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Back to July, 2002 Archive Index
Letters to the Editor Thanks to the Iqaluit post office I would like to acknowledge my appreciation to the postal workers in Iqaluit for the hard work they have done to do their best to serve their customers. We now have new boxes in Iqaluit. Most of you may have to change your address books. I would like to thank them again for the work they have done for the new residents of Iqaluit. Solomon Awa July 5, 2002 More research needed The low rate of cesarean sections (as well as episiotomies and other obstetric interventions) at Baffin Regional Hospital is something to celebrate. However, I’m concerned that Nunavummiut may think, "Hey, we want more C-sections." The low rates may be because pregnant women are younger, very rarely have epidurals, or maybe because Inuit bodies and minds are better at birthing. Without more studies, we don’t know whether or not low C-section rates have anything to do with the skill of the health-care providers. Madeleine Cole July 5, 2002 Researching the Belcher Island murders My name is Eric Dyer. I am interested in learning more about the murders which took place on the Belcher Islands in 1940 and the subsequent trial. I am also interested in learning about life among the Qikirtamiut at that time and how life was changed following this tragedy. I will be travelling in the region in late July and August and would like to talk with anyone who wishes to discuss these subjects.
Eric Dyer July 5, 2002 A rapacious duopoly: First Air and Canadian North I have just returned from my very first trip to Iqaluit and Resolute Bay, and one thing is very clear: if Nunavut is ever going to receive more than a handful of tourists, your jet air service from the South must receive more and much lower fare competition. Iqaluit is 1,302 miles, or 2,095 kilometres from Ottawa. A comparable distance is Boston to Fort Lauderdale, which is 1,239 miles or 1,994 kilometers. The lowest "seat-sale" fare being advertised by First Air is $798 round-trip; by Canadian North, $995. With both there are high Canadian taxes. In sharp contrast, Delta Express flies the Boston-to-Fort Lauderdale route with similarly aged Boeing 737-200 aircraft for as little as US$158, or $236 round-trip, plus much lower U.S. taxes. And they make a profit on the route. Iqaluit itself certainly has enough first-class hotel rooms to accommodate an all-passenger aircraft from either Tango by Air Canada or Westjet, at fares which should properly be at least 50 per cent lower than present seat-sale fares. And, if the room infrastructure is inadequate, the rest of the seats would instantly be filled by the visiting friends and relatives market, many of whom are locked out of the travel market to and from Nunavut because of the present, rapacious duopoly formed by First Air and Canadian North. First Air is flying obsolete 727-100 Combi aircraft, which exist solely to serve gravel runways in places like Resolute Bay, and Nanisivik. Both will probably be dropped as jet destinations as their respective mines close. Canadian North flies old 737-200 Combi aircraft. Farther south, such aircraft would be sitting in the desert awaiting scrapping. In brief, these carriers’ investment in jet equipment is as minimal as it can get. While the cost of flying in and out of Iqaluit is maybe a bit more than flying in the Canadian South, mostly due to higher fuel costs and a few weather delays, there is absolutely no justification for the fares that are currently being charged by both carriers. It is up to Nunavut Tourism to make an all-out effort to attract Westjet or Tango to Iqaluit, with the hope that a lower-cost alternative can be found to serve the remaining jet-served Nunavut communities as well. Indeed, one can travel completely around the world for the price of the cheapest excursion fare ticket from Ottawa to Resolute Bay and return. Donald L. Pevsner July 5, 2002 Arctic Bay needs more hash and grass There have been two break-ins to the RCMP station in Arctic Bay. The lack of drugs here in the growing town of Arctic Bay is getting everyone who does drugs hyped up. More and more people are getting arrested for being drunk, while being high on drugs makes them relaxed and calm. Drinking makes them unaware of what they’re doing, hurting their loved ones, having affairs, ruining their relationships. Come up North, will you? Everything was introduced to Inuit by white people. Foods at the stores are really expensive now, especially when you are not working and on social assistance. All the frustration goes away and all the troubles seem to go away when you get high. Drug dealers here don’t know or care where it comes from. All they’re thinking of doing is to get the money. It’s all about the money, which was also introduced by white people. Alcohol now, that’s legal when you can kill someone, hurts someone, and most of all ruin your life. But drugs, from what I know, marijuana, hash, hashish oil, aren’t hurting anyone, not here in Arctic Bay, only those who feel they are hurt. Name withheld by request July 5, 2002 Principal congratulates grads Janimmarik School in Kuujjuaq held its graduation ceremony on Thursday, June 6 at 5 p.m. This year 14 students successfully completed their program and were presented with their Diplôme d’études sécondaire [high school diploma]: Jane Lingard, Dawn Forest, Siquaq Tukkiapik, Dallacy Dubé, Jessie Mesher, Patricia York, Lucy Abraham, Guillaume Michaud, Christopher Davis, Danielli Bentley, David Barrett, Ron Gordon, Edua Jones, Ryan Makiuk. Guest speakers included Craid Lingard (Education Committee President), Larry Watt (Kativik School Board), Jobie Tukkiapik (Kativik Regional Government) and Annie Johannes (recent graduate). Special thanks goes to all those who decorated our gymnasium and helped make this event a success — especially to our senior secondary teachers (Dave McMullen, Denis Daigle, Pierre Couture, Scott Withers). The graduation supper was held later that evening at the Kuujjuaq Inn. Students left for their graduation trip to London and Paris early that following week. Those participating raised funds throughout the year to make this trip possible. The majority of our graduates will be continuing their education at either CEGEP Marie-Victorin (in French) or at John Abbott College (in English). Almost all the students are registered in the social sciences program for their first semester of studies, although they will have the opportunity to change their program of study upon successful completion of their first semester of CEGEP. We are proud of all our graduating students and wish them the best of luck in all their future endeavours. Peter Bentley July 5, 2002 Iqaluit loses feature film project Thanks for marking my little spot in the history of Nunavut filmmaking, in your recent editorial (Nunatsiaq News, June 28). If you need some more bad news about the current sorry state of things, consider this: A feature film project I worked on for almost a decade was very near to production last year. My story depended entirely on people and locations in Nunavut (it was set in Iqaluit with it’s inimitable atmosphere), so when Nunavut tax credit assistance proved unavailable to my investors and I refused to change locations, the project was abandoned. Ed Folger July 5, 2002 Searching for a Nunavut architecture Last week’s news that Iqaluit City Council had voted to reject the proposed design of a 48-unit apartment building came with a sense of relief. However, this joy had nothing to do with the building itself. The issue of taking pride in one’s surroundings and that pride weighing in more than the sheer volumetric will of the developer is what brought the relief. Finally we were saying that, yes, we do need housing, office space, and to densify our city, stopping the spread deeper into the surrounding tundra, but that this must coincide with the beauty of our community. For years, since the start of the urbanization of Iqaluit, we have seen what I call an architecture of fear. Our fear of the weather created a knee-jerk architecture that stifled a yawning hole we had created in the first place. The hulks of Inuksuk and Nakasuk schools are a testament to this: Fibreglass mounds with bullet-hole windows designed to hold out the environment, at the expense of sunlight, fresh air and consequently students’ health. Houses were made compact and culturally useless with materials that are alien to the landscape. None of this mattered though, for it was perceived that the developers and distant governments were doing the best thing. They were providing a humanitarian service: housing and schooling. In the absence of anything else and the publicity nightmare of homelessness and English illiteracy, any solution southern architects and contractors could offer was accepted. Our fear of the cost of building created a substandard use of materials and a complete abandonment of the idea of actually making buildings look and feel good. While the South had long abandoned the frontier mentality, the Arctic was still built seemingly in just that way. Over the years things began to change. In part due to the development of better building materials, but also, to a lesser degree, due to the fact that people began to want more. Local people began to travel south more and see what they were missing in the way of architecture and others began to move here expecting to have what they had before. Thus was born the second phase of the architecture of fear: the fear of being here. Denial. Houses, primarily, were copies of those from non-descript subdivisions in non-descript cities south of 60. Contractors and prospective homeowners plagiarized the designs found in magazines, adapting them to suit piles, no basements and domestic water and sewer tanks. No thought went into how they sat on the site apart from a possible view out the bay. None engaged the landscape or created a "dialogue" with their surroundings with more regard for set-backs than wind patterns, vegetation or daylighting. It was as if the inhabitants of these houses did not want to admit they were in the North. They felt a need for a place to retreat from the world around them and leave the Arctic behind. From this fear blossomed yet another: the contractor’s fear of trying anything different. Anything that was not a box or had an angle other than 45 or 90 degrees or used a different material that was commonly accepted was perceived to immediately add 25 per cent to the building cost. To compound this problem, the trades, when forced to abide by the will of the designer or owner, were ill-equipped to handle deviation from the norm. Piles went in wrong locations, designs changed overnight without consent from designer or owner and corners were cut. Recently things have started to change. There are builders who are willing to try something different or have developed an appreciation for designs that challenge the norm. Governments have begun to expect more from their designers and are demanding innovative solutions to their projects. The aesthetics of a project have come more to the forefront and the quality of the space provided is actually being discussed. The Nunavut legislature, and Government of Canada buildings and some more challenging house designs have spurred an appreciation for design. We are at last developing a local form. A Nunavut architecture. Buildings still do not engage the landscape as they should, striding over it with complete abandon. There is little attention to the streetscape, to exterior place-making, to lighting, to the human experience of the building. Our communities are full of buildings that most of us will never enter but nonetheless experience every day. This relationship has to be recognized. A building is not a wall behind which people retreat to work or play. A building is a part of the street, neighbourhood and the community. It must respect its surroundings just as a person should. It is not an island. It is true that city councils should not be the ones to set guidelines for form and function. However, council represents the people and therefore has a role in speaking out on their behalf. The responsibility lies with the developer, contractor, owner and general public to recognize the full role of a building in a community. We must take pride and responsibility for what we build. There is no excuse for subsistence architecture where supply and demand are the only mitigating factors. Bylaws are minimums of acceptance that have little to do with civic pride. Any building that only strives to meet these criteria is bound to fail on a far more meaningful level. Iqaluit is not, as has been voiced, "closed for business" in its decision to demand higher standards of design, but finally shedding its fear and opening the doors to innovation, energy and the vitality that comes from helping to create a more dynamic and beautiful community. Robert Billard Atanarjuat was a legendary character Atanarjuat is a legend from time immemorial and cannot be Wilfrid Caron’s grandson. Somebody needs to brush up on their research techniques. John Illupalik July 12, 2002 Competitors threatened by controversial building? Perhaps competition is the issue, and not appearance. Some who are against the new building ("Iqaluit rejects apartment building proposal," June 28) might very well feel that such a building, with outlets on the ground floor, might be a threat to their interests in other parts of Iqaluit. After all, the old Skidoo shop is a prime location, and close proximity to the airport and the walk-around tourist. Ralph Goodbody July 12, 2002 Take responsibility for alcohol problem The capricious actions of bureaucrats plus the antagonistic and rancorous allegations of our leaders and elders infuse prejudice and racism in our society. In the June 28 issue of Nunatsiaq News, Amittuq MLA Enoki Irqqituq is quoted as saying: "This is not our culture. It’s when the white people started coming here that they introduced alcohol." This is a reprehensible declaration from a statesman. When are Inuit going to muster some self-respect and accept responsibility? Stop reprimanding others for your problems. I do not blame the Indians for the nation’s tobacco afflictions, nor do I point the finger at Asians for opiates, or Brazilians for cocaine. I am not shooting your dogs, fornicating with your children, forcing you off the land or even littering in your city. As beneficiaries of the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement, you have more advantages in Canada than your white counterparts. What may have been in the past is not now. And what is now, will most certainly not be the future. Take hold of your destiny that Canadian citizens and taxpayers are funding. Adopt the good and discard the bad. There are hundreds of agencies and thousands of caring people who are willing to help you get a leg up. Wally Bootsma July 12, 2002 Risks and benefits of eating country foods After reading the article, "Montreal tests show harmful effects of contaminants," (May 17), we understand that there are some concerns among Inuit about the safety of eating country foods. It is unfortunate that chemicals like PCB and pesticides are found in country food. Most of them have never been used in the North but are carried to the North by air or water currents. It is important to find out any possible toxic effects of these chemicals in humans, and the study conducted at McGill University and the McGill University Health Centre was the first attempt to look at their combined effects on both the male and female reproduction systems. It is typical for toxicologists to feed laboratory animals, like rats, very high doses of the chemicals (10 to 1,000 times the average environmental level) over a relatively short period of time and observe any adverse outcomes. Some highlights of the results are that no evident abnormalities were observed with respect to the number of fetuses or their appearance, yet some changes in the expression of several genes in the livers of the mothers and in the livers, testes and ovaries of fetuses were found. A decrease in the numbers of germ cells in fetal ovaries was also found. Whether these effects would be observed in humans exposed to lower doses over longer periods of time is not known, and clearly more research needs to be done. While research takes time, people have to make decisions on food choices. Previous studies conducted by the Centre for Indigenous Peoples’ Nutrition and Environment at McGill University show that country foods are important sources of protein, minerals, vitamins and essential fatty acids in the northern diet. Eating country food and maintaining a healthy lifestyle are known protective factors for chronic diseases such as cardiovascular diseases and diabetes. With the current state of knowledge on risks and benefits, we would recommend that people continue eating country food. Concerned individuals may consult nutritionists and other health professionals about the quality of their diet. In the meantime, efforts have to be made to ban the manufacturing and use of these chemicals worldwide and levels of contaminants in country food need to be closely monitored. Laurie Chan Associate Professor and NSERC Northern Research Chair Bernard Robaire July 12, 2002 Watch for expiry dates on baby food This letter is to all mothers and mothers-to-be. Before you buy baby milk or baby food, please check the expiry date. When my son was going on to formula milk, that is when I learned to check expiry dates. He was six months old in October 2000. I went to buy formula milk and the store I usually buy from had run out. So we went to Arctic Ventures. I just took some off the shelf and my husband said to look at the expiry date first. It had expired 16 months ago. We started looking at all of them, and maybe 10 of 20 were expired. Then my son went on baby food — same thing with the baby food (outdated six to eight months before). I was so pissed off I asked the worker to see if they had any others in stock in the back, but they didn’t have any. Now that I have a little girl, she is on baby food now. The store was closed and I had to get some stuff and some baby food. I again went to Arctic Ventures. I checked the expiry dates on the food, so I grabbed 10 jars. In the morning, I was getting ready to feed my daughter, and for some reason I checked the date. It was expired (February 2001). Out of the 10 I bought, I had to return four jars. When I got to the store, I went to replace them. When I started looking at the jars, there were some that went back as far as September 2001 and July 2000. That is almost two years ago. This is my kid’s life and others that you are supplying milk and food for. Joan Cunha City dumps on Nunatsiaq News editorial It was very disappointing to read your interpretation of "the public interest" in the editorial of July 5 ("Iqaluit council forgets the public interest"), where you discussed council’s recent decision to turn down the Nunavut Suites development proposed by Ninety North Construction and Development (a subsidiary of Urbco). I wish to assure readers, and the residents of Iqaluit, that it was precisely the public interest that was foremost in council’s mind when it voted 5-1 to reject this development. First, it is necessary to clarify the facts pertaining to this development. In your editorial you indicated that the contractor’s proposal met all the bylaws. This is not the case. When Ninety North Construction applied for a building permit, the proposal met the city’s height bylaw, but the city was advised that the company had no intention of building its four-storey 65,000-square-foot project (twice the size of the Legislative Assembly) without a height variance. When developers request building variances they are requesting an exception to the city’s laws. The majority of councillors felt that the building was too large in our capital district, with or without the requested variance. However, it was another aspect of our city’s bylaws that was the determining factor in the rejection of this proposal. The city bylaws require a building to not detract from the character of the neighborhood. The location of the Nunavut Suites development, across from Nunavut’s legislature and government of Canada building, is perhaps the most important area of our city core. The method of developing the downtown core surrounding our legislature will significantly define the method of developing into a capital city. Unfortunately, when asked, Urbco was not able to demonstrate to council how their building would complement or enhance our unfolding capital city core. Council believes it is in the public interest to uphold its building bylaws so that the residents are assured that building developments follow a consistent and transparent process. Since the elections in October 2000, councillors have heard from citizens who are deeply concerned about the haphazard development of Iqaluit, much of it the result of variances being granted or developers ignoring guidelines set out in the secondary plan. The city planning department has also tried to negotiate compromises with some developers only to have these negotiations ignored once construction began and the building was occupied. City council also voiced concerns about other aspects of this proposal, including the lack of requisite parking spaces on the site to meet the bylaw requirements, and the absence of a drainage plan for the project. City administration also had a long list of conditions that had to be met before any permit could be issued. In your editorial you criticize city council for using ill-defined reasons of character for rejecting this development. In fact, there are guidelines dealing with character of buildings outlined in the city’s secondary plan, and these guidelines were used to evaluate this project. Your editorial also criticized city council’s lack of responsibility in dealing with Iqaluit’s housing shortage. Please realize that Iqaluit’s housing shortage is, in part, a result of unprecedented growth in our federal and territorial governments. (Your editorial confuses the rejection of the Nunavut Suites project with preventing the opportunity to provide much-needed social housing, In fact the Nunavut Suites project was likely intended for government and commercial housing.) For the City of Iqaluit to respond to this growth in housing demand in an orderly way, it needs to budget for, plan and develop land, a process that can take, on average, two years. The city cannot possibly provide land on an immediate basis for housing initiatives. Many of our residents are also tired of the city accepting development proposals, however inappropriate, because external political pressures demand these decisions. It is disappointing that Nunatsiaq News has forgotten its own criticisms of ugly uncontrolled growth in Iqaluit, in order to defend the interests of a developer. Council stands behind its recent decision on Nunavut Suites because in the end, in a 5-1 vote, it was felt that the public interest could best be represented by better, more thoughtful developments in our downtown core. John Matthews Editor’s note: Because of the shortage of government staff housing in Iqaluit and elsewhere, it’s rarely possible, as it once was, for public housing tenants to get better housing by going to work for the government – a process that frees up units for people on waiting lists. July 19, 2002 Thanks from Mark Evaloarjuk’s family We would like to take this opportunity to express our heartfelt gratitude for all the help, support, guidance, prayers, food, flowers, and people who just came in for moral support from out of town, who called to give condolences, and were there for all of us in our time of need when we lost our beloved Mark Evaloarjuk to his courageous fight with cancer on July 3, 2002. Thank-you from the bottom of our hearts. We will always remember the kindness that was shown to us and remember Mark with love in our hearts. A special thanks to: • The Legislative Assembly, especially Ministers Ed Picco and Manitok Thompson, and MLAs James Arvaluk and Enoki Irqittuq for arranging charters to Igloolik and for the tremendous support given to us; • the QIA Board and staff for their charter; • NTI for bringing in family members; • First Air for reduced rates; • Arctic Cooperatives Ltd., especially Louis Taparjuk and Maurice Arnatsiaq; • Northern Stores; • Office of the Speaker, Kevin O’Brien; • Baffin Development Centre board members and staff; • Commissioner Peter Irniq; • The Lyall and Pilakapsi families; • the Rev. James and Pheobe Nashak and Father Tony; • the Ottawa General Hospital doctors and nurses; • the Igloolik Health Centre and staff; • the Baffin Regional hospital doctors, nurses and interpreters; • People of Igloolik, Hall Beach, Pond Inlet and all of Nunavut; • And homecare workers Veronica Quassa, Annie Nutarariaq, and especially Leah Otak and Joanasie Kigutak, who came in almost every morning to be with Dad. With love and thanks, July 19, 2002 Something brewing at the dump July 11 was a gorgeous evening in Iqaluit, except for something brewing at the dump. In this day of advanced technology and weather forecasting, someone decided to light up the dump. If a simple call had been made to the local weather forecast line would they still have lit up that pile of garbage? It is terrible for individuals to infringe on one’s right to clean air. The City of Iqaluit has a licence to drench its citizens in potentially dangerous smoke from its dump. What will it take for the city to stop such practices? If I had a respiratory problem, I’d be snipping at the ankles of the city. This city-dweller says it friggin’ stinks and it could possibly cut my lifespan short. Maybe a good ol’ lawsuit is in order? Gideonie Joamie July 19, 2002 Know where aboriginal art comes from I just read your article about Paul Okalik and his idea of protecting aboriginal art from fraud ("Okalik: Canada should stamp out fake aboriginal art industry," July 12). This is a fantastic idea. However, I think that if any legislation is put forth to protect the art, it should recognize the differences between various aboriginal groups in Canada. Inuit, First Nations and Metis are all grouped under the umbrella of aboriginal peoples, but we are all very distinct with different languages, customs, and beliefs. Any new laws should protect each group autonomously. They should be structured so that work is recognized for where it comes from. The origins of the art should be made clear. Maurice Bedard is a Metis man who manufactures Inuksuks and sells them over the Internet. He has a Website about Inuksuks (www.inukshukman.com) and he sells them all over the world. Anybody who buys from the self proclaimed "Inuksukman" is being misinformed because never does he mention that Inuksuks are from the Inuit culture. An uninformed person will assume that Inuksuks are from the Metis culture. Canada is a free country and Mr. Bedard has every right to run a business, but he should not mislead his customers. Inuksuks did not come from Metis and even the word itself is not Metis. Whether it is from Inuit, Metis, First Nations or even non-aboriginals, all the pertinent information should be made known. Maybe a law like this could prevent "culture vultures" from ripping off aboriginal art. Steven Lonsdale July 19, 2002 Sylvia Grinnell produces new generation of kayakers The first week of July was an exciting one for a group of young Nunavummiut who had the opportunity to learn from and take part in the Canadian National Whitewater Kayaking Championships held on the Madawaska River in Ontario. Congratulations to the members of the Frobisher Bay Kayaking Club and the Nunavut Paddling Association, who put together this trip with the help of numerous sponsors and the generous donations of many of your readers. As a former longtime resident of Nunavut and a Canadian National Kayak Team member, I am very proud to have worked with these youth and their mentors – they worked hard and demonstrated considerable skill and determination. Many of these youth have the potential to move well beyond their current skills and might even see themselves representing Nunavut and Canada at ever higher levels of the sport. Like these youth, I began my kayaking career on the Sylvia Grinnell River. I am encouraged to see the river producing a new generation of paddlers who are learning to enjoy and respect their environment. As the first Nunavummiut to represent the new territory at a National kayaking event, these youth are to be congratulated. They represented Nunavut well and impressed all of the participants at this event. They can all be proud of their accomplishments. Good luck in the future, and keep on paddling! Tim Stuempel Most Arctic Bay residents don’t use drugs I would like to respond to a letter that appeared in the July 5 edition of Nunatsiaq News entitled "Arctic Bay needs more hash and grass" — with the writer’s name withheld by request. The letter you printed represents the opinion of one person. The letter does not represent the opinion of the vast majority of Arctic Bay residents, whether they be Inuit or white. Most of our residents are law-abiding people who do not use illicit drugs or get drunk from overconsumption of alcohol. Contrary to what the writer implies in his or her letter, illicit drugs are very harmful to the user and illicit drugs are harmful to the user’s family, since money is frequently spent on purchasing drugs that should be spent on food, clothing and other household requirements. The same is true for those people who choose to drink alcohol excessively. The writer is sadly mistaken if he or she believes that being under the influence of alcohol makes it legal to do whatever one may wish to do. All people are legally responsible for their actions whether they are under the influence of drugs or alcohol or whether they are sober and all people may be charged and convicted of any lawful acts they commit. The writer appears to be bitter against white people. The writer should focus on all of the positive things which have been introduced for the benefit of our Inuit population and should dwell less on the negative side of life. Whether we are Inuit or white we all have choices to make in life and it is always preferable to live within municipal, territorial and federal laws. Illicit drugs are not sold exclusively by white people and they are not sold by law-abiding citizens. Joanasie Akumalik July 26, 2002 Thanks for helping me To all the Good Samaritans who have unselfishly helped me, I really appreciate your help when I have my grand mal epileptic seizures. I can’t say enough about your help, but I know you will be greatly rewarded by the good Lord, when it is His turn to say thank-you for you kindness. To Levi, John, the telephone repairman, and all the ambulance volunteers and aides who never seem to get tired of coming to my aid when I have grand mal epileptic seizures, again, thank-you. May the good Lord bless
you all. July 26, 2002 Report SAR incidents immediately I was listening to CBC North radio’s Rankin Inlet interview with Tom Watts, the director of Nunavut emergency services, and could not believe his comments on what they would do to avoid the communications gap if anything ever happens again. Tom, figure it out man, make it mandatory that all incidents are automatically reported, within half hour, to all parties. Poasie Peter Editor’s note: Mr. Peter is referring to an interview with Mr. Watts about the government of Nunavut’s policies on informing federal Rescue Coordination Centres about maritime search-and-rescue situations. July 26, 2002 We didn’t flunk out, CanZinco says On the front page of the July 12, 2002, edition of your newspaper there was an article dealing with the closure of the Nanisivik mine and the effort suggested by CanZinco Ltd., the owners of Nanisivik, to clean up the site once mining and milling operations have come to an end. While we have, for the most part, been quite impressed with the coverage that your newspaper has given this story in the past few months, we must take strong exception with at least two points made in the article. First, the closure plan that CanZinco filed on February 28, 2002, did not receive a failing grade. This is not a simple test that you either pass or fail, nor is it a simple issue that can be categorized as black or white. The filing of our closure plan was the first step in a long and complex process that offers a number of regulatory bodies at both levels of government, as well as other interested parties, the opportunity to ask questions. The fact that those questions are asked in written form and were made available to the general public prior to the public hearings scheduled in Arctic Bay is a matter of convenience only, and is designed to bring some measure of decorum to the proceedings. However, you and your readers should not misconstrue that the asking of questions, and admittedly there are a lot of questions, is tantamount to a failing grade. Second, your article seems to rely heavily on the more sensational of the questions asked by the regulators and other intervening parties. In total, among the various reports filed by intervening parties, there are approximately 100 printed pages of material, not including appendices, much of which represent questions in response to our closure plan. Most of these questions are technical issues that are not particularly controversial or sensational. Most of the questions are requests for additional reports, maps and plans that are referenced in our closure plan but may not already be in the hands of all the regulators. We know that newspapers are limited by the amount of space that they can dedicate to one story, but it would be our view that the story presented with us would have been more balanced had you focused at least some of your attention on these less spectacular issues. As was indicated earlier, for the most part we have been impressed with the coverage of Nunatsiaq News on this story, which is important to the people of Nunavut. In particular, we have been impressed with the sensitivity shown by your newspaper to the people of Arctic Bay and their desire to have a third party assume some sort of role at Nanisivik and ensure that the infrastructure in place is maintained. CanZinco has been working diligently to promote third-party involvement in keeping this community in the North active, alive and contributing to the development of Nunavut. With respect to this story, though, we feel that we must assign you a failing grade. Bill Heath July 26, 2002 Don’t blame the captain, blame the government My name David Sateana. I lost my youngest brother with the crew of the Avataq. Captain Louie Pilaqapfie actually cared about his crew. They just got caught in the bad storm. If you were a captain, you would care about your crew. Do you have any feelings? This incident was preventable, but Louie was an inexperienced captain, he didn’t have the seniority. I would really watch what I say about not caring for his crew if I were you. The federal government should be accountable since they stopped inspecting the small boats for a few years. Someone in Churchill should have stopped them. There are two bodies lying 10 miles out of Arviat, in a very shallow area and Manitok Thompson said that they aren’t looking for the two missing bodies. That is so stupid. They should recover the bodies, or at least look for one last time. The government isn’t looking and individual families are setting up to look so they can satisfy their hopes in recovering those bodies. Don’t blame Louie, blame all levels of government for not doing their jobs. David Sateana
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