Page 1
Page 2
Page 3
Page 4
Page 5
Page 6
Page 7
Page 8
Page 9
Page 10
Page 11
Page 12
Page 13
Page 14
Page 15
Page 16
Page 17
Page 18
Page 19
Page 20
4 Tuesday September 1 2015 The Northern Journal is an independent newspaper covering news and events in the western Arctic and northern Alberta. 2013 CCNA BLUE RIBBON CANADIAN COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER AWARD 2013 C M C A AUDITED The Northern Journal is published weekly by Cascade Publishing Ltd. Printed at Star Press Inc. Wainwright AB. Publisher................................................................................. Don Jaque 867-872-3000 ext.21 donnorj.ca Editor.........................................................................Meagan Wohlberg 867-872-3000 ext.24 newsnorj.ca Reporter....................................................................... Dali Carmichael 867-872-3000 ext.25 reporternorj.ca Comptroller ..................................................... Dixie Penner 867-872-3000 ext.23 dixnorj.ca Advertising.............................. Heather Foubert Hay River 867-874-4106 adsnorj.ca Administration............................................Jeremy Turcotte 867-872-3000 ext.26 adminnorj.ca Production Manager ......................................Sandra Jaque 867-872-3000 ext.22 sandranorj.ca Graphics........................................................Paul Bannister 867-872-3000 ext.27 graphicsnorj.ca Letters to the Editor Policy The Northern Journal welcomes letters to the editor. Letters must be signed and include a phone number so the author can be veried. Names will be withheld on request in special circumstances where the reasons are determined to be valid. The Journal reserves the right to edit letters for length libel clarity and taste. Opinions expressed in letters and columns are not necessarily those of the publisher or editor. Advertising Deadlines Display ad deadline is Thursday at 400 p.m. Classied ad deadline is Thursday at 500 p.m. Email adsnorj.ca Subscription Rates Prices include GST. 47.25 in Fort Smith 52.50 elsewhere in Canada 105 in the USA overseas 164.30. EDITORIAL LETTER TO THE EDITOR Accountability a promise not kept Editor Prime Minister Stephen Harper states that his government only failed to deliver on one promisefromthe2011campaign.Thathemet ninety and nine promises made that year will never be known with certainty as true or false. What can be veried is that Mr. Harpers 2006 promise of a new era of accountabil- ity has not been delivered. Laws were passed tis true. Not by words however but by actions we shall be known the parable tells us by their fruits ye shall know them. House of Commons committee meetings in-camera omnibus budget bills containing scores of fundamental changes to the laws of Canada yet subject to closure without de- bate the Trans-Pacic Partnership trade treaty negotiated in secret or known only to corporate executive advisors. These are but three examples of action taken against the promise of accountability. Ninety-and-nine and more promises from 2011 we are asked to believe were safely delivered. One promise the rst made in 2006 that of a new era of accountability is still out on the hills away. Joe Hueglin Niagara Falls ON Do you have the right stuff to be an MLA If you are thinking seriously about run- ning for MLA in the upcoming NWT elec- tion and need help in making up your mind check out the NWT Status of Women Coun- cils Election Resource to guide and assist you in making the right decisions. No matter what gender you are the re- source material available there is excellent in helping to decide if you do indeed want to throw your hat in the ring. Obviously such a decision is not to be taken lightly. The Councils election guide wisely asks that you consider your personal situation rst. Are you committed to other things such as your family job or demands in your personal life that would be impeded by you becoming an MLA How would serving in that role affect your own mental well being It makes good points on what is needed to run a campaign money a campaign manager a team and a sense that you have community support are all part of an intuitive checklist. If you are female the website is particularly compelling.Itpointsoutthatalthoughwomen make up almost half of the territorys popula- tion only 10 per cent of the 19 MLAs were fe- male in this last assembly. That is the pattern acrossthelandatalllevelsofgovernmentand thewebsitespeakstowhatitsauthorsthinkare thecausesWomenaresocializedtounderes- timatetheirabilitiesandstrengthsandcondi- tioned to defer to the traditional male role of political activity it says and a whole lot more. Wendy Bisaro of Yellowknife one of two lonely female MLAs in the current legislature has indicated she will not run again. Bisaro made an excellent contribution and will leave big shoes to be lled. Jane Groenewegen the other non-male in the territorial legislature has yet to make her decision public but if she decides to run and the people of Hay River decide they want her back representing them it will be her sixth term in ofce an astound- ing 18 years in public service. The vast majority of the current sitting male MLAs have indicated they will run again. Their experience and dedication is greatly ap- preciated. MLAs have to work hard and those who live outside Yellowknife have to spend a great deal of time away from their families. In addition to those sacrices politicians are in the public eye constantly scrutinized and rarelyapplauded.Ittakesaspecialkindofper- son to do it well. If you are that kind of person no matter who you are and what your goals and aspirations are please look seriously at stepping up. There is much that needs doing. First Nations governments are supposed to be partners with the GNWT but they are not really. On the other hand many First Nations are struggling. Is there a way for- ward for the evolution and strengthening of Aboriginal languages and culture Are you a person who can help facilitate that and maybe nd a better way forward TheNWTisrapidlyevolvingandmanyforces pull it in different directions. It has tradition- ally followed the ways of Alberta in economy educationhealthandinparticulareconomic development. Over the last 40 years the Con- servative government has worked closely with industry in the North and often the inconve- niencesofenvironmentalprotectionhavebeen set aside. Constituents demand jobs and the abilitytocreatewealthandenhancetheirstan- dardoflivingsoNWTpoliticiansarepressured to act similarly. Now there is a new sheriff in Alberta and likely new approaches and differ- ent ways of thinking will quickly emerge. Will the NWT government follow suit It might be an exciting time for change. How much development should take place and what restrictions monitoring and ac- countability will be involved If offering bet- ter protections for the environment is your particular concern note that Bob Bromley of Yellowknife has indicated he will not run again. An environmentalist he has champi- onedmanycausesandhasoftenbeentheNWT governments harshest critic. Perhaps you are inspired to take up where Bromley leaves off. If you are a woman take a look through the Status of Women website. Why do commu- nities need to have shelters for women and children who sometimes fear for their lives from their partners Why do communities need to have Take Back the Night marches that campaign for the safety and security of female residents Why is there no proper day- care with well-paid and trained staff so that women with children can be freed to re-enter the workforce There are too many things that need xing in the lives of women. New blood is needed in the legislature to inject energy and ideas and in some cases inspire a better way of doing things. If you are someone who can make that happen who wants to make a difference we encourage you to run for MLA. The Status of Women Council website can be found at www.statusofwomen.nt.ca. Look under Publications and then Election Cam- paign School Starter Kit. New blood is needed in the legislature to inject energy and ideas and in somecasesinspireabetter way of doing things. PhotosPaulBannister Canadian Armed Forces personnel battled it out with Fort Smith youth last week in a fun slo-pitch game while in town for sovereignty exercise Operation Nanook. Above Jacob Steed looks to hit it out of the park while M.Cpl. Colin Dober of Newfoundland plays catcher. Below Nicholas Peterson makes it to second base manned by Cpl. Richard Moffat.