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November 21, 2003

Senate kills tougher animal cruelty bill

Last week the senate voted to send a bill that would toughen up animal-cruelty legislation back to committee. This move effectively kills Bill C-10B because it could not come back in time for another vote before the House of Commons adjourned.

Under the bill, those convicted of animal cruelty would have faced maximum jail terms of up to five years and a $10,000 fine. The maximum penalty now is a $2,000 fine and six months in jail.

Senator Charlie Watt wanted the government to include an amendment that would refer to the hunting and fishing rights of aboriginals being guaranteed.

Watt said the legislation could affect native hunters and be tantamount to "cultural genocide" that occurred after animal activists put an end to seal hunting.

"There was a massive genocide across the Arctic. The graveyards are full of [seal hunters who killed themselves]. They had no way of supporting their families anymore and their pride was taken away."

November 21, 2003

Bystanders halt axe-wielder in Iqaluit

On Nov. 16, the RCMP in Iqaluit responded to a complaint of a man walking in the 200-block area with an axe.

In a news release, the RCMP detachment extended a thank-you to three people who helped apprehend the man, especially Charlie Papatsie, Claude Aube and Lodie Ipeelie, all of Iqaluit.

Eetulu Salamonie, 33, has been charged with one count of assault with a weapon, one count of assault, one count of resisting arrest and five counts of uttering threats. He was to appear in court on Nov. 20.

November 21, 2003

Inuvialuit exhibition opens at Ottawa museum

SIKU CIRCUMPOLAR NEWS SERVICE

An exhibition called Across Time and Tundra: The Inuvialuit of the Canadian Arctic opened two weeks ago at the Canadian Museum of Civilization in Ottawa. It's the largest ever presented on the history and culture of Inuvialuit and chronicles their successes and challenges, while focusing on questions of identity and cultural survival. It will be at the CMC until Jan. 9, 2005.

The exhibition was mounted in consultation with Inuvialuit elders and community members. It includes nearly 200 artifacts and 150 archival photographs drawn from the collections of the CMC, the Smithsonian Institution's MacFarlane Collection, and the McCord Museum's Sutherland Collection.

At one time, the Inuvialuit were the largest Inuit group in Canada, but by 1910, ravaged by diseases introduced by contact with Europeans, their population had been reduced by 90 per cent. The story of the Inuvialuit's survival and resurgence is told through a selection of artifacts and historical photographs, many on public display for the first time.

Inside the reconstruction of a traditional Inuvialuit sod house, visitors can take a virtual tour of its residents' domestic activities. In an interactive studio, visitors can put on traditional costumes and see themselves on video dancing alongside Inuvialuit drum dancers.

The CMC recently launched a virtual exhibition on the interaction between the Inuvialuit and the Canadian Arctic Expedition of 1913-18, the first major Canadian scientific expedition to the Far North. The site can be found at www.civilization.ca/hist/cae/splashe.html.

November 21, 2003

Polar vortex may alter climate

Above the North Pole is a massive maelstrom of air, a "polar vortex" that scientists have shown is speeding up and may explain some of the dramatic changes now being observed in the Arctic environment.

The counterclockwise swirl of winds have been speeding up, and, as the vortex has gained speed and strength in the past decade, scientists have observed increases in average Arctic temperatures, bursts in the amount of plankton, jellyfish and vegetation, and changes in the Arctic Ocean's balance of fresh and salt water.

"This is possibly also related to global climate change," said scientist James Morison of the University of Washington.

An international gathering of Arctic researchers in Seattle was recently organized by the National Science Foundation as part of its project SEARCH (the Study of Environmental Arctic Change).

Researchers discussed a variety of disturbing changes in the Arctic, such as thinning sea ice, shifts in ocean currents and disruptions of animal habitat.

November 21, 2003

Hue and cry over humpback kill

The Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society, a lobby group for protection of whales, dolphins and their environment, is upset over the news that a juvenile humpback whale was fatally injured in Greenland last month.

The group says this is the not the first killing of humpbacks by Greenlanders this year. Another is believed to have been killed in fishing gear near Paamiut in Southern Greenland. Two humpbacks were also shot, but lost at sea, last year and two more caught in nets. Ten more humpbacks are believed to have drowned in crab nets in Greenland in 2000.

The latest animal, found near Sisimiut in western Greenland, measured around 10 metres. It had so many serious rifle wounds it could not dive and was shot by a game warden.

The sale of humpback meat is prohibited in Greenland, and meat from illegally caught animals is confiscated. Greenland media reported that the meat from this recent humpback kill was distributed to public institutions, including kindergartens and retirement homes.

As humpback hunts increase in Greenland, the chairman of Greenland's hunters' Association is calling for legalization.

In 2002, the International Whaling Commission renewed the Aboriginal Subsistence Whaling quotas on whale stocks hunted by aboriginal hunters in Greenland. The IWC permits the hunting of 19 fin whales, 175 West Greenland minke whales and 12 East Greenland minke whales each year until 2006. In 1986, on the advice of its Scientific Committee, the IWC set zero quotas for humpback whales.

In addition to killing over 200 fin and minke whales, Greenlandic hunters also kill a large, but unknown, number of small whales each year, including belugas, narwhals, pilot whales and orcas.

Orphaned polar bears get new home

The two orphaned polar bears who were captured near Kuujjuaq in September are to have a new permanent home in Quebec. Next March, the two will settle into the wildlife zoo in St-Félicien, north of Quebec City.

Sam Hamad, Quebec's minister of natural resources, made the announcement last week in Quebec City.

"This is an arrangement that will meet the needs of all those who are involved," Hamad said.

The bears have been staying at Quebec City's zoo, but according to Elaine Dumais, a spokesperson for the zoo, the St-Félicien facility will be able to offer the bears more space as they grow larger.

The two will spend the winter at the Calgary zoo, and return in the spring to their new home.

The bears still don't officially have names. A contest was held to choose names, but the winning names have not been finalized, Dumais said.

In their efforts to find the best home for the two bears, the two Quebec zoos worked with the Calgary Zoo, the Centre for Polar Bears Conservation and Educational Habitat in Cochrane, Ont., and Quebec's centre for northern conservation, the Centre de Conservation de la Biodiversité Boréale.

November 14, 2003

More money for northern science students

The federal Northern Scientific Training Program will see more money this year. Beginning in the fall of 2004, its annual budget will increase to $1 million. Last year, 30 universities asked for $1.3 million - and received $636,000.

This program allows Canadian students of northern science to go out in the field for research projects. It also considers applications from Canadian students who want to study in other circumpolar nations.

Since 1961, the program has spent $18.6 million and helped 7,000 students. The money pays for transportation, living expenses, cargo and interpreter fees for field work.

"As other nations discover the significance of the Arctic, more international research teams are gathering in our North," said Indian and Northern Affairs minister Robert Nault in a press release. "Our objective is to increase the number of graduate and other advanced students within Canadian universities who have specialized in some aspects of northern studies and who have northern research experience."

According to polar bear scientist Dr. Ian Stirling, more money for the program should help interest students in northern research. Stirling, 62, said there are few northern scientists under 45.

"It's going to take a while to see a new research cohort in the North - and one that includes Inuit," Stirling said.

November 14, 2003

QIA elections Dec. 8

Inuit beneficiaries in the Baffin region will go to the polls Dec. 8 to elect a secretary-treasurer for the Qikiqtani Inuit Association, and community directors in four communities.

Three people will challenge incumbent secretary-treasurer Joe Attagutaluk of Igloolik. They are: Limikie Illauq of Clyde River, Oolanie Kakkee of Qikiqtarjuaq, and Joe Adla Kunuk of Iqaluit.

Twelve people will run for the community director position in Arctic Bay: Josia Akpaliapik, Johnny Attagutsiak, Peoyok Enoogoo, Jobie Issigaitok, David Kalluk, Olayou Kigutikarjuk, Olayuk Naqitarvik, Zipporah Oyukuluk, Simon Qamanirq, Andrew Taqtu, Juda Taqut, and Tommy Tatuarpik.

Five people will run for community director in Qikiqtarjuaq: Loasie Audlakiak, Eliyah Kakudluk, Jacopie Kokseak, Koalie Kooneeliusie, and Meeka Newkinga.

Two people will run for community director in Sanikiluaq: Joe Arragutainaq, and Mary Inuktaluk Sr.

In Grise Fiord, Larry Audlaluk was the only candidate nominated for community director and will be acclaimed.

November 14, 2003

Power Corp. deficit up last year

The Nunavut Power Corp. lost $7.978 million during the 2002-03 fiscal year, its second full year of operations, according to financial statements in the corporations second annual report.

That's $2.828 million more than it lost in 2001-02, its first full year, excluding expenses incurred when the NPC separated from the Northwest Territories Power Corp.

The NPC's second annual report, covering the fiscal year ending March 31, 2003, was tabled last week in the Nunavut legislative assembly.

In a "management discussion and analysis" attached to the financial statements, the corporation attributes the loss to lower than expected power sales, higher salaries and wages, higher supply and service expenses, the removal of a fuel rider on April 1, 2002, and a rate freeze that is in effect until March 31, 2004.

The company says it's unlikely to return to profitability until after a new rate structure application is approved during the 2005-05 fiscal year, and after its corporate reorganization is finished.

Right now, the company's biggest worry is its rising debt-equity ratio - which means the total amount of long-term debt that it owes in comparison to the value of its assets.

It's debt-equity ratio right now is 3.98 - which means that it owes nearly four times more money than the value of its assets.

That exceeds the debt-equity ratio of 3.0 prescribed by the Nunavut Public Utilities Act.

"The corporation has introduced measures to control expenditures and intends to submit a general rate application before the end of the current fiscal year," the company says.

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