A Homeful hopeYellowknifer - Wednesday, November 4, 2015
It seems highly unlikely that society will ever truly rid itself of homelessness but that doesn't mean it shouldn't try.
Enter the Yellowknife Homeful Partnership - a group of Yellowknife businesses who have bandied together with the stated aim of ending homelessness in Yellowknife by providing housing to the city's less fortunate.
A number of the partnership's members are property owners - people who know a thing or two about putting roofs over heads.
The group has already pointed out that a lot of office spaces in the city are former homes and could be converted back now that they are vacant.
And if some landlords are willing to donate apartments to the cause as suggested by Kelly Hayden, vice-president of Northern Properties REIT, so much the better.
The immediate hope is to work with government agencies, as well as the city's Community Advisory Board on Homelessness and NGOs to find housing for 10 people by winter.
Hayden, who is part of the partnership, said there is "enough money in the system" to address homelessness but setting up a one-stop shop for people facing homelessness includes some upfront costs.
Many people are homeless because they have serious mental health and addictions issues.
This can be problematic for landlords willing to donate. Some type of enforcement will be necessary to address this to avoid property damage and conflict with neighbours. The one-stop shop pitched by partnership participants Hayden and architect Gino Pin, may be an ideal place to direct people to the treatment they need in order to go about their lives.
It's making progress in Medicine Hat, Alta., where the Housing First model has delivered a 76 per cent success rate. If the same technique is as successful here, imagine what it would mean to the Yellowknife homeless population, not to mention the state of commerce downtown, where loitering and homelessness has driven shoppers and business away. A 100 per cent success rate in ending homelessness is perhaps a little ambitious.
Not everyone, after all, wants to be helped but if the partnership can produce numbers anywhere close to those in Medicine Hat the outcome would be nothing short of miraculous.
Plan for power should be a GNWT priorityYellowknifer - Wednesday, November 4, 2015
Last month during the municipal election, discussion turned to the option of nuclear power as an alternative power for the city.
In other years it might seem like an outlandish idea but not when hydro-producing rivers are literally running dry and the cost of diesel to supplement this failing energy sector costs $30,000 minimum per day.
This has been the case over the last year and appears likely scenario for some time to come.
The NWT is not a place that takes chances. As the proverbial Northern middle child, it looks left then right - waiting for someone else to make the first move.
The City of Whitehorse is reducing its reliance on diesel by replacing two generators with a new system fueled by liquified natural gas, cutting costs by approximately $2.2 million per year, while the NWT Power Corporation crosses its fingers and remains "cautiously optimistic" that water levels will rise.
Thanks for the wake-up call Mr. HarperEditorial Comment by Darrell Greer
Kivalliq News - Wednesday, November 4, 2015
I was contemplating my own personal viewpoint on Stephen Harper's fall from grace this past week, and realized what had turned me so absolutely against our former prime minister was his willingness to bend almost any rule to get what he wanted.
Harper's heavy-handedness, and his cone-of-silence approach to governance that muzzled almost the entire scientific community, took me back to the years just before my father's death, and how, in our quickly changing society, he would often remark this wasn't the type of freedom he had gone to war for.
Alarm bells sounded for me when Harper asked the Governor General to prorogue Parliament so he could escape a vote of confidence.
Harper actually pulled the stunt twice, once in 2008 and again in 2009.
Some would even argue that he did it a third time, when, in 2007, he asked to push back parliamentary business to allow the Tories to prepare a new throne speech.
The one angle of this I had not explored, however, was that I should be grateful to Mr. Harper for reminding me how easily our parliamentary system can be manipulated.
That hit me over the head after reading a column distributed by Troy Media that was written by Doreen Barrie, a professor of political science at the University of Calgary.
Barrie wrote of five reasons to thank Harper for often seeing himself as a supreme ruler, rather than an elected prime minister.
All five issues she touched upon (increased voter turnout, forcing Canadians to contemplate existential questions, alerting us to the dangers that lurk in our parliamentary system, awakening two sleeping giants and making us realize just how fragile democracy is) impact Northerners on one level or another, but awaking the sleeping giants of aboriginals and youth strike us most directly.
With one Inuk and 10 First Nations candidates being elected on Oct. 19, one would be compelled to agree the giants won't be back to sleep anytime soon.
First Nations and Inuit share many concerns, and there is now a substantial aboriginal voice to be dealt with, especially in areas of health, education, exploration and the environment.
In the Kivalliq, more youth were aware of the issues and took part in the process than any other time I can remember in the past 17 years.
The combination of being aware of the issues and wanting a change in direction going forward resulted in the youths adding their voices to those who wanted the Tories out in Nunavut and who didn't want a new MP already past the best-before date.
Harper overstepped the boundaries Canadians feel comfortable within. And his actions, truth be told, do show the American system has far more checks and balances than an existing Canadian system inherited from Britain, like it or not.
So, in retrospect, I agree Mr. Harper inadvertently did a great deal of good for Canada during his decade-long reign of almost absolute power.
Going forward I expect Canadians to be far less complacent about the freedoms so often taken for granted, and I expect the voices of aboriginals and youth to grow stronger and be heard louder and more clearly.
So, in the spirit of back-handed compliments, thank you very much for a job well done, Uncle Stephen!!
The incredible disappearing $32 millionNorthwest Territories/News North - Monday, November 2, 2015
Great news for those concerned about cost overruns on the Inuvik to Tuktoyaktuk highway project - the territorial government has made them disappear.
This announcement comes about a month after contractor E. Gruben's Transport and Northwind Industries Ltd. indicated to the Department of Transportation in e-mails leaked to News/North they were preparing to submit a claim for $12 million in budget overages and warned the project could be $32 million over budget by the time it was complete.
The territorial government has refused to comment on the cause of these overruns to media but leaked e-mails reveal them. The three factors include costs incurred by winter access road construction, pit development and early break up/late freeze up shortening the construction season.
The government also won't comment where the overages to cover these incidentals have gone, while insisting the project will finish with its original timeline and budget. It doesn't take an accountant to determine this does not add up.
The thing is, the public wouldn't have even known the contractors had determined the Inuvik to Tuktoytaktuk project was over budget if it weren't for the fact that the e-mails were leaked. In fact, Range Lake MLA Daryl Dolynny, deputy chair of the committee that oversees the project, came forward at the time to say even he didn't know about the possible budget overage on which his committee should have been briefed.
In response to this criticism, Finance Minister Michael Miltenberger claims the committee was in fact briefed on the situation, which only confuses things more.
These criticisms do not mean the project is not worthwhile in of itself. An all-weather link from Inuvik to Tuktoyaktuk will no doubt do great things for both Beaufort-Delta communities and could be a tourism boon for the entire territory, as tourists will be able to drive the entire Dempster Highway to the Arctic Ocean.
But hope for a new highway doesn't mean constituents shouldn't continue to question how the government made such a significant overage disappear, especially as the territorial election looms.
The estimated overage is equal to 10 per cent of the entire $299 million project budget, so that money had to go somewhere -- even if that place happens to be the to-do pile for the next government.
It's a thought worth remembering if the road comes in over budget in 2017, when all is said and done.
Balancing act for municipal leadersNunavut/News North - Monday, November 2, 2015
It is a challenging but rewarding job to be an elected leader at the municipal level.
It is the first experience as a politician for most people who are elected as councillor.
Often they are motivated by a desire to help their family, friends and neighbours, to fix problems they see in the way things are done by the hamlet or city, or because they have been recognized by others as a natural leader and encouraged to seek elected office. Sometimes it is a combination of all these factors.
In most cases, the heady few days following a positive election result are filled with elation, a feeling that changes for the better are inevitable, and an eagerness to get down to work.
Then the first few meetings of council happen and the first-time politician wonders where all the misconceptions came from.
Representing the public in an elected position is no picnic.
Sitting on council is part of a democratic process, which means each councillor has only one voice and has to go along with the result of a majority vote. Sometimes other councillors don't agree with a stated point of view, speak against it and vote for a different action to be taken. That can be frustrating if you are the councillor making a proposal.
Then there are communication issues. Councils come and go but staff members stay the same in many hamlets. Some staff members have the patience to explain details about expenditures, operations and technicalities to new members of council. Others not so much.
One Iqaluit city councillor explained his reasons for not seeking re-election on Oct. 19. One of Kenny Bell's main observations is that councillors tend to learn on the job while tasked with making decisions that potentially have a profound impact on residents. He said new councillors were not provided with bylaws and legislation related to municipal responsibilities.
All municipalities are corporations, accountable for millions of dollars worth of infrastructure and operating costs. The municipality is responsible for delivering a wide range of services to residents including sewer pumpout, water delivery, community freezer and garbage pickup. The municipality maintains roads, delivers recreation programs, operates the arena and plays a role in the provision of heat and electricity.
Strong leadership is required. Sometimes tough decisions need to be made, especially when there is not enough money to go around, a common occurrence. Municipalities are not supposed to run a deficit but many find themselves with shortfalls. Several had to turn to the Department of Community and Government Services for assistance to get out of perilous situations.
In a perfect world, councillors, municipal staff and residents would all work together toward a common goal.
When that doesn't happen, it is up to the mayor and council to make decisions which provide the best quality of life for all residents.
Squeaky wheel time Weekend Yellowknifer - Friday, October 30, 2015
Put most free creatures into a cage and expect a long, painful racket.
Put the City of Yellowknife into a cage and, apparently, it will go to sleep.
The door to the cage was opened in 1995 when the territorial government, along with all other provinces and territories, signed the Agreement on Internal Trade, which allowed companies to become more footloose in their business dealings across Canada.
In 1999, the territory shoved the city into the cage by signing away the city's right to show preference to Northern companies, even if it ends up costing a tad more.
Now fast-forward to 2013, when these implications came to life.
Not long before that, the territory took it upon itself to adopt federal guidelines for drinking water which pushed the city to a precipice - namely, the purchase of a $30-million water treatment plant.
The bars of the city's cage were never as strong as when it awarded the contract to Ontario company NAC Contractors Ltd. Helplessly witnessing the purchase from the sidelines were local companies Det'on Cho and Clark Builders, whose bids on the project were only $697,928 and $872,805, respectively, higher than the southern company's bid, which was more than $30 million.
Cue the outrage.
The business community led by the Yellowknife Chamber of Commerce and the NWT and Nunavut Construction Association circled the city's cage, creating a ruckus.
"I don't believe the city does enough to ensure this work stays North," said Bob Doherty, president of the construction association at the time.
"What can council do going forward to make sure this doesn't happen again?" asked Leslie Campbell, then-executive director of the Yk chamber.
Even then-relatively-new Mayor Mark Heyck told Yellowknifer council would "have that discussion" and "see if there's an appetite to see some changes there."
And then, it seemed, the city drooped its head and went back to sleep.
Until last week.
Gord Olson, Polar Tech Recreation owner, learned very quickly while considering a bid to supply the city a fire truck, the municipality has no program in place that prefers Northern businesses, which grapple with a higher cost of doing business.
The Agreement on Internal Trade makes it nearly impossible for them to compete with southern corporations.
The GNWT's business incentive policy was exempt from the agreement, meaning Northern companies have a leg up bidding on contracts - with the territorial government -- but the Northern advantage wasn't passed onto municipalities, presumably over fears the smaller entities wouldn't be able to afford Northern prices.
The thing is, the 2013 cries were not in vain - the GNWT never threw away the key.
While the idea of amending the national Agreement on Internal Trade is daunting at best and impossible at worst, the treatment-plant-induced uproar exposed a portal to a Plan B. Yellowknifer was told at the time the GNWT could review and make changes to its business incentive policy to include the City of Yellowknife.
In the legislative assembly, David Ramsay, minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment, confirmed that if the will is there, such a review could be done.
But then, nothing.
While the city has to constantly juggle business-community interests with keeping costs down for taxpayers - ie., choosing the lowest bidder - the difference truly is minimal as evidenced in the water treatment plant bid. Yet, the value of supporting the North's local businesses can't be quantified.
Although a loud advocate in the past, the chamber's cries seem muffled at best, with now-executive director Deneen Everett telling Yellowknifer last week the chamber has no plans these days to advocate for change.
It's due time the city arise from hibernation, stretch out and start fiercely rattling its cage.
Good cause, fine lineDeh Cho Drum - Thursday, October 29, 2015
In response to what Deh Gah Got'ie Koe Chief Joachim Bonnetrouge refers to as a rash of recent break-ins on weekends, community members in Fort Providence are finally taking matters into their own hands.
They have had it with assaults and thefts and plan to do something about it.
Citing a lack of RCMP response and frustration with perpetrators not being brought to justice, Linda Croft and other unhappy residents are creating "Citizens on Patrol."
Under this program, involved residents will be able to keep an eye out for troublemakers and lawbreakers.
They will be able to patrol streets at will and, perhaps, discourage would-be vandals and thieves from hitting their marks.
As Croft has said, the group intends to do things "by the book." However, difficulties could arise when community members begin to butt heads with local RCMP -- which is bound to happen the closer they work together.
Citizens on Patrol is a great initiative and if ever there were a situation where it should be employed, this is it. But in order to be successful, involved members will need to put aside any hostility toward law enforcement officers and agree to be team players, and vice versa.
The two groups will have to work together in order to truly see a good outcome. This means accepting an RCMP decision on whether or not to investigate something.
The concerns community members have expressed cannot be ignored. If, indeed, there is distrust between residents and RCMP, a Citizens on Patrol program alone will not fix that.
As long as members are aware of this and still work within the boundaries of the program, it will likely be successful.
But if they fail to do that, the program could fall apart as quickly as it started.
On a more positive note, it is possible Citizens on Patrol will bring about mutual respect between RCMP and community members, as they work more closely together.
If that relationship improves, it could lead to better reporting of crime and encourage more witnesses to come forward.
When the group meets on Nov. 9, they need to ask themselves exactly why they are starting Citizens on Patrol. If it comes from a positive place with good intentions, all should be well.
This is how the seeds of trust are sowed, which can then result in a fruitful and mutually beneficial relationship.
An Ingamo renaissanceInuvik Drum - Thursday, October 29, 2015
Seeing organizations like the Ingamo Hall Friendship Centre back in the black is a good sign for the community. If the organizations that provide programming and support for residents are doing well, it only makes sense that those residents will feel that change.
Ingamo Hall has seen an increase of a whopping $250,000 in government funding in one year, along with a massive bump in funding from the Friendship Centre's national association. These were somewhat balanced by drops in other funding, like that from the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation and general donations. But still, the final result is a boost in the bottom line and a resulting boost in programming.
Ingamo runs regular activities for young people, elders, and moms and babies. It is a rallying point for the community, serving as a gathering space for celebrations, but also for more sombre occasions such as funerals and wakes.
Its employment roster has increased along with its funding, with many people who provide services on hand at the centre's annual general meeting last week.
Executive director Brenda Jerome made a point of having them stand up to be introduced, crediting them with Ingamo's success recently.
Jerome herself is by all accounts tireless in rallying her staff as well as finding all that extra funding.
It was certainly not automatically doled out, she told the Drum, but gathered from a whole slew of different programs and funding pots.
Although receiving funding is the goal really, for all non-profit organizations, it is rarely realized so effectively.
When core funding dollars are so difficult to come by, and when are only awarded on a year-by-year basis, organizations need to cover their administrative, staffing, and building costs first, leaving the rest to develop programs.
This makes it exceedingly difficult to plan for the long term.
Ingamo seems to have bucked the trend, but the same cannot be said for other organizations in town.
Places like the Inuvik Youth Centre provide equally essential services to an important target audience, but struggle to maintain enough cash flow to fully staff their facilities without a horde of volunteers. Still, Ingamo has shown that it can be done and that in itself is a positive thing.
The result is a greater variety of things to do for everyone in the community, from babies to elders, and that is good news for all.
