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Around
Nunavut
December
12, 2003
Stornoway reports Aviat drilling results
Stornoway Diamond Corp. of Vancouver recovered 767 diamonds from two kimberlite
groups during drilling this past August at its Aviat Project on the Melville
Peninsula near Igloolik.
Other tests have shown areas of the drilling region to be "diamondiferous,"
which means they contain minerals often associated with the presence of diamonds,
though no actual diamonds have been found.
Stornoway spent about $5 million on its 2003 drilling program, which included
excavating eight tonnes of kimberlite from surface areas, 1,202 metres of core
drilling, and processing 2,300 till samples.
The company says it is planning a larger drilling campaign for early 2004,
after the 2003 data has been processed.
Stornoway holds a 70 per cent interest in the 5.5-million-acre Aviat Project.
BHP Billiton owns 20 per cent and Hunter Exploration Group holds 10 per cent.
December
12, 2003
Nunavut reaches settlement with Trumper
The Government of Nunavut has reached a settlement in the wrongful dismissal
suit brought last year by Katherine Trumper, the former deputy minister of sustainable
development.
Trumper launched the suit about a year after a bureaucratic shuffle that would
have made her deputy minister of intergovernmental affairs, an effective demotion.
She declined the transfer and sought nearly $1 million, including $270,000
in severance pay, $71,000 in performance benefits, $250,000 for damage to her
career prospects, $250,000 in aggravated damages, and an additional amount for
the loss of her supplementary retirement benefit.
The GN maintained it owed Trumper nothing, as she had resigned.
In a press release from the GN this week, David Omilgoitok, deputy minister
of intergovernmental affairs, said "the terms of the employment contract
that were in dispute have been resolved."
December
12, 2003
Nunavut grandparents raise 2.3 per cent of kids
Children in Nunavut are being raised by their grandparents, without involvement
by either parent, at a rate five times higher than the national average, according
to information released this week by Statistics Canada.
Data from the 2001 Census show that Nunavut has the highest proportion —
2.3 per cent — of children aged 14 and under being raised by grandparents.
Saskatchewan has the greatest number of grandchildren being reared by grandparents.
In Quebec, 0.2 per cent of children were being raised by their grandparents,
and in Ontario, the figure is 0.3 per cent.
December
12, 2003
REAL Women accuses Cauchon of pushing gay "agenda"
A conservative lobby group has been spreading the word that Martin Cauchon,
the federal minister of justice, was to be in Iqaluit from Dec. 3 to 6 to "push
the homosexual agenda."
But a representative from the Government of Nunavut said this week that Cauchon
was not in Iqaluit last week, and was not scheduled to visit.
The lobby group, called REAL Women, has been telling supporters since late
November that Cauchon was planning to spend his last days in office in Iqaluit,
"to promote same-sex marriage in Canada's newest emerging province."
While in Iqaluit, the group warned Cauchon would "pressure the legislative
assembly to implement, at the expense of the Inuit culture and tradition, the
acceptance of same-sex marriage," an online press release says, citing
territorial election hopeful Tagak Curley as a source to contact for further
information.
"It is apparent that Mr. Cauchon hopes to use Nunavut as a precedent for
the acceptance of homosexuality even though it is contrary to the culture and
tradition of the people living there.
"This attempt to manipulate the healthy vigorous Inuit culture to adapt
to the personal agenda of the outgoing minister of justice and his homosexual
supporters is repugnant and abhorrent to all those who respect the culture and
traditions of others," the press release says.
December
12, 2003
Ottawa curbs water sales in Nunavut, NWT
The department of Indian affairs and northern development is prohibiting bulk
water sales from federal jurisdictions in Nunavut and the Northwest Territories,
according to a new policy announced last week by DIAND Minister Robert Nault.
"This policy is intended to show that although there is abundant fresh
water in the Northwest Territories [and Nunavut], steps are being taken to ensure
the resource will be protected and used in a manner that optimizes water use
within the major drainage basins," Nault said in a press release.
Bulk water removal refers to water transferred out of a river basin in any
individual container greater than 40 litres in volume. There are exceptions
for fire safety and road construction.
As a result of devolution, water management in the Yukon now falls under territorial
control.
December
5, 2003
KIA reaches benefits deal with Tahera
The Kitikmeot Inuit Association has struck a tentative Inuit impact and benefit
agreement with Tahera Corp. for the company's proposed Jericho diamond mine.
Such agreements, called "IIBAs" are required by the Nunavut land
claims agreement.
Tahera's $50-million Jericho mine, located near Contwoyto Lake, is only about
one-twentieth the size of the massive Diavik and Ekati projects just across
the border in the Northwest Territories.
But Jericho will be Nunavut's first diamond mine, and KIA expects that its
deal with Tahera will be a model for future IIBAs between Inuit and mining developers.
"[T]he agreement establishes precedents for future IIBAs with respect
to water compensation and protection of the environment that will make it easier
for mining companies to work with Inuit on mining projects," a KIA news
release says.
Right now, the two parties are calling their deal an "agreement-in-principle,"
but they plan to sign at a ceremony early in 2004.
The deal will cover Inuit employment, training and contracting opportunities
on the mine project, water use and environmental protection.
December
5, 2003
NTI prepares for March
16 election
Nunavut Tunngavik Inc.
is beginning to prepare for its March 16 executive election, with the appointment
of Helen Klengenberg as Chief Returning Officer, and Lazarus Arreak as Assistant
Chief Returning Officer.
Klengenberg's firm, Aarluk
Consulting, will hire 43 deputy returning officers and 19 poll clerks to help
run the election.
The positions of president
and second vice-president are up for election.
Nomination papers will
be made available to candidates by Jan. 24, and completed nomination papers
are due by Jan. 26.
All Nunavut land claims
beneficiaries who are at least 16 years of age as of election day are eligible
to vote.
December
5, 2003
Student nurses receive
cheques
Premier Paul Okalik and
Ed Picco, the minister of health and social services, has handed out bursary
cheques ranging from $500 to $2,500 to students at Nunavut Arctic College's
health career access and nursing programs.
Those receiving bursaries
last week included:
- Health Career Access:
Mishael Gordon, Taina Kubluitok, Gloria Mimialik, Jessinta Niakrok and Ragee
Tasiutaq.
- Nursing, first year:
Micah Arreak, Eva Eeseemailee, Charlotte Osler, Linda Porter, Mona Ulayuruluk
and Charlotte Zawadski.
- Nursing, second year:
Pallulaaq Ford, Sarah Kilpatrick, Theresa Koonoo, Rebecca Lonsdale, Andrea
Mclarty, Michelle Modesto and Susie Pearce.
- Nursing, third year:
Sipporah Peterloosie.
- Nursing, fourth year:
Lily Amagoalik and Asenath Idlout.
Despite his department's
deficit, Picco said the future of Nunavut's nursing program, which costs about
$1 million a year, has never been in doubt.
"I'm glad that we're
adding to the deficit," joked Okalik. "But we don't mind. It's an
investment. I wished I could have had this support when I was in school. I just
paid off my student loan last week."
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Nunavut 99
