home before reaching across oceans and continents to help people who should be someone else's problem.
They are correct in saying that there are massive, severe problems to solve right here at home - rampant addictions issues, a lack of resources to deal with them, housing crises, food insecurity, crumbling infrastructure, the list goes on -- but that doesn't mean there isn't room to look beyond borders. When parents have their second child, their love for the first doesn't divide in half, it doubles to encompass the new arrival instead. Compassion works like that, too. There is enough caring in this country for people at home and people in need in other places of the world.
If nothing else, the fear of potential shame should drive the country to action. There is a lot of emphasis in history books on the heroic liberation of Europe in the Second World War, how Allied Forces stormed into Germany and Poland and liberated camp after camp of Holocaust survivors. What is less publicized is the absolute refusal of many Western states to accept Jewish refugees in the 1930s and 1940s, for many of the same reasons people want to limit the number of Syrians coming into Canada now -- there isn't enough resources, Canada should care for its own first, existing measures are enough. Canada's restrictive immigration policies at the time largely closed the door on Jews seeking to flee Europe. This included 937 Jewish passengers of the M.S. St. Louis, who were refused entry into Canada. Many subsequently died in the Holocaust. More than 2,300 men were interned as "enemy aliens" from 1940 to 1943 in Canada, mostly Jewish refugees from Austria and Germany.
Behind it all is the belief that they are somehow different. As the child of a refugee, I can tell you that I do not feel different.
The GNWT has announced it wants to increase the population of the territory by 2,000 people. I'm not saying that 2,000 Syrian refugees should be brought to the NWT immediately.
But considering the stated goal of increasing the population on the one hand and seeing the hundreds of thousands of people fleeing their own countries for their lives on the other, begs some thought be given to the refugee situation.
While many likely don't want to come to the Arctic, someone should ask.
Don't let city election get drowned outYellowknifer - Wednesday, September 9, 2015
Democracy only works if people participate – voters and candidates stepping up to the plate.
If the municipal election were held today there would be no election. The mayor would be acclaimed for the third time in six elections and there would not be enough candidates to fill the eight seats on city council.
Nominations only opened on Friday so it's arguably early days yet but with two other larger elections taking place this fall – both federal and territorial – it seems reasonable to fear this municipal election risks being drowned by the greater drama – and greater reward for those seeking office – presented by these other contests.
City council has already lost two incumbents who will be seeking a promotion this year to the legislative assembly – Couns. Dan Wong and Cory Vanthuyne.
It will likely be an even greater struggle for Yellowknife's two main school boards, Yellowknife Education District No. 1 and Yellowknife Catholic schools. In 2012, after the city decided to cut the school boards loose to run their own elections, trustees complained of voter turnout dropping by as much as one-third. It won't be getting any easier this year.
Yet much is at stake.
This next mayor and city council will be deciding on a number of enormous issues, including whether to enter a bid on the $35-million Canada Winter Games in 2023 and redevelopment on 50 Street. Alas, the fewer candidates seeking election, the less debate and attention these issues will receive.
A burgeoning slate of iServeU candidates has brought an interesting if poorly understood concept of online direct voter involvement to the municipal election but more election choices are needed.
If anyone is considering giving city council a try, or even running for mayor, now is the time to put your hat in the ring.
Politicians also responsible for high gas pricesYellowknifer - Wednesday, September 9, 2015
The North has long suffered from high gas prices and they will remain high until the end of time.
This is the reality of being in an isolated region with a small customer base.
After years of price stagnation with regular gas costing $1.389 per litre, pump prices finally started to go down last November before rising again over the summer, then falling and rising again. This week the price of regular gas in Yellowknife sits at $1.239 per litre.
Last year's dip in gas prices came after the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs "invited" retailers to a meeting to explain why gas prices remained high while the global price of oil was dropping. Pump prices quickly began to drop after that.
Perhaps this was coincidence or maybe retailers really were listening to Yellowknife politicians agitating for regulation on gas prices. In any event, the lower gas prices didn't last for long even as the price of oil fell even further.
While it's great our politicians are speaking out for long-suffering gas consumers, they have very little influence on gas prices in general. Coun. Adrian Bell suggests that if only more commercial land was available for retailers then more gas stations could open, which would encourage competition and lower gas prices. At least four gas stations have closed over the last decade or so. It might therefore be reasonable to assume the retailers themselves believe there are enough gas stations operating in the city.
In any event, government itself bears plenty of responsibility for higher gas prices. The NWT fuel tax alone adds 10.7 cents per litre on gasoline, while raking in $18.7 million in annual revenue. If politicians are looking for gas price relief for consumers maybe they can start by cutting there.
Looking to regain credibilityEditorial Comment by Darrell Greer
Kivalliq News - Wednesday, September 9, 2015
Only time will tell if Glenn McLean of Baker Lake's recent acceptance of the position of interim president of the Kivalliq Chamber of Commerce is good news.
Hopefully, McLean still has enough interest in the region's business affairs to revitalize the once proud and influential chamber.
Arviat businessman and chamber executive member Ryan St. John has already come out publicly to endorse McLean as interim president.
St. John points to McLean's wealth of experience with the business community as something needed by the chamber to move forward.
And that may be.
But the first thing the chamber has to do is show a phoenix-like ability to rise from the ashes and be taken seriously as a player in Kivalliq business affairs once again.
The chamber also has to seriously focus on bringing fresh young blood into the fold, something, apparently, McLean has on his agenda during his time as interim president.
There can be no denying McLean's track record as a business entrepreneur, nor can his performance as an MLA be brought into question.
In fact, it was extremely disappointing to this corner when McLean announced he would not seek re-election at the time.
Ellie Cansfield of Rankin did a solid, if not overly-productive, job during her time as president, but the fact of the matter is the chamber had been on a slow downward spiral since Ray Mercer's retirement.
So now the chamber goes back to the veteran business person's talent pool in hopes McLean, not that far removed from Mercer's time line, can right the sinking ship.
It's a mission -- unless he has the interim tag removed and is given more time -- he cannot complete.
If the idea is to get the chamber back on course and implement a solid plan during the next two years to attract more youthful members to its executive, McLean could well be the right man to turn to at this particular time.
However, if he's just keeping the seat warm for a full-time president to slide into, he would be more effective leading a head-hunting mission to find his successor.
This may well be the chamber's last shot at regaining the credibility it once held.
McLean's been in the game long enough to know if you're going to do a job, you may as well do it right.
The question is: Is he still engaged enough to really care?
