Sahtu's chance to tap into profitsNorthwest Territories/News North - Monday, September 26, 2016
During the century Imperial Oil has been pumping light-sweet crude out of the ground at Norman Wells, the effects its operations have had on the land and people of the region vary widely, depending on who one asks.
The feds - being one-third owners of the operation - and the territorial government, have enjoyed profits and taxes, respectfully, from one of the largest oil fields in Canada. Purchasers of petroleum in western Canada have enjoyed a sustained and plentiful commodity.
Imperial Oil has contributed toward housing and community projects over time - especially during expansion phases - but its employees historically weren't from the area and most left when their jobs were done.
With the petroleum field's production now in steady decline - but still profitable, say analysts - Calgary-based Imperial Oil is floating the notion that its assets at Norman Wells might be on the market.
Canada's largest petroleum refiner and a major producer of crude oil and natural gas has made it clear it is talking with Sahtu Dene First Nations leaders about the impact a sale could have on the region.
The Sahtu Secretariat confirmed publicly it wants to be involved if there is a sale. And the indigenous population - especially in context of the Sahtu Dene and Metis Comprehensive Land Claim Agreement - has a great interest in what happens to the oil operation now and once remediation begins.
There is an opportunity for the Sahtu to finally reap some benefits from the existence of the oil field should it become involved financially.
Not to mention that Norman Wells - having evolved from a company town into a regional hub but still largely beholden to the oil industry - must also be protected from drying up as fast as the nearby wells.
Imperial Oil has extracted about a quarter-of-a-billion barrels of oil from its Norman Wells field.
Now there is a chance for aboriginal people of the area to extract some benefits of their own.
Caucus tours more than PR exerciseNorthwest Territories/News North - Monday, September 26, 2016
He made it!
While it was a bit touch-and-go for a while, the MLA made famous for having the emptiest chair in the NWT legislative assembly did finally decide to attend the recent caucus retreat in Fort Providence.
Herb Nakimayak made his presence known in the group photo, as he was right in front, on bended knee, facing the camera in front of the rest of his standing peers.
The rookie MLA from the constituency of Nunakput - who is also an executive with the Inuit Circumpolar Council - was on the defensive this summer after it came to light that he had missed several key meetings and was forced to resign as chair of a standing committee.
But Nakimayak chose to travel to Fort Providence for the late August retreat, one of two such gatherings usually staged outside of Yellowknife when the House is not in session.
In a consensus form of government, all 19 MLAs in the legislative assembly form caucus, where ministerial titles are left at the door.
Caucus holds regular meetings when the House is in session, including the day before the beginning of a legislative sitting.
So why is it important for Nakimayak and all the MLAs to meet outside of the capital? Well, aside from directly injecting a few thousand dollars into a small community's business coffers, it gives the MLAs from larger communities especially a chance to put some perspective into their policy making.
Kam Lake MLA Kieron Testart said while driving from Yellowknife, he gained a better sense of how important infrastructure is for the community.
The trip also gives MLAs "a clearer direction for policies, so we're not creating one-size-fits-all policies," he said.
Indeed. And we're pleased that 17 of 19 MLAs were able to attend the Fort Providence caucus. Especially Mr. Nakimayak.
The assembly is expected to resume sitting on Oct. 13.
Too soon for territory to diversify economyNunavut/News North - Monday, September 26, 2016
It is easy for an average person to be dismissive of the recommendations found in a 56-page report that was commissioned by the environmental group Greenpeace and written by the president and senior economist for the Center for Sustainable Economy.
A harsh critic would say that the report's author is disconnected from the reality of life in Nunavut. It suggests that, in a perfect world, the people of the territory will find their way to independent economic prosperity by diversifying the economy, lessening its reliance on resource extraction and instead put energy into several smaller sustainable development projects.
Among the top sectors mentioned for holding economic opportunities are tourism, fisheries and renewable energy.
For the most part, those people who choose to reject the Beyond Fossil Fuels: Sustainable Development Opportunities in Eastern Nunavut report as being far too ambitious in today's environment would be correct.
An effective tourism initiative requires marketing a product to people far away, enticing them to spend several days and thousands of dollars to travel a great distance in order to visit a small hamlet with very few amenities.
That said, the territory would do well not to put all its eggs in one basket. Not everyone wants to work in a mine, or in the oil and gas sector, or in one of the hamlet jobs in the communities.
Now is the time to take the long view, not when resource extraction has petered out for whatever reason, whether there is another drop in commodity prices, changes in regulations or a lack of investment capital.
No one can say a diversified economy is a bad thing. It's just that Nunavut is not ready to make meaningful strides in that direction yet.
Many members of the older generation didn't grow up in a capitalist economy. They were self-sustaining from the riches provided by the land.
Simply living in Nunavut is a significant challenge and it's not going to get better quickly.
Too many people are living in overcrowded conditions, forced into inadequate housing, faced with food insecurity, unreasonable air transportation fares, lousy Internet service and high energy costs. Just getting the basic necessities of life is a struggle for families.
The Greenpeace report encourages the development of entrepreneurs and small businesses. However, that requires people with a level of education beyond high school, people who understand business, are able to develop a product or service that is in demand, and have the capital investment necessary to launch a new venture that can be successful within a small population base.
Although implementing the report's recommendations is unrealistic in today's climate, the government should take it under advisement, use it as a pathway into the future, and recognize the immense amount of work required before independent economic prosperity can truly be an achievable goal.
Airport fees need forward thinking Weekend Yellowknifer - Friday, September 23, 2016
The Yellowknife airport is run by the territorial government and subsidized by taxpayers to the tune of approximately $4 million annually.
The GNWT is proposing a schedule of new airport fees to make up for that annual loss.
All told, a passenger flying south out of Yellowknife could be charged an extra $29, assuming the airlines pass on the increases to their customers.
The airport is no lame dog. With more than 1,000 jobs directly involving the airport and 2,000 support sector jobs, the airport contributes $171 million annually to the GDP, while airport-related activity produce $45 million in tax dollars annually.
Yet it operates at a loss because it does not charge enough in fees to airlines to cover its costs.
In addition to this annual loss, the GNWT reports the airport faces a potential infrastructure investment deficit of more than $20 million by 2021.
As the GNWT considers its options, it should invite the city and others to the table.
Most major airports in Canada are governed by local airport authority boards. Those boards are responsible for the maintenance and development of their respective airports, and are given control of airport revenue in order to accomplish that.
This puts airport development in the hands of those most directly affected by the airport's success, and frees the government from the grind and expense of managing airport operations.
While Yellowknife may not yet have the commercial or residential base for the GNWT to completely relinquish control of the airport to a local authority, a step toward that eventuality can only be a good thing.
The danger with the GNWT increasing departmental revenue by approximately $10 million annually through new fees is subsequent departmental bloat.
Northern residents can be convinced new fees are needed but it will be more difficult to convince them the GNWT knows best how to handle the new money.
Yellowknife needs economic diversification, not more money corralled into a single government department. Working toward an independent Yellowknife airport authority would be a step toward less reliance on government management, government spending and government jobs.
Wanted: more Northern promotion Weekend Yellowknifer - Friday, September 23, 2016
Many people who move away for school want a chance to go home. Desiree Bagnall is hoping to have the whole world follow her and come see the beauty of the North after she completes her education.
She was recently awarded the NWT Tourism and Hospitality Scholarship, a total prize of $1,500.
She said when she completes her tourism management degree she is definitely coming home to begin a career promoting her home as a tourist destination.
For her, tourism isn't just a way to make money, it's a sustainable and environmentally-friendly means of sharing what the North has to offer. She hasn't been waiting for graduation to start promoting it. She has been telling fellow classmates about the perks of living North of 60, because she thinks it is important for Canadians to know what options they have within their own borders.
Tourism will likely never match the financial juggernaut of mining and what it brings to the northern economy, but as mines wind down, tourism does offer Yellowknife somewhat of a buffer while waiting for other mines to come on stream.
NWT tourism is already a $146-million industry, according to figures from the past fiscal year. Premier Bob McLeod said at the Opportunities North conference earlier this month that it is expected to grow by $9 million annually.
To keep up with that growth, there needs to be more people like Bagnall willing to work in all tourism-related positions with the same passion, as well as come up with new ways to promote and show off the riches of the NWT.
There are many who brag about how great it is to live in the North. A healthy tourism sector is key to making Northern living better.
Chief represents Treaty 11 at forumDeh Cho Drum - Thursday, September 22, 2016
For Liidlii Kue First Nation Chief Jerry Antoine, there is little more important than the relationship community members have with each other and with the land.
That closely held value was cemented recently by a special gathering Antoine attended in Brandon, Man., where representatives from Treaties 1 to 11 encouraged each other to get their band members more involved in the treaty process.
The meeting was hosted by Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation and organized by the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs.
Returning to Fort Simpson following the gathering, Antoine said it is time for the band to discuss how to implement the teachings of elders - namely, three specific instructions: do your best, do not let the land go and do not let the elders' understanding of the treaty go.
The meeting itself was expected to cover broad issues facing indigenous peoples in Canada, including disengaging from the Indian Act and implementing treaties. Antoine said there were also in-depth discussions on how to implement the United Nations' Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People.
Antoine, who attended the gathering alongside Coun. Ernest Cazon, said his biggest take-away from the meeting was the need to involve band members in decisions made on behalf of the band.
"The thing is, we need to make sure people are informed. The second thing is they also need to be involved," Antoine said.
"This meeting touched on some of the key processes that people are talking about, and it was empowering because it talked about how we could engage our membership in the implementation process."
Upon his return, Antoine said he planned to bring that issue to his councilors and the band would decide on how to proceed from there.
"There has to be some internal work (first). We need to do that, and we need to look at how we could move these ideas we discussed," he said.
"It's in line with the thinking that we had from our strategic session last November here for Liidlii Kue First Nation."
Antoine said the most important aspect of having an informed community is building relationships between community members. The topics discussed during the gathering, and the ideas generated from those topics, need to be shared, he said.
"One of the things people said at the gathering was, 'We need to go home and tell our people,'" he said.
"I found it very empowering and also very informative."
The gathering was born from the Assembly of First Nations' annual general meeting in Niagara Falls, Ont., where some chiefs asked for a special meeting.
The gathering ran from Aug. 30 to Sept. 1.
Reasonable outcome from heated debateInuvik Drum - Thursday, September 22, 2016
Starkly opposing views emerged in Inuvik council's debates last week on a proposal by a private company to establish a soil treatment facility at the town's dump.
One thing every member of council agreed on was that a soil treatment facility was probably a good idea.
However, Coun. Vince Sharpe was antagonistic to KBL Services' proposal in most other ways: he'd rather it have gone through a request for proposal process, he'd rather the town run the facility itself and he declared with vulgarity that KBL does not care about the town of Inuvik.
Coun. Kurt Wainman, a bit more tempered in his approach, thought the proposal was being rushed through the door. He, too, saw potential in the town taking on the project itself.
On the other side, Mayor Jim McDonald, Coun. Alana Mero and Coun. Joe Lavoie all spoke in favour of a business wishing to invest in the town and split profits for the opportunity.
Wainman's apprehension was understandable. KBL seemed to need approval of a temporary facility right away, just an hour after it had officially presented its proposal.
Surely the company could have got its ducks in a row sooner than that.
Sharpe's view seemed to centre on the logic that if this business could be profitable doing something in Inuvik, why shouldn't the town just do it itself and keep 100 per cent of the profits, instead of splitting them?
It is an appealing view, but there come questions then of what the town's role in the local economy is, whether it has the expertise to actually make it as easily profitable a business as Sharpe portrayed it as and what message that sends to other businesses interested in investing in Inuvik.
"Thanks for the idea. We'll do it ourselves!"
Council's decision to approve a temporary site while further investigating a permanent one seems reasonably measured based on the circumstances.
Letting KBL take the risk while paying a hefty dividend to the town is a good deal, should it work out.
Don't forget North in violence strategyYellowknifer - Wednesday, September 21, 2016
Women in the North face unique challenges when trying to escape violence. This was the message YWCA executive director Lyda Fuller made clear to Status of Women Minister Patty Hajdu earlier this month while the federal cabinet minister was in town gathering information ahead of a new federal strategy to combat gender-based violence.
Fuller rightfully asked for a strategy specifically tailored to the North and painted a compelling picture as to why. The North is isolated, there are fewer tools and support systems available for people who need to escape abusive situations and indigenous people - especially women -- suffer violence at the highest rates in Canada.
To complicate matters further, some of the mechanisms available to women just don't work in the North, especially in remote communities.
For example, Fuller said the YWCA recommends people in communities that lack RCMP detachments avoid filing emergency protection orders against abusive partners because there is nobody there to enforce them. In fact, protection orders may actually end up exacerbating an abusive situation.
"People have been forced out of communities because of that," she told Yellowknifer.
Fuller's career has been spent working with women in vulnerable situations in the North, so she - and her organization - have no doubt developed a specific set of practices through trial and error.
It's only logical that the YWCA play a role in whatever strategy comes out of these consultations, so hopefully Hajdu considers funding frontline organizations such as the YWCA.
Fuller and her colleagues in the field have the experience to know what works and what doesn't. What they need now is money so they can do what works.
It's important that Hajdu keeps Fuller's advice in mind when developing the federal strategy.
If the North is going to combat gender-based violence, there will need to be a specific, well-funded, made-for-the-North component for it to be worthwhile up here.
Bizarre secrecy over city boardYellowknifer - Wednesday, September 21, 2016
The fate of the Robertson Headframe is to be decided early next month by the city's Development Appeal Board.
Strangely enough, the city insisted on keeping the board's membership secret last week, despite the fact its members are publicly appointed by council.
City spokesperson Nalini Naidoo explained to Yellowknifer, "For the purpose of media inquiry, the position of the members ... are important, not their contact names/information as members are not to be contacted by the media."
Yellowknifer had no intention of contacting these people but for the purpose of transparency wanted to publish their names, as they make up the publicly appointed board that will make a decision on the appeal.
So, Yellowknifer sifted through council minutes to determine their names and published them in the Sept. 16 edition of the newspaper.
The board is public, the municipal government is democratic, and the city's development appeal process is designed to be transparent. So why in the world would the city's communications team think it's appropriate to be secretive about this?
There are moments when government secrecy just becomes ridiculous, and this was one of those moments.
Transparency legislation currently doesn't encompass municipal governments in the NWT and the territorial government is currently considering legislation to change that.
It's sad to think it would be required but needless obstinacy such as this really doesn't serve as a vote of confidence that the city government values transparency.
Going against the Maple LeafEditorial Comment by Darrell Greer
Kivalliq News - Wednesday, September 21, 2016
As a "hockey guy," it's been a lot of fun listening to all the chatter in hockey mad Rankin Inlet concerning the World Cup of Hockey during the past few weeks.
As you read this, there are two days remaining in the round-robin segment to determine which teams will advance to the playoffs.
I must point out, and emphatically so, that I was not one of the hockey purists bemoaning the fact Team North America and Team Europe are gimmick teams with no real flag.
In fact, it was quite the opposite with me.
I was excited and intrigued by the concept of a team playing in this incredible tourney comprised of players 23 years of age or younger.
And, at the risk of being "saluted" by a number of hockey fans across the region, I let my excitement get the better of me to the point where I decided I was a Team North America fan for this event (sorry, Team Canada).
The young bucks on the North America squad have firepower to burn, both among their forwards and their defencemen, and I can easily see this team outscoring its opposition to the tune of 7-6 and 6-5 during the round robin.
Never being one to hedge my bets or hide myself from ridicule (keep in mind the tournament had yet to start as I wrote this), I go on record as saying I will be more than a little surprised if Team North America isn't still standing when the playoffs begin.
I also find it more than a little interesting that Team North America is in Group B, and finds itself up against Russia, Sweden and Finland.
All strong teams, yet, the fact my young charges are in with three European squads takes some of the sting out of not cheering for the Canadian crest this time around.
So, of course, my dream championship best-of-three series would have Team Canada playing the young guns of North America.
Canada is joined in Group A by the Czech Republic, Team Europe and Team U.S.A., and, as powerful as the Canadian lineup may be, Carey Price is suspect in goal, having missed much of the previous NHL season, and any of those teams is capable of an upset on any given day.
Being a lovable loser of a Toronto Maple Leafs fan, I was eagerly anticipating seeing how Auston Matthews and Morgan Rielly fare against such top-level talent.
Yes, there are Maple Leafs on other rosters, but Matthews is "the saviour," and, if he's for real, he and Rielly could be the Leafs version of a famous Oilers pair from the past in quick order (dare I dream).
As most of the talk around Kivalliq water coolers has correctly pointed out, the Achilles heel of Team North America may be its somewhat green defence corps and its ability to fend off the best goal snipers the world has to offer over the entire round robin.
But a lot of mistakes can be turned away with Cup champion Matt Murray and Ducks stalwart John Gibson patrolling the crease.
Add to that the firepower expected to be provided by the likes of Matthews, Jonathan Drouin, Jack Eichel, Johnny Gaudreau, Dylan Larkin, Nathan MacKinnon, Connor McDavid, Sean Monahan and company, and things could get interesting for this young team in a hurry.
At the end of the day, most people remember who won, not by how much.
So, fellow Kivalliq puck heads, game on!
