On the front lines Weekend Yellowknifer - Wednesday, October 28, 2015
Few things are simple. This is especially true when it comes to mental illness and how society reacts to it. Last week, Yellowknifer amplified comments from Lydia Bardak, executive director of the NWT John Howard Society, decrying the way in which mentally ill people are dealt with.
"We rely on the police and the courts to take care of them," she said.
"And the police and the courts are not the best place to be taking care of people with severe disabilities."
While this is true to some degree there is no readily identifiable alternative at present.
Police especially are usually the first line of defence for a person with mental illness who has become a danger to themselves or others; and if that person has come in contact with RCMP, it's often for good reason.
And while there have been well-publicized accounts of police interactions gone bad - the tragic 2012 shooting death of Karen Lander is one prime example - there are far more instances that go unreported where police have saved lives after apprehending potentially dangerous people who stopped taking their medication.
This is not to say society is anywhere near a solution. Even Health Minister Glen Abernethy says the new Mental Health Act doesn't go far enough in helping those with mental illness.
"(The act) is going to give us tools, it's going to allow us to provide a greater range of support for people who are struggling with mental health but the legislation itself isn't the solution," he told Yellowknifer last week.
Wellness Court, which was established a little more than a year ago, seeks to divert people from jail who struggle with mental health and addictions issues by allowing them to live in the community and go through counselling - the process of which will be taken into account when they're eventually sentenced.
But even this has its flaws - a lack of readily available housing makes Wellness Court less accessible, as Yellowknifer reported this June. Transitional housing in Yellowknife - kind of the stepping stone between homelessness and permanent housing - has waiting lists ranging from five to 10 (at the men's Bailey House) to 100 (for the YWCA family housing program.)
Mental illness' relationship to society is extremely complex and tackling it means coming at it from a number of different directions.
In many instances people must learn to self diagnose symptoms and society must treat mental illness as the health issue that it is and stop stigmatizing people suffering from its affects.
In the meantime, when those who pose a danger to themselves and others spiral out of control, we have the police and courts as a safety net to catch them.
No excuse for health centre pushbackDeh Cho Drum - Thursday, October 22, 2015
Recently, the territorial government revealed its plans to delay Fort Simpson's new health centre seven years.
Citing reasons such as incomplete planning studies and lack of location, the government has pushed back construction to 2022-23, despite its own engineering report from 2009 that flagged the building for reconstruction.
According to Nahendeh MLA Kevin Menicoche, that report says the current structure has a crumbling foundation.
A problem like that is not something that will keep for more than a decade, because crumbling foundations often lead to structural instability and a host of other problems with the building, which is 40 years old.
It has already been six years since the initial report. If the government wants to push back construction a full five years, the least it should do is justify its decision - and, in the meantime, provide some assurances to residents that their health centre won't crumble around them while they wait.
Otherwise, it should keep to its commitment of building a new health centre within the next two years.
The fact that the government can red-flag the health centre for reconstruction, and then seemingly on a whim - certainly without community consultation - un-flag that same building shows the government does not respect its own priority list. How, then, are residents supposed to believe the government will ever do what it says it will?
The government's reasons for pushing back the date of construction are not without merit. In fact, the process has moved so sluggishly up to this date that a pushback should come as no surprise.
However, that same sluggishness rests solely on the shoulders of the government. Planning studies and building locations are directly under the purview of the territorial government and no one else can get those done. By failing to deliver, the government reveals it has not taken its responsibility to smaller communities seriously.
The government should not be surprised, then, when residents of smaller communities become disillusioned. Those residents are often sick of hearing about funding being "found" for project overruns elsewhere and large capital projects in Yellowknife, such as the Stanton Territorial Hospital revitalization.
Roads, a lack of municipal funding and housing are just a few of the major problems in the Deh Cho the territory has failed to tackle.
Then again, this is an election year. Perhaps the government feels announcing Stanton's revitalization is more likely to get them votes than quietly working to complete a health centre they promised six years ago. That is certainly how it must look to the community members affected by the project's pushback.
This is yet another example of the territorial government prioritizing projects that serve centralized residents over those further away.
An impressive turnout at pollsInuvik Drum - Thursday, October 22, 2015
If the lineup at the polls at 5 p.m. Oct. 19 was any indication, Inuvik turned out to vote in force.
Regardless of the outcome, this in itself is a huge win. There is so much rhetoric around apathy and disenfranchisement, especially in places that have largely ethnic minority populations in terms of the general Canadian population, like the North.
On Monday, we went to the polls and saw men and women of all ages lining up by the hundreds to vote in the federal election. Despite multiple stations set up at the Midnight Sun Complex, they were not able to keep up with the tide of voters who showed up just after work. This may have meant some inconvenience for those doing the waiting but it still represents an impressive message and trend towards involvement. Last federal election, a little more than 1,000 people voted in Inuvik, according to Elections Canada. Just eyeballing the situation Monday, one-fifth of that at the very least were present at one time at the polling station.
The reality is that, perhaps more than anywhere else in the country, federal politics have an impact on the North. While devolution continues to cede decision-making power to the territorial government in areas like resource revenue, education and health, our local governments are still overwhelmingly reliant on transfer payments from Ottawa. First Nations, Metis, and Inuit governments -- who represent a majority of the population here -- also have a direct relationship with the federal government in a way that is unique to the North. Residential schools were a creation of the federal government, as was the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
But the real reasons to vote, and why it's so exciting that so many people turned out this time around, were outside sliding down the small hill to the parking lot, waiting for their parents and family members to cast their ballot. At least a dozen children scampered around the entrance of the recreation centre on Monday evening. Far from being bored or uninterested by what was going on inside, a fair few of them had answers when asked who they would vote for if they could. Of course there is no guarantee they weren't simply parroting their parents. But it's still impressive that children between about four- and 12-years old have such strong opinions.
We asked those same children why it is important to vote and what would motivate them to do so if they could. While some answered that the whole process looked like fun, a few went a bit deeper and talked about choosing who would represent them. One, however, said she would vote in order to keep us all safe.
We couldn't agree more. Well done, Inuvik.
Election death knell for Games bidYellowknifer - Wednesday, October 21, 2015
One thing appears certain with the results from Monday's municipal election; the city's bid to host the Canada Winter Games in 2023 will not proceed. Of eight city councillors elected, six, including all four incumbents re-elected, told Yellowknifer they are adamantly opposed.
The $35-million bid, officially rejected last month by the Yellowknife Chamber of Commerce as too risky, would almost certainly require Yellowknifers to backstop cost overruns while demanding an enormous amount of sweat equity in terms of volunteers, of which 4,000 would be needed.
The territorial government, while strongly supportive of the Games coming to Yellowknife, refuses to guarantee financial support until the city makes a bid.
With four incumbents elected - three of them as the top three vote getters - it is tempting to bill this election as a status quo election. The status quo then is wary of city administration proposals for grandiose mega-projects.
Indeed, one item that received some traction from Mayor Mark Heyck's sole challenger, John Himmelman, was the city's $1.45 million purchase of the 50/50 lot downtown.
Prior to the election, administration was strongly pressuring council to approve a $6.5-million plan to redevelop the lot as requested by the owners of the adjacent Centre Square Mall.
Having already been pushed into approving an ill-conceived scheme to build confusing and under-utilized bike lanes on 52 Avenue, council has been loath to accept the 50/50 lot proposal to date. There is clearly a lack of confidence among city councillors that administration can deliver on a vision that works and won't go over-budget.
After the 2012 election, Dennis Kefalas, replacing a controversial Bob Long as senior administrative officer, promised a "blue collar" approach to city governance -- one that was focused more on every day issues such as fixing potholes and less on "big projects."
This may have been the intent but it's clear the perception remains among residents that city hall is no less dissuaded from big projects than it was three years ago. It's also troubling that an aversion to transparency remains, whether it be removing staff phone numbers and e-mail addresses from the city website or refusing to disclose the amount on cost overruns for water and sewer repairs at Northland Trailer Park.
Voters decided Monday night to keep a few old faces among the new as a bulwark against administration's desire for pursuing expensive projects in a time of financial uncertainty. This new council will certainly have its work cut out for them over the next three years.
Liberal wave rider must make good on promises to stay afloatYellowknifer - Wednesday, October 21, 2015
Now that a wave of Liberal red has washed over the NWT, a victorious Michael McLeod finds himself in a dicey dilemma.
Dennis Bevington, the three-term MP representing the NWT on behalf the NDP, had little to fear that he would have to deliver on promises if elected. Except for a few weeks at the start of this election, the NDP have never been a serious contender for control of the purse strings of the country.
McLeod, however, having promised the territory the moon without the blessing of his leader, will now be part of a majority government and is openly advocating for a spot on cabinet.
During his successful election campaign, McLeod has promised to make building a $1-billion-plus highway through Mackenzie Valley a top priority, as a well as an all-season road to Whati and to dredge out the harbour in Hay River.
He also issued a news release promising up to $20-million to pay for the replacement of a subsurface water line from Yellowknife River to the city's water treatment plant, to help out with the cost of building a new Stanton Territorial Hospital, and to increase the Northern residency tax deduction by 50 per cent. He later admitted he hadn't cleared these promises with prime minister-designate Justin Trudeau.
Nonetheless, now a part of the government, McLeod will be under pressure to deliver something substantial to the NWT.
Yellowknifer congratulates McLeod on his victory but will remind him that there is an old saying about the brain writing cheques the mouth can't cash.
The show must go on!Editorial Comment by Darrell Greer
Kivalliq News - Wednesday, October 21, 2015
I had an interesting conversation with an individual whose opinion I almost always respect this past week.
I was, more or less, bemoaning the fact there are so few performing arts programs on the go in the Kivalliq, when the conversation took a dramatic turn into the world of cultural sensitivity.
Truth be told, I was a little upset to be told throatsinging and drum dancing are the only truly relevant cultural expressions in the region - artistically speaking of course -- and all other forms are just further examples of the ongoing European or southern assault on Inuit culture, especially among youth.
Then, of course, I was told having lived here so long, I should understand that better than most (most what, exactly, was not further elaborated on).
If I have not become culturally sensitive since I made Rankin Inlet my home in 1998, I'm missing something!
Unless, of course, you equate silence and the total absence of an opinion on any topic to cultural sensitivity.
In that case, I am, most assuredly, culturally insensitive.
In my off-the-cuff remark, I was envisioning the odd play in the community, maybe a drama club at Maani Ulujuk Ilinniarvik to rival that of the one in Arviat, and more introductory courses or programs focusing on theatrical productions of the spoken word (my apologies to mimes everywhere).
Believe it or not, I am not just a hockey guy!
I also made the mistake of wondering aloud what might have happened to the one or two attempts at adult theatre I'm aware of throughout the years in Rankin.
To that I was bashed, once again, over my insensitive head with the theory of the culturally unimportant, so doomed to failure.
I've used my share of ink to highlight the annual visit of the Missoula Children's Theatre in Rankin.
I usually go to the gym three times during the mini-troupe's visit, culminating in the taking of vast numbers of photographs during the students' dress rehearsal.
That way, I avoid making a gym full of parents and friends upset by being at the front of the stage during the main show and ending-up in the majority of every picture taken during the evening.
Call it sensitivity!
While at the gym, I see nothing but smiles on the faces of the kids taking part.
And, usually sitting unobtrusively in the back, I rarely see anything but pride on the faces of the parents watching the show.
As well, though (much to my disappointment) I've never seen it live, I dedicate quite a bit of ink to the Arviat Drama Club's efforts throughout the school year.
And if the smiling faces I see in the submitted photos -- and the excitement I hear in the voices of the students I talk to - aren't genuine, then director Gord Billard truly has created a troupe of mega-talented actors.
If I'm wrong, I sincerely apologize.
I just cannot accept the notion of the theatre being an assault on Inuit culture.
Performing art is to be embraced, enjoyed and explored at all levels.
A little common sense in the work chosen and it enriches us all.
Surely, we haven't reached the point where something must be wrong if we're all enjoying it together, culture aside.
Have we?
The case for red tapeNorthwest Territories/News North - Monday, October 19, 2015
A mine is essentially a hole in the ground.
The concentric circles that form diamond mines are a familiar image to Northerners - some think they are beautiful, others look at them and lament the untouched wilderness they used to be.
The Yellowknife area is littered with locally iconic headframes hovering over their respective mine shafts. There are people fighting to save these structures while others brainstorm ways to keep the hundreds of thousands of tons of toxic arsenic trioxide from seeping into the water system.
In the Sahtu, a debate has formed around whether to let developers dig fracking wells: some dream of economic opportunities while others fear how the process will damage the land.
Mines create a boon of economic activity and leave a mess. For better or worse, this is the bottom line of the extraction industry, which happens to be what the territorial economy relies on to flourish. And, because of our isolation, conditions have to be just right for businesses to set up shop here.
This is why the NWT and Nunavut Chamber of Mines, an organization that exists to represent the interests of the mining industry, has been vocal in criticizing the labyrinthine permitting and land-claims processes involved in getting projects off the ground.
This June, chamber director Tom Hoefer told News/North it was "ludicrous" the Tlicho's Wek'eezhii Land and Water Board required an environmental assessment before allowing Husky Oil to explore Whitebeach Point, a popular, and very beautiful, area along the North Arm of Great Slave Lake, in Tlicho territory.
Husky Oil had submitted an application to drill a number of holes in the area in search of the type of sand used in hydraulic fracturing. In response, the Wek'eezhii Land and Water Board deemed there was significant enough public concern over the proposed project and asked for an environmental assessment. Instead of undergoing the assessment, Husky Oil backed away from the project entirely.
Hoefer's comment that Husky Oil was only proposing to dig a "bunch of wee shallow holes" is a tone deaf response to the concerns of people who live in the area and care about Whitebeach Point. His assessment that environmental reviews make investors nervous about spending money in the territory may be true but it's no reason to open the floodgates to development without weighing the impact development will have.
While Whitebeach Point was aborted this summer, Mountain Province Diamonds and DeBeers Canada will forge ahead with the Gahcho Kue diamond mine. They jumped the hoops, filled out the forms, negotiated the impact benefit agreements, dotted every 'i' and crossed every 't'. And it certainly wasn't easy.
Just a few months ago, the future of its sister mine, Snap Lake, was on the line over the amount of dissolved solids allowed in effluent waste. In the end, the Mackenzie Valley Land and Water Board accepted the companies' arguments and upped the limit.
This decision extends Snap Lake's lifespan another seven years. Gahcho Kue, meanwhile, is expected to extract an estimated 4.5 million carats of diamonds per year for the next 12 years.
Not every potential mining project is going to make it. The Northwest Territories is a jurisdiction with several First Nations, several different negotiated land-claim agreements and five land and water boards.
It's complicated to get mineral and oil extraction projects off the ground. But knowing what we know now about the impact they have on the landscape, why shouldn't it be?
Time government looks at high cost of transportationNunavut/News North - Monday, October 19, 2015
Longtime Northerners often chuckle when distant relatives, friends of friends or business acquaintances want to come for a visit and ask which highway leads to Nunavut.
The unknowing are familiar with the Trans-Canada Highway, which connects coast to coast, even continuing across vast bodies of water to continue through the towns and villages of Newfoundland and Vancouver Island. The highway doesn't connect to the Arctic coast or cross the vast tundra north of the provinces of Manitoba, Ontario or Quebec. Instead, the 25 communities in Nunavut are wholly dependent on air transportation. That's when the potential visitors receive the greatest surprise. The prices charged by airlines serving Nunavut, in many cases, are out of reach for the average traveller who wants to stay in Canada.
This is a territory unlike any other in Canada. There are no roads. A person can't travel by boat between communities and there is no passenger service on ships to coastal hamlets. For all intents and purposes, the only thing that connects Nunavut communities is the highest-priced form of transportation -- scheduled airline service.
A vast majority of food is shipped to communities by air. Computers, televisions, bicycles, snowmobiles and ATVs all come by plane.
Some delegates to the Nunavut Association of Mayors meeting in Cambridge Bay last week had to travel for four days to get to the Kitkmeot hamlet from their home communities.
The mayor of Pond Inlet, Charlie Inuarak, was asking questions of Peter McCart, a Canadian North executive, about airline schedules under a new codeshare agreement between the major Northern airlines, at the Cambridge Bay meeting when he suddenly blurted out that he would like to buy one of Canadian North's jets, prompting laughter from the entire delegation.
It is not such a far-fetched idea.
Canada would not be the country it is without the Trans-Canada Highway. And it wouldn't be the same country without Nunavut and the Northwest Territories.
Because of the vast distances and the increasing importance of airline service -- for passengers and cargo -- it is time for government to look at playing a role in Northern airlines.
There is no question it is an essential service and, by virtue of the codeshare agreement, is becoming controlled like a monopoly. Therefore, it is up to public governance to keep them honest.
The airlines can provide their costs of doing business, then government can legislate the profit and set the fares. Groceries will be most heavily subsidized, then rates will increase incrementally for individual passengers, business travellers and government travel. Models can be adapted from other regulated industries.
In the south, roads, bridges and transit are paid by government. Maybe it is time transportation in the North also becomes a government responsibility.
