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Don't leave shelters out in the cold
Yellowknifer - Wednesday, November 23, 2016

A municipal services committee discussion about proposed criteria that would set out which not-for-profit organizations are eligible for property tax exemptions uncovered something interesting.

According to the territorial government's Property Assessment and Taxation Act, any building used as a residence is excluded from tax exemptions.

On the surface, this makes sense - it stops a person from setting up a not-for-profit in their house and personally benefiting from property tax breaks. But it also means organizations such as Bailey House, Avens, the women's shelter and Hope's Haven are excluded from even being considered.

These organizations do critical work to address homelessness, which is one of this city's biggest societal issues.

Being not-for-profits, they rely on the goodwill of people and the government for funding but part of that funding goes straight back to the territorial government in the form of property taxes because of this rule.

Instead of staying in the coffers of front-line service providers, this cash gets fed back into the government machine.

Because the problem hinges on amendments to territorial legislation, anybody hoping for a quick fix to this problem shouldn't hold their breath.

The city is already waiting in line for changes to the Cities, Towns and Villages Act that would allow the city to loan homeowners money for energy retrofits and implement a hotel tax. But in September, the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs told Yellowknifer it had 19 separate pieces of legislation pending on its agenda.

It makes sense amendments to legislation take time and careful deliberation. But amending the Property Assessment and Taxation Act so donations and government funding stays in the hands of shelter providers is simple common sense.

Hopefully, the territorial government can find a spot in its lengthy legislative to-do list to include this very important change so shelters aren't left out in the cold at tax time.


Fixing visitor's centre shows pride in city
Yellowknifer - Wednesday, November 23, 2016

Out of sight, out of mind.

For years, the Northern Frontier Visitor's Centre has been at the mercy of frost heave over Frame Lake.

Right now, the centre's Northern lights exhibit area is closed because long cracks are running through the wall above the exhibit and an entire wall is pulling away from the building by a few centimetres.

Most Yellowknifers don't see this because those who live here normally wouldn't have reason to visit the visitor's centre for obvious reasons.

But for tourists, business travellers and even those scouting Yellowknife as a possible place to live, the visitor's centre will likely create a first impression.

Having a cracked and broken visitor's centre is kind of like walking around with spinach stuck in one's teeth - it sure is embarrassing even if most Yellowknifers aren't aware of it.

The Canadian Northern Economic Agency (CanNor) has provided the centre with $75,000 to do a feasibility study on how to fix the building's structural issues. It's important that the city and territorial government commit to fund whatever conclusions come from the study.

The last time the centre received money for repairs, it was $400,000 from CanNor and the territorial government to patch up a short-term solution.

Rather than continuing to patch the problem with hundreds of thousands of dollars, the visitor's centre is going to need a bigger sum of money for a more permanent fix.

It will surely be expensive but putting out a good first impression to visitors shows Yellowknifers have pride in their community.


Solid programs help build better communities
Editorial Comment by Darrell Greer
Kivalliq News - Wednesday, November 23, 2016

Getting more youth involved in sports is paramount in the ongoing struggle to give Kivalliq youth enough positive experiences to build healthy lifestyles around.

The challenges have been well documented, from having volunteers willing to put the hours in with the youth and get certified to instruct the sport of their choice, to fundraising for travel, securing practice space from already overtaxed infrastructure, and finding equipment to accommodate every person who wants to play, no matter their family's financial situation.

Kivalliq has been blessed during the past decade by the number of southern businesses, sporting associations and individuals who have stepped up to donate new-and-used equipment for our children and youth to be able to play, especially in hockey.

The people behind these efforts truly deserve the region's unwavering gratitude. Getting children out - and the younger the better - is the first step in the process, and they have to have faith in their coaches always showing up or they'll stop coming out.

Next is making the sport of their choice fun to play and resisting the temptation to stack teams or put too much emphasis on winning.

If the children are having fun, they'll keep coming back. But if they feel there's too much pressure on them, or expectations always exceed their reach, they'll leave the sport and often for good.

One can take for granted common sense will carry the day and coaches will always put participation and fun above winning, especially in lower-age groups.

However, those who do take such things for granted are setting themselves up to be gravely disappointed.

If overly-competitive coaches weren't a problem, we wouldn't hear so much about it every year and we wouldn't see the number of children competing in sports continually dropping.

Another difficult balancing act, especially in areas where so much equipment is donated, is not to let a sense of entitlement seep its way into the programs.

For the most part, children are the same across this great nation of ours.

They'll be lazy if you let them, and they'll be engaged and productive if properly encouraged.

Paul Stroeder is making significant strides with soccer in Rankin Inlet. Stroeder is helping develop soccer at a grassroots level, getting as many children involved in his programs on a continual basis as he can.

He organizes a number of mini-tournaments during the season, keeping the teams as even as possible, and often puts friendship ahead of skill when placing players to ensure maximum fun levels.

Stroeder helps children fundraise and managed to get two U-12 boys' teams to Yellowknife to compete in the junior Super Soccer event earlier this year. But for all the effort he puts into his soccer program, he is always quick to point out children earn every perk they get. Nothing is simply given to them.

That attitude shapes the backbone of his program, as the children take a certain level of ownership in their sport, knowing they will be rewarded for their efforts.

And Stroeder is not alone in that approach. The children on Lisa Kresky's competitive gymnastics squad are well known for their involvement, dedication and commitment to their program, including fundraising.

Donald Clark is also well known for enforcing behavioral guidelines for his junior 'C' hockey program, having sat out top players more than once for stepping outside the boundaries of what he and his coaching staff deemed to be acceptable. All these components are essential in developing youth sports programs that withstand the test of time.

When put in place and adhered to, the benefits transcend the sports arena and positively influence the personal development of the children involved.

And that is where the true strength of a solid sporting program reveals itself, being a benefit both to the individual and the community in which they are a part of.


Stop studying,start helping
Northwest Territories/News North - Monday, November 21, 2016

Health Minister Glen Abernethy made the above proclamation in his introduction to the glossy booklet Mind and Spirit: Promoting Mental Health and Addictions Recovery in the NWT.

As reported last week in News/North ("New addictions plan in works," Nov. 14), that new "strategic framework" highlights issues and ways the GNWT plans to tackle mental health and addictions at a broad level.

Well, Minister Abernethy, we suggest there is no health without real action on mental health. And we have found very little evidence your government - or previous legislative assemblies - have made any substantive headway on that front.

One thing that does impress us is your industrious production of empty, meaningless words that have accompanied countless documents, studies, action plans and reports over the years. Projects that did nothing but line the pockets of consultants, keep bureaucrats busy and give politicians a place to shelve the issue for awhile.

The latest polished tome contains such meaningless passages as:

"The Government of the Northwest Territories is committed to supporting the well-being and safety of residents by delivering quality mental health and addictions programs and services ..."

Sounds meaningful, right? Almost downright optimistic. Sure, if not for this passage from October 2015's Report on the Review of Bill 55: The Mental Health Act:

"At the public hearing, Minister (Abernethy) admitted that 'there are gaps in our current mental health system and residents are falling through the cracks; it is clear that change is urgently needed.'"

Or this piece of the same GNWT boilerplate messaging from June 2012, when then-health and social services minister Tom Beaulieu said at the release of A Shared Path Towards Wellness, a three-year action plan to improve mental health and reduce addictions: "We must fight the impact of addictions and promote mental well-being."

The flurry of reports, recommendations and re-assuring language goes as far back as the August 2006 NWT Health and Social Services Action Plan.

At that time, initiatives to deliver "a community-based approach to address addictions and mental health issues to be provided closer to where clients live" had completion dates ranging from 2006 to 2009.

Apparently that failed, as the new Mind and Spirit booklet states: "Many people in the NWT strongly believe that culturally relevant treatment delivered close to home works best."

The GNWT's failure to provide effective mental health and addictions supports over the past decade has resulted in a culture of despair and mistrust. People in need have few options and service providers have few resources.

The last thing that is needed is more studies, action plans, frameworks or conferences. The territory needs firm, decisive action.

But we'll naively hold out hope that our elected leaders and the massive bureaucracy that supports them will find the strength needed to finally get on with it and produce some tangible results for people struggling just to live with themselves.

Even though we've been fooled more than once, we are prepared to take the government at its most latest word.

While a new Mental Health Act is set to be implemented early in the new year, the GNWT will attempt to walk and chew gum at the same time and draft a new plan - detailed in the Mind and Spirit booklet - to address mental health and addictions issues.

This is supposed to numb the stinging criticisms of the government found in the scathing July 2016 Report of the NWT Expert Panel on Mental Health and Addictions. It found the GNWT had indeed done numerous reports and studies over the years on how the system functions but failed to properly follow through on implementing recommendations.

That report also found the system does have the resources needed for the territory's population but it is fragmented, with too many positions that are vacant.

Minister Abernethy had the gall to utter at the time, "I think the answer is clear we definitely have to change some things."

Now the department is working on three "action plans" touching on child and youth mental health, a broader mental health plan, and an addictions recovery plan.

Those will include specific actions or goals.

One definition of insanity is to do the same thing over and over and expect different results each time.

It's clear the GNWT has repeatedly promised action on the mental health and addictions file, with precious few results.

What's to believe this latest "strategic framework" isn't just another house of straw?


The result of Tootoo's departure from Cabinet
Nunavut/News North - Monday, November 21, 2016

Earlier this month, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau unveiled his government's $1.5 billion five-year plan to protect Canada's oceans.

Nunavut's coastline accounts for 67 per cent of Canada's entire coastline, so can the territory expect to see a proportional amount - $1 billion - of that figure spent here to protect our shores? Take a guess.

Details were not revealed at the Nov. 7 announcement in Vancouver but a read of the plan summary give hints about where that money will go.

On the East Coast, money will be provided to improve responses to shipping emergencies. A maritime rescue sub-centre and a research centre specializing in oil spill response will get significant funding. Two new lifeboat stations will open.

On the West Coast, the government will train indigenous people in search-and-rescue and environmental response to spills and other incidents. Vessels capable of towing container ships will be bought to improve response times, and four new lifeboat stations will be built.

On the north coast, the investment is minimal. The North gets a longer icebreaking season, more aerial surveillance, a single seasonal rescue boat station, and up to eight community response boats to respond to emergencies and spills.

But perhaps the most miserly gift to Nunavut will be the creation of the Arctic's own branch of the Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary, a volunteer organization.

That's right, the plan will bring new jobs to the other coasts but in Nunavut the federal government wants Inuit to be volunteers in protecting the Arctic coast. Correction: they will get a tax credit for their volunteerism.

Here, we see the direct result of MP Hunter Tootoo's departure from cabinet. When Trudeau appointed him Fisheries and Oceans minister, Tootoo was to be the Northern face that "reminded all Canadians that we have three oceans."

Without Tootoo, it seems ours will continue to be the unconsidered ocean.

When the numbers come out, it may be true that former Conservative MP Leona Aglukkaq will have done more for Nunavummiut during Tootoo's years as an independent MP. She was the federal face of the Iqaluit port project and the Pond Inlet small craft harbour. Her backing of the Pangnirtung harbour continues to generate work there in the growing fishing industry.

Former prime minister Stephen Harper promised the Arctic off-shore patrol ships and the Nanisivik Naval Facility. The projects were over-promised but at least some of it is being delivered. They are more serious investments to protect our waters than what Trudeau is proposing.

Each year, more and bigger commercial and cruise ships traverse our waters, and Russia inches closer to our northern border. Climate change is drawing eyes northward, with the exception of, it seems, the eyes of the Liberal government.

Hunter Tootoo may not be in the position Nunavummiut intended but this is a cause he can get behind. Fight for Arctic waters, for sovereignty, and for jobs for Inuit.

If you don't, Mr. Tootoo, the people will in 2019.


Resist temptation to fleece golden goose
Weekend Yellowknifer - Friday, November 18, 2016

Northern tourism is on the rise. Numbers and dollars spent have been climbing steadily. A 48 per cent spike in aurora tourism over the past two seasons has meant an 11 per cent increase in total visitors to the NWT.

Most of those visitors are arriving via the airport, which means an extra 50,000 people or so passing through the sliding airport doors.

This fledgling success is thanks to intense marketing and hard work by local tourism operators on the international stage, as well as the tireless efforts of NWT Tourism to promote the North on behalf of its more than 200 tourism business members.

GNWT bean counters in the Department of Transportation see the increase in tourist traffic as a golden goose just waiting to be fleeced through airport improvement fees but there are good reasons for the GNWT to hit pause on its rush to dip into the wallet of every passenger coming or going through the airport.

Competition for international tourist dollars is intense. As NWT Tourism executive director Cathie Bolstad pointed out, the territory should be thinking of ways to make Yellowknife more globally competitive as a destination, not more expensive.

The fact is, bureaucrats in the GNWT don't know how fine the line is for international tourists choosing between Yellowknife, Whitehorse or Banff. It's also doubtful the government appreciates how thin the margins are for tourism operators. As Bolstad pointed out, an operator with 10,000 clients will look at an extra $10 or $20 fee on each client as an unwelcome hit to their bottom line or to the saleability of NWT travel packages. It ought to be considered too what kind of effect the airport fee will have on the GNWT's own bottom line. Tourism is growing but flights in the territory nonetheless still mainly cater to business travel. The GNWT is by far the largest sector in the territory, which undoubtedly means most business travel in and out of Yellowknife is on behalf of the GNWT.

Just how much of the $10 million the Department of Transportation expects to be raking in every year will be coming from the GNWT's own travel budget?

The GNWT wants to implement the fee 10 years after completing $11.2 million in renovations at the airport, in part to fund a new round of renovations that would include a reconfigured departure area, passenger gates to the airplanes, and a resurfaced runway. It would also go into a revolving operations and maintenance fund.

The department says the improvements would make the airport more attractive to airlines that might consider putting in a direct flight from Vancouver to further bolster the city's burgeoning tourism industry.

At this stage it remains a dubious proposition, however. A proposal for a $70 million runway extension in 2008 to accommodate larger jets did little to generate excitement in the airline industry. In fact, northern airlines First Air and Canadian North doubted it would have much impact on the tourism industry at all except to increase costs at the airport. If an extended runway can't attract more flights to Yellowknife it seems unlikely a refurbished airport will do the trick either.

Speculation without actual demand is a dangerous game for governments to play. It's too early to tell how much aurora tourism will grow or whether it can be sustained.

The one thing that is certain is the bloom on this blossoming industry is still a delicate flower.

Why threaten it with an airport fee promising uncertain rewards?


Many hands make a big difference
Deh Cho Drum - Thursday, November 17, 2016

As a group of people and organizations in Fort Simpson collaborate on a week of healing, sharing and giving, their efforts serve as an important reminder of the supports we have in the village for people who are hurting and dealing with trauma.

National Addictions Awareness Week shines a spotlight into the darkness of drug and alcohol addiction.

The week of events is thanks to the combined efforts of numerous groups - Liidlii Kue First Nation, the village, the Department of Health and Social Services, RCMP, the Deh Cho Friendship Centre, Mothers Against Drunk Driving, Early Childhood Intervention, the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment and the Catholic and Pentecostal churches.

Its focus seems to be on promoting wellness with sharing circles almost every evening and many family events.

The fact that so many different groups, including levels of government, are working together is telling of the amount of healing that has already taken place over the years in our community and

how that has fostered the desire to help others.

The week kicked off on Nov. 13 with a church service in the morning and a feast and drum dance in the evening.

There was standing room only at the drum dance, with dozens of people taking to the empty floor in the centre of the community hall to dance in a circle.

It gave people an opportunity to connect with each other and to share smiles and warm food.

Likewise, an RCMP barbecue on Nov. 15 saw a lengthy lineup of people in front of the recreation centre, conversing with each other despite the cold.

A line from a TED Talk by author Johann Hari comes to mind: "The opposite of addiction is connection."

And what better way to connect with each other than through a week of community-building events?

As the week draws to a close, there are still several events left to go.

But wellness isn't a one-week issue. It's something that needs to be pursued and promoted year-round if we hope to heal those of us who are suffering through addictions.

Luckily, the people who are involved in hosting this week often work for wellness around the clock.

Part of the journey to wellness includes sharing the burden and struggle people are going through. Once that initial barrier is broken down, there are many people in the community who want to help in whatever way they can.

They realize that many hands make light work, and that's one of the reasons why Fort Simpson's interagency committee works so well.

Hopefully, this week will serve as a reminder to those of us who don't always reach out to our fellow community members of the good that can come from doing so.


Gas deposits everywhere but not a drop to burn
Inuvik Drum - Thursday, November 17, 2016

Underground gas deposits surround Inuvik in such abundance that methane bubbles up to the surface of some lakes, yet the town imports fuel from the south.

It is beyond unfortunate that a community can be so plentiful in resources but so unable to take advantage of them.

But under the circumstances, it's understandable.

Petroleum resources are very expensive to tap into in the first place, even more so in an Arctic environment. This doesn't even take into account the drop in the price of oil from record highs of more than $140 a barrel in 2008 to its current $47 a barrel.

It's hard, if not impossible, to justify a mega project like the Mackenzie pipeline under the current economic circumstances.

Mayor Jim McDonald thinks the pipeline's prospects are a distant hope at this point.

Though understandable, that's a shame, because projects like this are nation-building opportunities.

For the North to survive not just on its own, but to find its role in Canada and the globe, it needs to capitalize on its assets.

Efforts to promote sealskin across the world do just that, as do the successful diamond and other mining operations in the North.

For the nearer-term option, developing a gas-to-liquids project to meet the region's needs sounds more possible.

Either way, the economic lesson here is resources don't make you wealthy. What contributes to wealth is the ability to harvest or extract them, and use them in an efficient manner. This extends from natural resources to human labour and beyond. The gas in the ground is not worth anything, and neither is the idle worker, speaking in economic terms.

The Northern lights aren't worth anything in themselves, yet a flourishing tourism industry centred on the aurora borealis draws visitors and their dollars from Japan and across the world to the North.

From unemployment to natural resources, the North needs to turn its unproductive assets into wealth-building ones. That's a big job, with many organizations involved and many unique issues making it a complicated endeavour, but it's the only way toward self-sustainability and a more independent North.

Hopefully, there's a path for Inuvik to capitalize on its own resources soon, at least the ones so plentiful they bubble on the lakes.

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