Council serves people, not bureaucratsYellowknifer - Wednesday, August 31, 2016
There is much to mull over regarding the downtown bench debate.
Downtown beautification, poverty, addictions, the need for public space -- these are all meaty issues. But as large as these issues are they obscure another important concern with the way Mayor Mark Heyck works with council and city administration.
The bottom line is, administration is beholden to elected officials, who represent the public. When administration removes seating that residents of all walks of life enjoy, our elected officials have the right to direct administration to return it. At the very least, administration should expect council to be critical of a controversial decision it has made without their knowledge - such as removing a bench downtown earlier this month.
And that's what happened during last Monday's city council meeting. So it's incredible to see one elected official -- our mayor, part of whose role is to preside over council debates -- step down from that role to defend administration's decision. Stepping down to vote forced Coun. Adrian Bell into the presiding officer's position, thus erasing Bell's vote.
Now, Heyck can step down from his seat to vote for any reason, so in terms of council procedure he did nothing wrong.
But every single city councillor with the exception of Steve Payne voted to direct administration to return the benches, making council's stance pretty unequivocal.
Nonetheless, Heyck thought it necessary to scold council for not standing by administration's decision to remove the benches "even if we don't agree with it."
By doing so, Heyck perpetuates a mistake that has afflicted other predecessors - usually after long careers in city politics - that it is the mayor's job to defend administration when city hall falls under controversy.
The temptation to do so is understandable but people don't elect a mayor to carry water for administration. The mayor is elected to implement the will of council, whose power resides in the trust voters have given them at the ballot box.
If people really don't want benches downtown, presumably they will make their feelings known to council - and the mayor.
No doubt, keeping the benches clean in the face of chronic loitering and addictions issues in the city is an unpleasant job but there any many unpleasant jobs the city is required to perform. City ambulance drivers deal with intoxicated people every day.
It could be that maintaining benches downtown proves impossible, and administration may wish to argue that to council in no uncertain terms.
But for Heyck to take the side of administration after it chose not to consult with council, he is signalling his loyalty is not with the people he was elected to serve but to the people who are supposed to serve them.
Where is the Syrian family?Yellowknifer - Wednesday, August 31, 2016
For almost a year, a group of volunteers has been working to bring a family of Syrian refugees to the city.
They have raised money, sent an application to the federal government, sent paperwork to the Department of Citizenship and Immigration, secured housing, and now they wait. And wait and wait and wait.
The group - Yellowknife Welcomes Refugees Number One - have explained the Syrian family has jumped all the hoops to get here. The family's security screening is complete, their travel documentation is ready, they are only waiting for plane tickets. Group spokesperson Lindsay Armer suspects the delay is politics.
Because the issue has dropped off the public's radar somewhat, the federal government has stopped prioritizing these flights, leaving the family in limbo.
NWT MP Michael McLeod didn't bolster any confidence with his comments on the issue. Explaining that refugee cases are "complex," he assured Yellowknifer readers he doesn't doubt the Department of Citizenship and Immigration staff are working as fast as they can to process case files.
This response suggests McLeod didn't take the time to read the group's letter, which clearly states the case file has already been processed.
So, let's try this again: The community would appreciate it if McLeod would please look into why this family hasn't received plane tickets yet. Yellowknife is filled with kind, friendly people who are looking forward to giving them a warm welcome.
No time for asking!Editorial Comment by Darrell Greer
Kivalliq News - Wednesday, August 31, 2016
While Qulliit Nunavut Status of Women Council president Elisapee Sheutiapik made some strong comments concerning Nunavut MP Hunter Tootoo this past week, and shed some light on weak federal policy concerning the matter, it is mind boggling that the council board is divided on whether to go as far as "asking" for Tootoo's resignation.
This has nothing to do with the former federal fisheries minister's battle with alcohol.
Everyone should be behind Mr. Tootoo's efforts to lead a sober life and support him in any way possible.
This is about his "consensual" relationship with a junior staffer while minister, and how this type of behaviour among Northern male leaders has to stop.
It is heartbreaking to see how many of our male politicians, from the municipal to the territorial and federal levels, have run afoul of accepted behaviours concerning women while in power.
The gauntlet of shame includes inappropriate relationships, sexual, physical and mental abuse, and profane insults spoken in public.
All cultural sensitivity on second chances noted, but the pattern is difficult, if not impossible, to ignore.
At the risk of opening Pandora's Box and letting such terms as scapegoat and making an example of escape -- Qulliit should demand the resignation, not politely ask for it, let alone allow a few board members with ostrich syndrome to place the council squarely on the fence concerning the matter.
In fact, not only should the council be screaming long and loud for Tootoo's resignation, if we are to take the consensual relationship at face value, it should also be sending the junior staffer a loud, public, oral kick in the behind.
While Tootoo is deserving of the criticism surrounding his severe error in judgement (at the very least), the actions of the junior staffer (again taking consensual at face value) are the type that fuel sexism in the workplace.
As much as it may upset some readers, here in the real world, the tar from the brush of those who choose to carry on with their boss has a very bad habit of splattering everyone.
And while true at all stations, it rings especially true when said boss is in a position of great power.
The fallout of such workplace trysts is not, in any way, shape or form, confined to sexuality.
In fact, few workplace behaviours can unleash the torrent of emotions the boss-and-the-underling relationship is capable of and it almost always poisons the work environment.
Sheutiapik has, at least, kept the incident front and centre with the public and delayed the inevitable gone-and-forgotten process from taking hold, which will happen soon enough if more action isn't taken regarding the situation.
And for that she is to be commended.
However, we are bombarded with breaking-the-cycle messages when it comes to many behaviours society has deemed unacceptable, and the same must apply when it comes to viewing women as little more than potential sexual conquests by anyone, but, especially, right now, right here, among our Northern leaders.
Silence equates to inaction, and inaction equates to acceptance, so we can no longer simply ask for change!
Senator vs. the MountiesNorthwest Territories/News North - Monday, August 29, 2016
What exactly has the RCMP done to verify information our senator says he has about the death of Billy Cholo, found dead in a gazebo outside the Fort Simpson health centre more than two years ago?
The fact that we have to ask this question is becoming an exercise in the absurd.
Sen. Nick Sibbeston unleashed a bombshell last month while speaking at the Dene National Assembly, when he complained that RCMP have not followed up on a tip from a friend who says he knows the name of a man who had threatened to kill Cholo shortly before his death.
RCMP Chief Supt. Ron Smith, who was at this year's Dene National Assembly, said he would get Sibbeston in contact with an officer who could provide more information about the investigation.
RCMP then declined an interview from News/North about the case but Staff Sgt. Bruce McGregor stated in an e-mail that the major crimes unit was following up on Sibbeston's remarks.
However, on Aug. 10, another media outlet ran a story which seemed to discredit the senator.
"This information that he has provided was followed up well in advance of Senator Sibbeston raising these concerns at the Dene Assembly in Fort Simpson," RCMP Insp. Peter Pilgrim, who head's up RCMP's south district of the NWT while based out of
Yellowknife, was quoted as saying.
When News/North attempted to confirm what Pilgrim had said, RCMP declined to comment, except to say, "Insp. Pilgrim has been in contact with Sen. Sibbeston," which really doesn't explain anything about what was said or when.
Sibbeston, meanwhile, is sticking to his guns.
He declined a phone interview with News/North late last week but did state in an e-mail: "RCMP have not interviewed the person who was told by Billy that he was told by an individual that he would be killed. I stand by my statement and it's now up to the RCMP to confirm or deny it."
He confirmed he had communicated with Insp. Pilgrim but nothing was stated "that has resolved the issue."
One thing is certain: Cholo, a 45-year-old avid outdoorsman from Fort Simpson, is dead.
As News/North reported at the time, Cholo was reported missing in December 2013. His remains were found by an RCMP officer on Jan. 9, 2014. His death was ruled a homicide following an autopsy.
The other certainty is that the RCMP's public reaction to Sibbeston's concerns - a sitting senator, lawyer and former government leader of the NWT who has no reason to lie - has been deeply unsatisfying.
And confusing.
It is perfectly understandable that there are many details police cannot divulge during an open homicide investigation but the clarity needed here is not regarding potential evidence. It's whether the police have done their jobs following up on a potential tip that could crack the case.
RCMP at present may very well be patiently building a case that results in charges but they don't help their cause by blowing off people who are trying to help on one hand and then refuse to confirm their response to criticisms to other media.
People need to have trust in the RCMP. Citizens need to feel safe and secure in their understanding that if they provide a tip on an investigation - especially into a homicide - it will be followed up on.
The territorial government pays good money for the services of the RCMP. While it isn't the role of any elected official to get involved in any particular investigation, it's time Cholo's family, the community of Fort Simpson and the taxpayers of the entire territory get some clear answers in this communications breakdown.
It's time for Justice Minister Louis Sebert to demand clarity in this matter. The public has the right to know.
No shortage of opportunities for training and educationNunavut/News North - Monday, August 29, 2016
A 14-week work readiness training program specifically for people on social assistance is being offered in partnership with Nunavut Arctic College at no cost to students starting Sept. 12.
Aimed at making people more self reliant, the program assists them in building self confidence, includes work experience, development of resume and interview skills, upgrading in literacy and an introduction to computers. The Getting Ready for Employment and Training program targets the approximately 8,400 Nunavummiut who receive social assistance payments every month.
Meanwhile, Nunavut Arctic College is offering a certificate course in aboriginal language revitalization. Running from mid-October to mid-May, the cost of tuition, travel and accommodation is covered for participants.
On another front, five Iqaluit high school students are taking a five-day course in Toronto to learn about financial literacy, entrepreneurship, anti-bullying, stress management and more in the Bay Street Bootcamp.
The students work on a business plan, pitch their ideas to a panel of judges, then sell their idea to a panel of experts and an audience made up of their peers, parents and guests. The best business plans are awarded with scholarships and prizes.
These are just a few of the many opportunities available for young people who are looking at charting a successful path in life.
Students who get good marks in school, are involved in activities within their communities and have a desire to succeed have a wealth of options available to receive assistance.
Arviat student Shelby Angalik made headlines earlier this summer when she was named as one of 20 students from across Canada to win the TD Scholarship for outstanding achievements in community leadership. She will receive up to $80,000 to pursue a university education over four years.
At the same time, young Iqaluit mother Neoma Cox was just awarded the Qikiqtani Inuit Association's John Amagoalik Journalism Scholarship, worth $5,000, and plans to attend Arctic College's environmental technology program.
There is no shortage of assistance for Nunavummiut to expand their options. Programs are available with Polar Knowledge Canada, Students on Ice and Northern Youth Abroad. Many youth are involved with the Royal Canadian Army Cadets, the Junior Rangers program, sports groups, Girl Guides and other organizations.
Young Nunavummiut involved in business can have a large impact because every small business has the potential to become an employer, paying money that stays in the territory.
Many students who go south to further their education want to come back to Nunavut to share their skills and experience for the betterment of everyone in the territory.
Opportunities abound for those who want them. Sometimes it takes a bit of searching to find assistance in a specific area of interest.
However, it is proven that people who have the desire and determination to embark on a journey of personal development can find success.
Where's the 'positive' in health superboard? Weekend Yellowknifer - Friday, August 19, 2016
The newly minted NWT Health and Social Services Authority is compacting into one organization the six current regional health boards, including the Yellowknife and Stanton boards.
In a briefing last week, Glen Abernethy, the territory's minister for health and social services, assured attendees that the new board will not negatively affect patient care.
In the long run, the new superboard should mean streamlined services, he said.
And streamlined services are a good thing, right? "Streamlined" has such a positive ring to it, how could it not be a good thing? Especially with Abernethy's reassurance that this process isn't about centralizing services or removing frontline positions.
Or at least it's not necessarily about either of those things yet.
"Some jobs have been re-described," Abernethy said. "There may be some affected employees but not necessarily."
The fact is, streamlining for the sake of streamlining is absurd busy work.
If something is broken that this amalgamation is meant to address, the minister needs to explain how, exactly, this process will do that and how it will improve health and social care delivery in the North.
It is not enough to state there will be no negative impact. One would hope not, especially given the truck-size gaps that already exist in the treatment, for example, of mental health and addictions in the North.
So far, the government has not explained how services will improve under this new model. Instead, it has made vague promises of better co-ordination of health-care services, simplified spending and less paperwork.
Hurrah for less paperwork but what does this mean for those in need of urgent addictions or mental health treatment in the North?
To be sure, cost savings and efficiencies are important things. But without a sense for how those savings will help address existing failures or inadequacies in the current system, the creation of the health superboard will primarily excite bean-counters and process wonks while it does nothing for the people the system is meant to serve.
For the minister to say the superboard will not negatively impact health care is faint praise indeed.
The government has made a start with the introduction of a superboard but where is it going?
What is the concrete plan to demonstrably improve health care in the North by introducing a single monolithic health board?
A true community gathering placeDeh Cho Drum - Thursday, August 25, 2016
All were welcomed into the hamlet of Fort Providence on Aug. 17 to join in the community's celebration for the completion of its new arbour.
And celebrate they did.
There was an aura of reverence about the afternoon and a huge portion of the participants took part in the feeding of the fire ceremony.
Fort Providence, on the banks of the Mackenzie River, has long been without a proper gathering place.
Instead, when the community holds a celebration, gathering or event, it normally takes place at the recreation centre, school gymnasium or outdoors near the baseball field.
Now, as many speakers during the opening ceremony said, the community once again has this important centrepiece to revolve around.
And although Fort Providence's community events have not necessarily been dimmed by the lack of a central gathering place, the fact they now have one is true cause for celebration.
Perhaps the most telling symbol of the entire construction is the exquisite fire pit in the centre of the arbour. Just as the arbour will be the centre of the community, so too is the fire pit the very heart of the arbour, around which the Dene's most spiritual traditions take place.
Carved with the outline of Northern creatures, the fire pit's many sides are emblazoned with the names of the governing organizations that help Fort Providence thrive.
That can be taken as a symbol of how cohesive the community truly is.
In many communities within the Deh Cho, the arbour is perhaps the most important cultural structure present.
It is where seasonal celebrations take place during the summers.
It is a place of joy and laughter, a true place of gathering in every sense of the term.
In Fort Simpson, the arbour has been used for grand celebrations such as Liidlii Kue First Nation's spring gatherings, the Open Sky festival, high school graduation ceremonies and more.
In Fort Liard this past weekend, the arbour held Acho Dene Koe First Nation's handgames tournament, and was surrounded by booths for the fall gathering.
That gathering, now in its second year, is quickly becoming an annual event and one to look forward to each summer.
The most noticeable thing about that gathering is the ever-present laughter and smiles on the faces of those who attend.
While still a competition, the handgames tournament was as much about players enjoying themselves and having fun as it was about winning a prize.
When things like that happen, the true spirit of the North shines through.
Many benefits to seeing the worldInuvik Drum - Thursday, August 25, 2016
It's hardly news to anyone in the North that academics are not the only path to learning.
The benefits of being out on the land and bringing cultural activities into the school are touted and treated with equal weight in the education system, giving students the opportunity to learn about their surroundings and connect with the land, no matter what their background. This is something fairly unique and justifiably gets a lot of attention.
This week, we spoke with young women who had recently returned from a trip to Europe with Girl Guides Canada. This kind of travel, though it happens less often, is equally deserving of attention.
As connected as Inuvik is to the rest of the world through both global communications systems and the broad spectrum of ethnicities and backgrounds the community attracts, nothing replaces going and seeing the world for yourself.
As the Girl Guides can attest, it is one thing to know about the Eiffel Tower and see it in photos, and quite another to climb its stairs and eat in the restaurant located storeys above the city.
Perhaps more importantly, travelling to foreign countries helps people better understand themselves. You learn about what scares you and how to put that fear aside. You learn about making the best of temporary situations and fast friendships, and at the very least, you learn about all the food you've been missing all these years.
Now, travel is expensive, and that is certainly a prohibitive factor for the vast majority of Northern residents. But once again, the Girl Guides have proven that it can be done.
While not everyone can sell the trademarked cookies to make their travel dreams a reality, it's not like there is a dearth of fundraising opportunities in town.
Some may argue that dollars are scarce and that the cash would be better spent on improving things and hosting big events at home, and they are not entirely wrong. That being said, the community's brightest and most important resource are the people who call this place home, and giving them a chance to gain the perspective allowed by travel is a worthy investment.
While it is undoubtedly important to learn about the immediate surroundings and the cultures in which they are steeped, getting young people out to see the wider world is also imperative.
