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August 29, 2003

Police name teen killed in crash

Iqaluit RCMP have released the name of the teen who died in a single motor vehicle accident on Aug. 19.

Kevin Dunphy, 16, and a 15-year-old passenger were driving on Apex Road last Tuesday. The car went off the road at 6:30 p.m. and rolled several times before coming to a stop.

Police have not released further details on the accident, or the identity of the passenger riding with Dunphy.

The teen's uncle, Bob Dunphy of New Brunswick, travelled to Iqaluit this week to attend the funeral.

CPAC broadcasts tour of Nunavut

CPAC, Canada's Public Affairs Channel, will air a televised tour of Nunavut next month with an episode of its program, "The Great Canadian Tour."

The weekly program hosted by Glen McInnis explores a different province or territory each episode, and Nunavut was its 11th stop.

The show will examine everything from Pangnirtung's Auyuittuq Park to the growing pains of the new territory.

McInnis talks to the people as he continues his unofficial cross-country survey of everyday Canadians asking questions such as who they think the most influential Canadian is and what the most important moment in Canada was.

The episode on Nunavut will air on Sept. 13 at 7 p.m.

Education ADM moves to department of the executive

Premier Paul Okalik made two changes to the civil service this week to fill a vacant position in the department of the executive and strengthen its work on Inuit Qajimajatuqangit issues.

Nallaq Arnaquq, the assistant deputy minister for the department of education, will become the new ADM for corporate priorities at the department of the executive.

Though the job title is new, the position was previously held by David Akeeagok, who was the ADM responsible for decentralization before he moved to the department of finance in a civil service shuffle this past April.

Peter Geikie, the principal of Aqsarniit Middle School in Iqaluit, will become an ADM of education, responsible for trades and vocation training in the primary and secondary grades.

An Arviat golf enthusiast swings a club on the tundra. (PHOTO COURTESY OF SEAN O'BRIEN)

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Golf fever strikes Arviat

Arviat residents have taken up an unlikely Arctic sport - golfing. The local golfing association boasts over 50 members and driving golf balls has become the new favorite past time of young children.

Last weekend's 2003 Arviat Qaituearjuq Golf Open brought competitors from as far away as Coral Harbour. Thirty-four participants competed for the top prize of $1,500, a set of men's clubs and a trophy.

Simeon Dion of Coral Harbour won first place, Stephen Kuksuk came in second.

Transport Canada inspects Iqaluit airport

Canada's federal transport agency conducted a routine inspection of the Iqaluit airport Aug. 20 and 21.

"The audit of Iqaluit airport was one of Transport Canada's routine audit's that take place on a regular basis," Irene Smith, spokeswoman for Transport Canada, said last week.

Such audits take place every three to five years, she said, and are a way of maintaining and improving safety at airports. They typically involve inspectors interviewing key personnel and examining operation procedures like snow removal and important areas like runways, taxi ways and aprons.

Smith would not comment on whether inspectors had cited the airport or any airlines for irregularities or violations because a final report had not yet been produced.

But she said if any deficiencies are discovered, Transport Canada would ensure they are corrected.

Smith could not give a date for the inspection's final report.

Unaalik Aviation names new president

Unaalik Aviation named Morag Howell to the position of president on Aug. 11.

Howell has an 18-year background of management experience in remote operations, including Arctic and Antarctic expeditions.

Unaalik Aviation, an Iqaluit-based and Inuit-owned company, flies three Twin Otters throughout Nunavut and operated in the Antarctic in the Austral Summer of 2002-03.

Arctic Bay men charged in co-op robbery

RCMP in Arctic Bay have charged three men after a large amount of money was stolen from the Taqqut Co-op on Aug. 23.

Paul Shappa, 29, Kimball Qamanirq, 23, and Leo Pauloosie, 29, have been charged with theft. They are scheduled to appear in court on Nov. 4 in Arctic Bay.

Iqaluit museum needs help finding carving

The Nunatta Sunakkutaangit Museum is seeking assistance in finding a carving that was stolen last week.

The carving is a large bear made of dark green stone with white ivory teeth. The bear's head is turned to look over its back. The bear stands on all four legs. It measures approximately 12 inches high and 18 inches long. The carving weighs nearly 40 pounds.

The museum is offering a $500 reward for information leading to the carving's return. Anyone with information can contact the RCMP or Brian Lunger, the museum's curator, at 979-5537.

Task force travels Nunavut

A task force examining the issues of suicide, suicide prevention and community healing has begun consultations with Nunavummiut.

The task force held a public meeting in Hall Beach on Aug. 23. Since then, it has held consultations in Rankin Inlet, Coral Harbour and Qikiqtarjuaq.

Consultations in Iqaluit will take place at the Anglican Parish Hall on Aug. 28 and 29, in Kugluktuk at the community hall on Sept. 2 and 3 and in Taloyoak at the community hall on Sept. 5 and 6.

Intergovernmental affairs minister tours Nunavut

Stéphane Dion, the federal minister of intergovernmental affairs, met with Premier Paul Okalik in Iqaluit this week. (PHOTO BY PATRICIA D'SOUZA)

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Stéphane Dion, the federal minister of intergovernmental affairs, travelled though Nunavut this past week, stopping in Iqaluit, Rankin Inlet, Kugaaruk, Gjoa Haven and Arviat.

In Iqaluit, he met with Premier Paul Okalik, and in Kugaaruk, Gjoa Haven and Arviat he travelled with Nunavut MP Nancy Karetak-Lindell.

Okalik said he had a good, frank discussion with Dion on the holiday Monday, covering a host of Nunavut complaints including fish quotas, economic development and devolution.

The premier also discussed his troubled relationship with Robert Nault, minister of Indian and northern affairs, saying he looks forward to a new minister in the portfolio after the next federal election.

"The two guys have difficulty getting along," Dion said. "We should do what we can to improve the relationship because both of them are men of good faith."

Dion made no commitments during the brief meeting, saying, among other things, the fisheries minister will not renegotiate his decision on the Davis Strait quota this year, but may be open to discussions next year.

Dion last visited Nunavut three years ago with a federal delegation of diplomats.

Three Nunavummiut named to Order of Canada

Adrienne Clarkson, Governor General of Canada, announced new appointments to the Order of Canada this week.

The Order of Canada, an honorary society, was established in 1967 to recognize outstanding achievement and service.

Among the 109 appointees are three Nunavummiut, one from each of the territory's regions:

• Ann Meetijuk Hanson of Iqaluit, former broadcaster, former deputy commissioner of the Northwest Territories, and former chair of the Baffin Regional Health Board;
  
  
• John Kaunak, mayor of Repulse Bay, member of the Keewatin elders council;
  
  
• Bill Lyall of Cambridge Bay, a long-time activist in the co-op movement, a former MLA, and a former member of the Nunavut Implementation Commission.

Feds give Baker Lake resort $360,000

Nunamiut Company Ltd. is getting $360,000 from the Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development's "Opportunity Fund" for its Baker Lake cultural tours and resort business.

The tour agency is the first to offer year-round packaged tours and accommodations in Baker Lake. The federal money will help expand the business to three new buildings, which will provide accommodations, conference and kitchen facilities, a gift shop and dining room.

The total cost of the expansion is $1.97 million. Industry Canada and the Nunavut Business Development Fund are also contributing to the project.

New money for diamond projects

Twin Mining Corp. has raised another $1.5 million through the sale of new shares.

The money will be used to continue the mining company's exploration of the Jackson Inlet diamond project on Baffin Island and the Torngat diamond project on Ungava Bay.

Suicide task force begins work

The Government of Nunavut's suicide task force will begin community consultations this month. The consultations will run until mid-September and will focus on the issue of suicide, as well as prevention and community healing.

During the March session of the legislature, MLAs passed a motion to support the fight against suicide.

And in mid-July, Ed Picco, the minister of health and social services, appointed a task force of youth, elders, healers, educators and justice workers.

The members of the task force are Norman Komoartok of Pangnirtung, Brian Simionie of Pond Inlet, Meeka Arnakak of Pangnirtung, Adrienne Tagoona of Baker Lake, Bernadette Saumik of Rankin Inlet, Theresa Kakkianiun of Kugaaruk, Bob Konona of Gjoa Haven, Amie Ahegona of Kugluktuk and Kautaq Joseph of Arctic Bay.

GN benefits from wind study

The Meteorological Services Department of Environment Canada has begun work on developing a wind map of Nunavut.

The map will provide information that will allow the government to gain increased energy self-sufficiency through the potential development of wind farms.

The map is being created with new analysis and forecasting software developed by the Meteorological Service of Canada. The program will compile 50 years of detailed weather history.

The resulting map will allow the Nunavut government to select the most optimal areas for wind farms.

Wind is a cheap and clean renewable energy source. The development of wind farms would support Canada's commitment to reduce national emissions by 2013. The wind map will be completed by October 2003.

Nunavut and Manitoba sign tourism agreement

Olayuk Akesuk, Nunavut's minister of sustainable development, and Eric Robinson, Manitoba's minister of culture, heritage and tourism, have signed a memorandum with the goal of improving tourism.

The accord aims to develop strong and economically viable tourism industries. It builds on a process that began for Nunavut in Baker Lake in June when "The Time is Right: A Vision and Strategy for Tourism Development" was tabled in the legislature.

Contracts awarded for new police stations

The federal Department of Public Works has awarded contracts to an Iqaluit construction firm, GC North Inc., to build new police stations in Kugaaruk and Chesterfield Inlet.

Added together, the two contracts are worth about $2.8 million.

"This contract calls for the construction of community offices which will expand, in a big way, the range of services the Mounties offer the citizens of these and surround localities," Nunavut's MP, Nancy Karetak-Lindell, said in a federal government press release.

The new police buildings are expected to be finished by October 2004.

Top doc touts HR plan

The head of Canada's national physicians' organization says the country needs better ways of figuring out how many doctors, nurses and other health workers should be trained, to avoid future shortages.

Dr. Dana Hanson, president of the Canadian Medical Association, came to Iqaluit last week to talk with Ed Picco, Nunavut's health minister, and Bernie Blais, the new deputy minister of health.

Dr. Sandy MacDonald, Nunavut's director of medical health, said Nunavut needs more doctors, but doesn't have enough money in its health budget to create the extra positions.

"I think Nunavut should have somewhere between 20 and 25 physicians across the territory," MacDonald told reporters.

Right now, about 15 doctors are serving in Nunavut, many of them on short-term contracts.

The building of two enlarged health centres, or "cottage hospitals" in Cambridge Bay and Rankin Inlet will likely create a need for more doctors, but MacDonald said the health department doesn't know how many yet.

"I don't know exactly what the impact will be, but based on my experience the change is likely to be greater in the Kitikmeot and Kivalliq regions than in the Baffin," MacDonald said.

That's because the Baffin is getting a replacement for a hospital that already exists, but the other two communities are getting new kinds of facilities.

Bear's watching

As of last week, staff with the department of sustainable development were still noting polar bear activity in Katannilik Park, near Kimmirut.

On July 25, DSD staff reported finding polar bear tracks in the park.

They're warning the public, especially tourists, not to approach polar bears if they see one.

On July 27, 2001, two Quebec tourists camping in the park were badly mauled by a polar bear, and complained afterward that DSD officials didn't warn them that polar bears sometimes frequent the park.

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