Treatment centre only one piece of the puzzleNorthwest Territories/News North - Monday, November 23, 2015
Just over a month ago, a Yellowknife man was sentenced to prison for the rape and murder of Lutsel K'e elder Yvonne Desjarlais in the downtown core of the territory's capital city.
David Harrison had invited Desjarlais to drink with him late on a December night in 2012. The two were holed up in the confines of a closed downtown restaurant when Desjarlais went to leave. She never made it home.
Alcohol played an obvious role in this tragedy, in that the perpetrator had been drinking when he committed his crime. In fact, alcohol or drugs are involved in this way in most of the assaults, suicides and murders in this territory.
Harrison also has fetal alcohol syndrome, which also came up as a factor in his lengthy, violent criminal record. Fetal alcohol syndrome (FASD) is a condition caused by exposure to alcohol while in the womb. FASD causes a spectrum of symptoms, which can include vulnerability to addiction.
Many with FASD won't end up with any tendency toward violence but many of the people who cycle through the justice system over and over again are struggling with it, whether or not they have been diagnosed. Chances are, they haven't been. Most people with FASD aren't diagnosed and live their lives just like anybody else - except without any extra support. This is a fact about the territory's population base few leaders directly address. Not offering support to people with FASD contributes to lower graduation rates, higher unemployment rates, higher incarceration rates and, of course, higher addiction rates.
In the wake of National Addictions Awareness Week as well as this week's territorial election, many are talking about the tragic consequences - such as the murder of Yvonne Desjarlais - alcohol and drug abuse have on society. To appreciate the complexity of the problem, consider how cyclical and complicated it is.
Many people struggle with addiction. They have children. These children see addictive behaviour at a young age and to them, that's normal. A lot of the time, this behaviour is accompanied by neglect or abuse. Children experience trauma at a young age. They learn to repeat it. The cycle starts anew. Fold FASD into the mix and the prospect of tackling addictions gets even more complicated. Then, fold in the fact many of those who struggle with addiction live in tiny, isolated communities and the complications are exacerbated further.
How can the territorial government reverse this trend? One solution has come up numerous times during the territorial election - a treatment centre. But this is no silver bullet. Even a well-staffed building with quality programming can only help people who are within that building.
Once discharged, a patient's healing has only just begun. He or she must return home. Home could be any of the NWT's far-flung communities where support levels are low, unemployment is high and old friends who still party are still waiting to party.
When the 18th legislative assembly sits down to start their new chapter of governance, they have the opportunity to approach the problem from a different angle. In fact, they have the opportunity to approach the problem from many angles, because a treatment centre may be an important piece of the addictions puzzle but it's only one piece.
Importing booze overtakes responsible drinking planNunavut/News North - Monday, November 23, 2015
There appears to be an unhealthy disconnect between the territorial government's approach to providing access to booze for its residents to purchase and the reality for those who consume alcoholic beverages in Nunavut and want to buy bottles for home consumption.
On one hand we see a territorial government pumping a half-million dollars from the current budget into a campaign to promote socially responsible drinking. Yet the current restrictions placed on consumers who wish to purchase beer, wine or spirits are so onerous, residents are reluctant to listen to a message from government after going through all the steps required to get a bottle.
As most adult residents know, to purchase booze in Nunavut for home consumption, one must purchase a permit from the territorial government, then wait anywhere from days to weeks for the order to arrive. Not only is there a waiting period, consumers are forced to pay the shipping costs, in a territory where air freight charges are among the highest in Canada, no matter where they live. Those in Iqaluit must order from the liquor warehouse in Rankin Inlet or from outside the territory. But if you live in Rankin Inlet, you have to order from the liquor warehouse in Iqaluit, or place an order from the south.
Logically, one would think a product would be supplied from the closest warehouse. However, there is a level playing field in the sense that the distance barrier experienced by residents of the two large centres is no different than what is faced by residents of the other 19 communities in Nunavut where alcohol is allowed.
The Nunavut Liquor Commission's system is so inconvenient, many people are finding it easier to get their booze from outside Nunavut. The commission sold $779,000 worth of import permits in 2014-15, its highest ever, and saw liquor sales by Rankin Inlet customers from the commission fall by 76 per cent over the past five years.
What's happening is people are buying millions of dollars worth of booze from the south each year. People in the Kivalliq region buy beer, wine and spirits from Manitoba, the Kitikmeot region buys from Alberta and the Baffin buys from Ontario and Manitoba like never before. The shipping cost is similar, the selection is better and orders are filled within a day or two.
Consumers have become accustomed to the process of buying alcohol from outside the territory. The result is problem drinkers have easier access to booze from family, friends, neighbours or bootleggers than ever before, contrary to the government's intention to restrict the availability of alcohol.
Bigger isn't always better Weekend Yellowknifer - Friday, November 20, 2015
In the last few weeks talk has turned to the future of the current Stanton Territorial Hospital.
Although the territorial government has brainstormed a number of acceptable uses for the old building, redevelopment will ultimately be the responsibility of a private sector company due to an agreement made with Boreal Health Partnership, which is constructing and operating the new facility.
Some possible options include medical and dental offices, pharmacies, assisted living or accommodations for hospital staff. Other possibilities include space for restaurants, hair salons, gyms or child care.
Recently, Kam Lake incumbent David Ramsay suggested converting the building into a mental health and addictions centre during a territorial elections forum. All of these ideas are no doubt well-intentioned, but the question remains: why exactly do we need a new building anyway?
Up until a few months ago, the GNWT said it would be expanding the existing hospital over the course of five years, doubling its size to 24,000 square metres. Then in October, with little pomp or ceremony, it revealed it would instead be constructing an entirely new facility.
The project went from an estimated cost of $200 million in 2011 to its current $350-million price tag and the reasoning was bluntly chocked up to economic sensibility. With the GNWT clawing back funding across the board and constantly reiterating how strapped for cash it is, what other initiative will lose to make up that extra money? How will it pay staff for the new positions at the hospital and those in this new facility - whatever it may be - as well? Is it forgetting the mounting upgrades the current hospital requires - the very reason a new hospitable was needed in the first place. Will there be money set aside to bring the building up to the standard it needs to be at in order to accommodate any one of those suggestions? Or will it be left empty as has been the case, with other former GNWT buildings.
This isn't the first time the territorial government has embarked on major projects with escalating and unexplained costs. Most recent examples are the Deh Cho Bridge and the Inuvik-Tuktoyuktuk highway.
Given that a new crop of MLAs are set to be elected to the legislative assembly, the GNWT needs to provide justification for any decision to further burden taxpayers. Overspending without explanation never makes economic sense.
Council must be watchdog, not lapdog Weekend Yellowknifer - Friday, November 20, 2015
With a draft city budget revealing about $113 million in planned infrastructure spending over the next five years as well as $16.6 million in city capital spending for 2016 alone, city councillor Niels Konge was correct -- and disturbingly alone -- when he asked what the real pocket book impact would be to taxpayers.
According to the draft budget forecast, these projects will mean increased property taxation to the tune of 2.87 per cent in 2016.
On top of tax increases city staff is recommending rate increases over the coming years for water, sewer and solid waste management.
While categorized as "fees" rather than taxes, the semantic distinction loses its significance when it comes to writing a cheque to pay for it all.
Good on Konge for voicing concern over the impact of both potential tax increases and user fee increases. He takes his role as administration watchdog seriously.
That's his job and the job of each council member. It's a big part of what they were elected to do.
Every line item in this draft budget represents taxpayer dollars. Our councillors were elected to watch over how those dollars are spent and to keep an eye to how they are raised, whether through taxation or borrowing.
Administration and council are bound to clash in coming budget deliberations, and clash they must if councillors are to be watchdogs and not mere lapdogs.
Domestic violence absent from
election talksDeh Cho Drum - Thursday, November 19, 2015
Candidates for the Deh Cho and Nahendeh ridings have circled the spectrum on social issues they feel should be addressed in the next legislative assembly.
Housing, youth and health care have all appeared regularly in campaign messaging; however, the discourse around one of the territory's largest social issues is seriously lacking.
Domestic violence is difficult to address because it so often happens behind closed doors.
It happens to families you would never expect.
It happens to the poor, rich and middle class.
It happens to same-sex couples and it happens to men.
The failure of candidates to raise their voices about domestic violence reflects the failure of the GNWT to fully address these problems and find effective solutions.
Admittedly, Deh Cho Drum contributed to this silence with a recent profile of Deh Cho incumbent Michael Nadli.
The profile failed to address Nadli's recent conviction for assault causing bodily harm -- an omission that slipped past many eyes on the way to print.
Those of us who fail to speak up about domestic violence enable the abuse to continue.
Deh Cho Drum has taken steps to rectify this by reaching out to Nadli about his conviction, asking if he would make domestic violence a priority if reelected. He responded, "given the opportunity, I am committed to help in addressing the high levels of domestic violence and ensure that programs and services are in place to assist people that find themselves in those situations."
Often, we hear advocacy organizations refer to "breaking the silence" surrounding domestic abuse. The silence they refer to is a personal one, individualized for every victim. The silence is disenfranchisement, fear and hopelessness.
It must be broken over and over again if our society ever hopes to address this issue.
In the final days of the election campaign, candidates should focus their time and effort on engaging with community members about domestic violence.
Perhaps it will give them perspective into how rampant an issue it is and how many lives it has scarred.
It may also give them a way forward, if elected, to bring potential solutions to the next legislative assembly.
A place to growInuvik Drum - Thursday, November 19, 2015
No longer homeless itself, the Emergency Warming Centre Society can resume its important work of helping those who need it most.
Last week, the society and Ground Search and Rescue organizations went before town council to ask for the use of the Berger Building, more commonly known as the former home of Inuvik Works. Ground Search and Rescue (GSAR) withdrew its application and after some discussion, the building was sold to the society for $1, allowing it to get underway with preparations to open by the end of the month.
While it's good that the situation did not result in two groups scrapping over limited resources, it did highlight the needs organizations in town are facing and the help that is needed to meet them.
Community groups are always looking for more resources and more options. While a building is a major commitment, it can also lend itself to an increase in programming as well as -- obviously -- a concrete space around which to gather.
The now-defunct Inuvik Works program was brought up at both the most recent MLA candidates' forum and the municipal forum last month. People spoke of it as something that truly worked for this community and regretted it was no longer operating, all the while pointing towards the successes that are still apparent.
While there are certainly many more hurdles than just a building to getting such a program up and running again, it may be worth considering now that the program's former home is back in public discussion.
There is nothing to say that a single group could -- or should -- take on this admittedly large task. As we keep hearing, going it alone rarely results in longevity of organizations and their initiatives. When people and groups work together, however, much more can be accomplished.
Those partnerships are already in place simply by the nature of living in a small community. Often boards share members with each other as there are a limited number of people who are truly active in such things. On the one hand, this makes it easier to communicate between organizations, but on the other, it means the same people are always the ones doing the brunt of the work. While the tireless volunteer is an attractive narrative, it's tough on the ones living it.
At the candidates' forum Nov. 12, a resident asked a heartfelt question about homelessness in the community and received a round of applause from the audience and passionate answers from the candidates. Hopefully that sentiment and outpouring of concern for the people who need a second chance or a helping hand will extend to action with an existing group seeking to help those in need, or perhaps even to new initiatives with fresh ideas.
Don't miss out on political partyYellowknifer - Wednesday, November 18, 2015
It should be hardly surprising to anybody that the people who benefit most from consensus government are the MLAs elected to office.
This is why there has been zero will to change the system from within the ranks of the legislative assembly. One of the most obvious problems with consensus government is the difficulty holding individual MLAs to account for the failings of government, a point raised during an all-candidates debate at the Tree of Peace Friendship Centre earlier this month.
"They (residents) are not seeing the level of accountability in the current system that they want to see," said Yellowknife Centre candidate Julie Green during the forum.
In a political party system, elected members risk getting thrown out if their party fails to deliver on their promises. In the NWT's consensus system, candidates typically don't make promises because it's unlikely they could be enacted in a system where 19 MLAs are elected as individuals, mainly by popularity and name recognition.
Governments in the NWT are not formed by voters, that's up to the MLAs when they select the premier and cabinet - by secret ballot, of course. It is therefore all but impossible for candidates to tout a comprehensive plan to constituents for the 18th legislative assembly and be held accountable for it.
Take Frame Lake candidate Roy Erasmus Sr. who wants an addictions treatment centre in Yellowknife. Can he promise one? Only if he is made health minister and gets the support of colleagues in cabinet. If he were elected to the assembly but not cabinet, he would be free to push this cause but that would be about it. This is something to which Yellowknife Centre incumbent Robert Hawkins should be able to relate. He has been pushing for a treatment centre in Yellowknife for years.
"Government after government after government continues to find new ways to defend doing nothing," said Hawkins in the legislative assembly on Nov. 5, 2012. Since then, the territory has gone from one treatment centre -- lacking a detox centre and operating at half-capacity -- to none. Kam Lake MLA David Ramsay talked up the benefits of party politics nicely back in 1999.
"There's the argument that the present system lacks vision and a leader," said the then Progressive Conservative party riding president.
It's hard to imagine him saying something like that today after 12 years in the legislative assembly - the last four in cabinet.
But if there is a problem with consensus government it's hardly the fault of incumbents that it has so long endured. There is nothing stopping people from forming their own parties and pushing their own candidates like IserveU did in last month's municipal election. The NDP ran a slate of candidates in the 1999 territorial election.
Everyone of them lost but it doesn't mean party politics cannot be more successful in the future. All people need to do is form a party or join one - for the next election of course.
Back to the drawing board for climate alarmistsEditorial Comment by Darrell Greer
Kivalliq News - Wednesday, November 18, 2015
Many folks have watched a TV or movie courtroom drama and tried to figure out the truth before a verdict was reached.
These days, it can be a lot tougher trying to figure out which professional witness is coming down on the righteous side of the facts than any of the everyday folks taking the witness stand.
It doesn't seem to matter what the topic -- both the prosecution and defence manage to produce experts in the field, (often with a whole vocabulary of letters after their names), who give diametrically opposed views on the matter.
And, just as often, both experts seem to make perfect sense.
While it's easy to shake one's head in perplexed bemusement as a Hollywood drama runs its course, in the real world the ramifications of such expert opinions are simply mindboggling.
And none so much as the ongoing battle over global warming: myth or fact?
Having called Rankin Inlet my home for the past 17 years, and having grown to have great respect, love and admiration for the North, I've spent more hours than I care to admit reading various reports, studies and opinions on what, if anything, of significance is really happening to our precious little blue planet.
Two things have resulted from my efforts. First, I have the headache to end all headaches.
Second, my humble opinion is that the concept of manmade global warming is a whole lot more manmade than the actual warming part.
Those who believe manmade global warming is very real, and a healthy chunk of our inhabitable world will be underwater one day in the all-too-soon future, truly believe what they're saying.
Ditto those who say hogwash to the whole affair.
The one thing both sides share in common is that most of the "science" involved with this doomsday scenario is based on conjecture.
And, if you're the skeptical type by nature, you probably all ready know when it comes to money being made, Chicken Little has a whole lot more to gain than the naysaying wallabies.
The wallabies got to jiggle their collective pouches in indignance earlier this month when the latest NASA report showed Antartica to be growing, not shrinking, and, instead of adding to rising sea levels, it's actually reducing them by 0.23 mm per year.
That's a major crack in the catastrophic egg Chicken Little has been trying to lay on folks for the past two decades and the naysaying wallabies know it.
NASA's study showed that from 1992 until 2001, the Antarctic's ice sheet showed a net gain of 112 billion tonnes of ice per year.
Chicken Little has been forced to admit the Antarctic's contribution to rising sea levels has been put on hold for awhile, but it has all ready begun squawking the net gain has been alarmingly reduced in recent years.
Reduced, yes. But one would be pressed to be overly alarmed by a net gain of 82 billion tons of ice per year between 2003 and 2008.
The wallabies should enjoy their moment of I-told-you-so glee while they can, as there's no doubt climate alarmists are all ready playing with a computer model in some remote tropical locale.
And they'll have us drowning in a pool of fear again in short order, just as soon as they figure out how to make the numbers work!
