Letters to the Editor
November 26, 1998
Praise for Qitsualik's articles
I just wanted to let you know how much I enjoy reading Rachel/Raigili Attituq Qitsualik's articles. Each time that Nunatsiaq News arrives in my letter box I look forward to learning more from her.
Her generosity with her knowledge, and her ability to explain very comple Xthings in ways that are understandable to a non-Inuk give me not only pleasure, but I hope, a little bit more wisdom.
Thank you.
Nicole Gombay
Montreal, QC
November 26, 1998
Praise for KSB mining course
I am currently enrolled in the Kativik School Board course for mining technicians now being conducted in Inukjuaq. My studies were interrupted temporarily for health reasons, but I hope to be back there in January.
Over the years, I have taken more than a passing interest in education in Nunavik. Our sons and daughters attended Nunavik schools, and I had the honour of serving my town, Salluit, as a KSB commissioner.
At times I was critical of what I perceived as a lack of substance in some of the Kativik School Board's adult education courses. All too often it seemed that those who completed mechanics or carpentry courses ended up sweeping floors or carrying tools around.
The KSB mining technology course, at the Nunavimmi Pigiursavik Centre in Inukjuaq is tough and demanding, but the reward is a full time, secure, and well paid career .
As a humble student, I want to say that this course is for real. In two years it covers every aspect of mining from surveying to mineralogy, with a lot of attention given to environmental protection.
It is the only course of its kind being offered in Canada at the moment, and it is exclusively tailored to the needs of the industry in Nunavik. The officials we met while on a tour of the Raglan mine have already expressed a commitment to hire the first group who successfully complete the course, and the entry level salaries are impressive.
I urge any young (and even not quite so young any more) person with Secondary V and two years of his or her life to invest, to take a good look at what is being offered in the mining technology course, especially if you are concerned with the methods used to exploit the resources of your land.
Inukjuaq is a great town, and the facilities at Nunavimmi Pigiursavik Centre are exceptional. I salute the students there, away from their homes, some with small children to look after, determined to take control of their lives.
They impressed me every day I was there, along with the dedicated staff headed up by Daniel Eepoo and Ron Bissonette.
To the parents of students attending the Nunavimmi Pigiursavik Centre, don't worry, your kids are in good hands. They are part of the solution and they are going to make us proud.
John Marquand
Dorval, Quebec
November 26, 1998
Inuktitut as a working language
The salvation of Inuttitut as a working language may very well depend upon us developing and maintaining high levels of comprehension, writing and verbal skills in the English language (and for many purposes the French langage) as part of a concerted effort to raise the standards of education in all subjects.
If the above statement seems absurd, then let us examine the facts. It is evident that we must use both local and imported non-Inuttitut speaking talent to fill many important positions in the new Nunavut government and many private sector jobs.
Only by having Inuttitut-speaking employees in all levels of employment will there be a chance to keep and build Inuttitut as a working language.
To achieve this goal the Nunavut talent pool must be well-trained and experienced to function effectively. The key is a high standard of education. This still means having a very solid grounding in English (and for many purposes French).
There are other advantages. One is that in a changing world we need to keep an evolving Inuttitut language current with modern technological terms and ideas. Again, we must turn to well-educated people for assistance. Often an Inuttitut-speaking person entirely fluent in English will be more capable to accomplish this task than a person who is not.
There is seldom just one solution to any given problem. Therefore, every endeavour must be made to continue developing and delivering an Inuttitut curriculum, promoting and fostering the usage of Inuttitut as a working language and by teaching and using Inuttitut in our homes.
Frank Pearce
Iqaluit
November 19, 1998
Third World mistakes
It hopefully has stimulated some discussion around this issue. From an economic point of view, the Nunavut government should seriously be re-thinking this plan, especially in Cambridge Bay and Rankin Inlet.
Building new hospitals will not improve the overall health of the local populations. Historically, this has been shown to be the case time and time again in many other parts of the world.
In the two years I spent up north as a community health nurse, very few of my patients needed hospitalization. It is far better that those patients who need hospitalizatin be flown to Iqaluit or Yellowknife for nursing care if it's needed beyond 24 hours.
Three reasons:
Building hospitals is a flashy politically motivated plan that most developing countries strive for without good insight into what is actually needed by their local populations. The Harvard School of Public Health teaches this as do all other schools of public health.
By wanting to build new hospitals in Cambridge Bay and Rankin Inlet, the Nunavut government can be compared to a developing country that is not seeking appropriate health services for it's people.
Instead of new hospitals, government officials need to assess what is really needed in terms of health care provisions.
What are the major health problems? What services need to be put in place or enhanced to provide for these needs? Why does Nunavut, with a disproportionately young population need new hospitals? Can the money be better spent on other badly needed health services?
It is true that services provided by the local nursing stations need to be improved and upgraded. On rare occasions, overnight nursing care may be necessary for patients that only require one night of "in-patient" care.
This may require hiring an additional nurse or two per community or expansion of the nursing station. It may even involve a new building or two, but not hospitals. There are not enough patients and not enough available nurses to care for them. It is not a feasible plan. It will also be impossible to find physicians to work in these hospitals unless their contracts significantly improve.
What is actually needed is better public health programs aimed at reducing drug and alcohol abuse, stoping smoking, teenage pregnancy, fetal alcohol syndrome, counselling services and care of the elderly. None of these major health issues is solved by building new hospitals!
The government needs to do some strategic planning when it comes to health, preferably developing a 5, 10 and 20 year plans. Unfortunately, in the long run, building new hospitals will end up costing the Nunavut government a lot of money.
I am sure it is too late to re-think building hospitals as Nunavut probably received a one-time grant from the federal government specifically for this purpose.
It is unfortunate that the health care planners in Nunavut did not have the foresight to assess the health concerns of the Nunavut people and move to implement services that could actually make a difference.
Dr. Valerie Krym
Cambridge, Massassachusetts
November 19, 1998
Are new hospitals a waste?
I have been reading with much interest the recent letters and comments in Nunatsiaq News about health care staffing in the eastern Arctic. Dr. Krym and Dr. Pastori have made strong points on the inadequate staffing that plagues Arctic communities.
The editorial printed on November 6 also raises an important point: Why is the GNWT even considering the construction and opening of three new hospitals if they can't adequately staff their existing health care centers?
The approach to health care in the eastern Arctic need not be reinvented. The GNWT and the government of the soon-to-be Nunavut territory should take some lessons on health care delivery from other parts of the world currently struggling with the same issues.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has been implementing projects all over the world with a goal of providing sustainable health care to everybody. Their "Health Care for All" initiative focuses on primary health care and prevention.
Both developed, and less-developed, countries have begun to meet these health care needs by not building new hospitals, spending large sums of money on technology, and hiring lots of doctors and nurses.
The countries have focused on social and environmental problems. By working on ways to improve a variety of non-health problems, the overall health of the communities has been shown to improve.
So, how does this apply to the Eastern Arctic? Each of the communities in the region suffers from the very same problems other regions of the world have experienced, namely:
Let's face it, these problems exist in many northern communities. I have seen it myself while working as a health care worker in the western and central Arctic.
These social problems lead to many of the medical problems the GNWT is trying to "fix" by building more hospitals and spending more money. This is not the best answer.
The WHO has shown the most effective way to improve the general health of a population is to improve basic public health. Programs aimed at doing this are not as costly as building new hospitals or investing in expensive technology.
Instead, programs try to improve the basic social situation in a community. By addressing the root of the problems, communities become less reliant on hospital- or specialist-based medical care.
The GNWT and the government of the soon-to-be Nunavut territory should take some cues from the world experts. These experts are able to provide health care to underserviced areas on limited budgets.
Nunavut is no different from other parts of the globe where money is tight, staff are difficult to find, and medical problems abound. Instead of spending money on buildings to make people better once they get sick, why not spend that money on the people to prevent them from getting sick — or minimize the illness burden once they are sick?
The problems Nunavut faces will not be "cured" in a new hospital or new health clinic. Nunavut faces more significant problems within society itself.
Only once these problems are recognized and dealt with can the overall health of northerners be improved. The "cure" is difficult but can be achieved at a far less cost than what is being proposed by the current government.
The money saved in not building the new hospitals can be used to address the problems mentioned above, and have some left over to attract new health care staff on a long-term basis. Do the math — it makes more sense to invest in people instead of bricks and mortar.
Russell D. MacDonald, MD CCFP FRCPC
Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
macdonald@bostonems.org
November 12, 1998
KRG clarifies funding agreement
On behalf of the Kativik Regional Government, I would like to correct and clarify certain information contained in an article by Jane George, which appeared in the October 30 issue of Nunatsiaq News.
The article correctly states that the KRG and the Quebec government recently signed a framework agreement concerning housing, municipal infrastructures, economic development and block funding. However, implementation of related programs over the next five years will mean investments of approximately $104 million, not the $80 million mentioned in the article
Indeed, the home ownership program should generate the construction of 200 new private homes with investments totaling approximately $31 million, if all direct costs are included.
As for the new municipal infrastructure program being negotiated with the provincial municipal affairs department, the total package will likely add up to some $48 million, including funds still available under a current program.
Both these new programs were announced by the minister of municipal affairs during his last visit to Nunavik at the beginning of October. In addition, the Quebec government has agreed to inject around $25 million from its Development Fund for Aborginal People into a program to stimulate economic development and the construction of community infrastructure in the region.
Finally, Quebec also agreed to negotiate the consolidation of financing transferred to the KRG from its various provincial departments This part of the framework agreement does not constitute new funding, but will lead to improved management of programs and public funds by the KRG.
Johnny N. Adams
Chairman
Kativik Regional Government
November 12,
1998
Dear Mr. Bootlegger
I would like to submit the following letter to be published in your paper.
Sometimes people are unaware of the long-range effects that their greed and indulgence and selfish living has on the lives on the innocent.
I wish to remain anonymous, but I hope this will have an awakening effect on some of your readers.
"Dear Mr. Bootlegger:
"It's eight o'clock at night and my Mom and Dad are not here. Have you seen them?
"They forgot to make supper again. Daddy got a check and they were in such a hurry to visit you, they didn't even go shopping.
"You must be very important because they are always in a rush to see you. You must be rich because Daddy always brings some money to you, sometimes all of it.
"He gets mad when he can't see you — I try to hide, but then he hits Mom. My little sister just stays in her room. She doesn't smile anymore.
"We don't camp anymore. He only seems happy when he visits you. I wish he was happy here.
"I love my Daddy. Bye.
"Johnny"
(Name witheld by request)
Iqaluit
November 12,
1998
Good time for French immersion classes
I would like to comment on the recent announcement of a French language school for Iqaluit. I will always support minority language rights and welcome the announcement of the school.
I do have some concerns regarding the cost of the school when one considers the relatively low number of students currently enrolled in the French language program, especially in contrast to the reported lack of funding for other programs within the school system.
My concern is not so much with finances, but rather with the lack of total French-language education available in Nunavut for non-rights holders.
For the past 15 months I have attempted to obtain permission from school board officials to have my son attend full-time French instruction.
My first step was to approach the French school board to see if my son could be enrolled in their Kindergarten. I knew that the enrolment numbers were low. I spoke with Mr.Cuerrier on a number of occasions, and though he was sympathetic, he would not permit my son to be enrolled in the French program.
His major concern was that if my son was enrolled in the program, other non- rights holders would want to enrol in the program also. He did agree with a statement made by the minister of education that if parents of the children who are currently enrolled in the program did not object, my son could be admitted to the French language program. On three different occasions, Mr. Cuerrier agreed to arrange a meeting with the parents for me to make my request. None of these meetings ever materialized.
Failing to convince Mr. Cuerrier, I approached the Baffin regional school board and the Iqaluit District Education Authority about starting a French-immersion program in Iqaluit. I have found this to be another frustrating experience.
It took three months to get a response from the BRHB to a letter that I had written about French-immersion education. On at least one other occasion I was told that a survey would be carried out to determine the number of parents in Iqaluit who would be interested in a French- immersion program. When I recently inquired about the progress of the survey, I was told that everyone was busy and it was not known when a survey would be carried out.
I recently attended a IDEA meeting where I again presented my request for a French-immersion program. I was told that now would not be an appropriate time because of recent resentment that has been expressed towards the proposed new school for the French language program.
It is my view that now would be an ideal time to investigate the possibility of a French-immersion program and to form a partnership with the French language school board, while the school is still in the planning stage.
The IDEA, along with the BRHB, are in the process of deciding what to do with the expansion money from the GNWT. A section of the new French school could be dedicated to immersion instruction, increasing the number of students who would attend the school, thus relieving some of the congestion on the others' schools.
It would also address the inequity of children such as my son who are not granted the same opportunity as is extended to other children in Iqaluit to obtain their education in a second language.
Dan Fudge
Iqaluit
November 12, 1998
School adds to cultural diversity
Bravo to John Amagoalik's comments on the utterly despicable reaction to the French language school initiative.
I agree wholeheartedly that all languages in our territory only enhance our cultural diversity. Go to Greenland, or to Europe, where the ability to speak three or more languages is commonplace, and cultural diversity is taken as a matter of course.
I never have and never shall understand why we in Canada take such adversarial stances on language and culture. I suggest that we try and live up to our boast that we are a "cultural mosaic."
Peter Ittinuar
Iqaluit
November 12,
1998
Thanks to the NIC
On behalf of the hamlet community of Arviat, I would like to take this opportunity to thank the members of the Nunavut Implementation Commission for their hard work over the past years. As the result of their hard work, Arviat will become a key community in the decentralization model for the Nunavut government.
As a result, Arviat has seen major contruction projects, such as the 13 housing unit apartments which were built last year and in the early part of this year, and more recently an office complex, which got underway for contruction this summer and be completed by shortly after the New Year.
This complex will be able to accommodate the new government positions that are coming into our community, and as a result, many people in our community, hired by the Nunavut Contruction Corporation, have benefited directly through employment on these major construction projects.
In addition to these direct results of the NIC's work, we have seen other benefits in our community: incremental improvement to the water reservoir fencing the garbage dump, and expansion of the elementary school. All of this work was contracted out to local contractors and as a result of that, more local people were hired
All this employment, a product of the work of the NIC, has had a big effect in our community. This summer, people's down-turned faces were up, and people were smiling more The benefits from jobs could be clearly seen in the streets of Arviat. All this industry and activity had a clear and positive impact on our community.
Once again, as a result of the NIC's work, there are many new positions coming into our community through the decentralization of Nunavut. We know many of these positions will not be filled by local people in the short term, but I hope to see many training positions opening up so that local people can eventually take over some of these positions in the future.
Again, my thanks to the Nunavut Implementation Commission members for their hard work.
Peter Kritaqliluk
Mayor (Term Ending)
Arviat
November 12, 1998
Borrowed words in Pond Inlet
First of all, I was very much interested to read the article, (Nunatsiaq News, Oct. 16 "Naming the Modern World in Inuttitut" by Louis-Jacques Dorais.
By no means am I a linguist or a researcher of any kind, but vocabulary in general intrigues me, especially the origin of words. Today in the North, we are accustomed to using some adapted words like everyone else in the world.
We can all imagine people, in their first encounters with foreigners, trying to communicate to the best of their abilities during the whaling days, or maybe even prior to that. This is what might have happened in the northern parts of Baffin Island:
plate — paliaq
sugar — sukaq
tobacco — tavvaaki
too much — tuummak (refers only to tobacco — it means "di iness")
jam — jaa
flour — palaugaaq (refers also to bread)
tatties — taatiisi ("tatties" mean potatoes in Scottish)
jacket — jaikak
The last two words might tell a longer story of how difficult and confusing it must have been for both parties. Sometimes it still is.
watch — oassi (interestingly, refers only to clocks)
yarn or wool — nuviqsaaksaq (which sounds like "new socks" — the ending "-saq" means to be made or created into)
knitting — nuviqsaqtuq
sweater — nuviqsaaq (which means "it has been knitted")
Now, isn't this confusing? But did you think the whaler ended up with new socks, or a brand new sweater?
Pond Inlet Person — Inuk
(Name witheld by request)
Pond Inlet
(Isolated as we were, we thought we were the only human beings in our whole wide world.)
November 12,
1998
The PDF discussion on francophones
This is in response to the article "French School May offer Inuktitut," in your October 29, 1998 issue of the Nunatsiaq News, and my own personal thoughts on some of the points made in the section.
I'm glad that the Francophone community has made a very smart decision to include Inuktitut language as part of their proposed French school, which I believe will make the Inuktitut language classes, which will go up to Grade 9 rather than only up to Grade 4, and will make the survival of the language more possible for the future.
I cannot agree that a statement that the cost factor ($4.2 million) vs student numbers enrolled (32), was in anyway, an anti-French statement. To me, it was merely stating the fact that building a school for that amount was not yet justifiable for a small number of students, which I believe Mr.Currier clarified at the public meeting and followed up by some statements by some parents that this should not deter Inuktitut and English also being taught along with French.
I believe the postings in the Nunanet Political Discussion Forum (if you read the threads regularly), were trying to get some clarifications on the cost factors, numbers of students, population growth estimates, and the need to continue to fight for the Inuktitut language being the primary language of the schools and government when Nunavut is created.
Sure, I can understand that some of the postings can be a bit more straight forward than others and use some language that some ordinary people may not use in their daily lives, but the PDF polices their own, weeding out the more outrageous material.
Nevertheless, it's used for airing out issues that affect all of us in Nunavut and yes, sometimes, it does get heated up on certain issues. But I see it as a forum like no other, where you have no other way of saying your piece when you live in a land that has three time zones, two million square miles of land, and a cost to fly to meet your political leader that can be three to four times as high as southern airfares. I see this forum as a good one that can address a lot of issues.
I know for fact that a lot of the Nunavut leaders read the forum and even may contribute from time to time under an alias or in a comic book character, and some even get talked into using their real name to clarify or defend their honour.
I'm not about to defend all posters, because I know that some are outright racist and sometimes come to close to being defamatory, but I believe those come from people who are frustrated and have no other means of venting out their inner feelings, because the system or some leaders are not reachable otherwise.
If you read the PDF regularly, you'll see that the Inuktitut language and the Inuit culture is the primary issue to safeguard and preserve for the future, as the young generation is struggling to keep it alive. The main source of continuing to teach it is in the schools and at home, but the school system has got to revive their education strategies to bring it to a higher level, along with the academic needs of the students, so that they can contribute to our communities in particular and to Nunavut in general.
In closing, I'm glad to see the political discussion forum finally getting the recognition it deserves.
Allen Maghagak
Ikaluktutiak, Nunavut
November 12, 1998
Nav Canada defends fee increases
Subject: September 25, 1998 "Ottawa Ignores North. Approves Nav Canada Fees" and "MLA Erasmus Calls NWT a Cash Cow for Nav Canada"
I would like to correct several errors and omissions in the two above-mentioned articles that appeared in your paper. These errors and omissions give a very misleading picture of Nav Canada's commitment to the North, which I would now like to correct.
The first article erroneously stated that there would be "an estimated $7 to $10 million increase in northern transportation costs" due to Nav Canada's user fee structure. In fact, the figure is significantly less than your article suggested. The actual net annual increase is estimated to be $4.5 million.
This is equivalent to two and one-half per cent of Northern air carrier revenues. One must also keep in mind that airline fares in the North have gone up 25-53 per cent in recent years, during a time when Nav Canada was not charging fees.
The fee exemptions you mentioned (firefighting, air ambulance services, and flights canceled due to bad weather) and the deferral and phasing in of fee collection will result in significant savings to the North. However, your article did not mention the exemption for services provided by community aerodrome radio stations (CARS).
This is a significant omission, because CARS make up 60-65 per cent of the current facilities in the north and are staffed by Northerners. Services provided by CARS stations are exempt from terminal and en route service charges, a significant benefit worth $2 million per year. This decision was a direct result of the consultations that were undertaken.
The cumulative effect of the exemptions and deferrals means savings to the North of $7.5 million over a two year period between November 1, 1998 and November 1, 2000. Northerners will continue to benefit from the exemptions.
Savings from the decision to exempt CARS from fees can be expected to grow as Nav Canada adds new CARS stations in the North to improve service delivery, and create jobs for northerners — 200 of whom already have jobs either directly or indirectly through our CARS facilities.
Nav Canada is a not-for-profit corporation, therefore the suggestion in the second article that the company will reap "windfall profits" for charges on international overflights in the North, is obviously false.
The fees have been designed to cover costs of operating the air navigation system. If surplus revenues occur, they must be reinvested back into the system or used to reduce fees which will also benefit the North in the long run.
Nav Canada is committed to the fair treatment of the North and to achieving further efficiencies and service improvements in consultation with stakeholders.
We are currently consulting on a proposal to increase our investment in air navigation services across the North by spending an additional $3 million on quality services and training and in providing 50 new jobs for northerners in new CARS facilities.
Nav Canada is dedicated to maintaining an air navigation service that is among the safest in the world. Canadians, including those in the North, deserve nothing less, and your readers deserve to know the full story.
Don lngham
Vice President
Corporate Planning and Commercial Relations
Nav Canada
Ottawa
November 12, 1998
NCC says only 4 tons left in Montreal
Nunavut Construction Corporation is writing this letter to clarify your recent article in Nunatsiaq News, which stated that NCC had left 20 tons of material on the dock in Montreal. Also, the article implied that NCC refused to ship on the MV Lady Franklin, even though the ship had available space. These statements are simply not true.
Your article has blown the matter totally out of proportion. NCC had a total of 8,000 lbs (4 tons) of material remaining to be shipped. This represents one-tenth of a per cent of our total freight load for this construction year.
Revenue tons and dead weight tons are two different things. Revenue tons are based on the amount of cubed space and not only weight. This was not explained to your readers. Construction companies like NCC have contingency plans to deal with these situations, which are small compared to the 99.9 per cent shipped according to plan.
Due to some design changes requested by our client and which required additional work by our architect, these materials were late in arriving from our suppliers and therefore were not available for shipment at the time the boat departed.
We are concerned about the false impression that inaccurate reporting leaves in the public eye. We encourage a higher standard of information gathering and research in matters pertaining to NCC projects.
All of NCC's current projects in eleven communities in Nunavut are progressing on time and on budget.
Eugene Lysy
Executive VP
Nunavut Construction Corporation
~u~tiv7~~
November 12, 1998
NEAS clarifies cargo issue
Reply to Nunatsiaq News article entitled "NCC leaves 20 tonnes..."
The Nunavut Construction Corporation's 20 tonnes of cargo were not on the Montreal docks, the cargos were not even ready for the last sailing of the NEAS vessel nor for the last Coast Guard/Nunavut Ocean Transport vessel. The cargos only became available once both vessels had departed Montreal. NCC did not shun the CCGN's last sailing. Their cargos were simply not ready.
The Coast Guard did however implement a policy to avoid using the services of NEAS. The Coast Guard sent out notices to customers not to ship via NEAS and the Coast Guard even threatened NEAS not to solicit any of their customers.
When Nunavut Ocean Transport started shutting out cargos, NEAS advised the Coast Guard that we had space available on our vessels. They chose not to use the space NEAS offered on board our vessels. the Coast Guard's final arrival date in Iqaluit was supposed to have been October 7. The Coast Guard's contracted carrier arrived in Iqaluit on October 17, some 10 days late.
For your guidance, NEAS3s last sailing vessel also had space available. We knew that Coast Guard was having difficulties meeting required dates, and so we offered to carry some of their cargo. They preferred to have cargoes arrive late, rather than use NEAS as a carrier.
In closing, we must state that NEAS has no quarrel with Crosbie/Nunavut Ocean Transport. We believe, however, and as stated previously, that Coast Guard's involvement in the annual sealift, is an unnecessary bureaucracy which contributes to the negative perception of free enterprise carriers with Inuit ownership, such as NEAS. NEAS's goal is to provide a customer-oriented service to the Nunavut communities at competitive prices.
Therefore, it would be a grave and unfair misunderstanding to believe that NCC would leave cargos behind, at the expense of the Nunavut communities, in order to favor a specific carrier. The cargoes were simply not ready.
Suzanne Paquin
Vice President
Nunavut Eastern Arctic Shipping
November 6, 1998
Crisis in dentist recruitment?
I read with interest and much nodding in agreement the letter in today's (Nunatsiaq News, October 30) issue of Nunatsiaq News from Doctor Krym.
The next recruitment crisis could well be in dentistry. This profession shares many of the problems identified by Dr. Krym. Unfortunately, the federal government also targeted dentistry when they swung their cost-cutting axe.
Before April of this year, dentists in this region and in the Inuvik region were paid at a rate 10 per cent higher than our Yellowknife colleagues. This extra payment represented the increased cost of living in these areas - in effect a settlement allowance. When the feds negotiated (imposed) this year's scale of fees, this 10 per cent was withdrawn. Strike One!
In September of 1997, a new scheme was introduced to control spending on dentistry for Inuit. "Predetermination" means that before a dentist can make false teeth, do a root treatment, make a crown, or start any lengthy treatment, permission must be obtained from a desk-bound dentist in Ottawa.
Some of the decisions coming out of Ottawa have been ludicrous, to say the least. One example that comes to mind is the patient who, after jaw surgery, will require a new partial denture - this is approved. Not approved, however, is the removal of the wires holding the jaws shut! Dentists must now spend almost as much time asking permission to treat Inuit and appealing poor decisions as they do actual dentistry. Strike Two!
One of the realities we have faced in the past is the difficulty of recruiting and retaining Canadian graduates to work in the North. The solution to this problem has been to allow graduates from other countries to work here under supervision while taking their Canadian board examinations. (That is how I came to be here.)
This did not exclude Canadians from working here and we have had some Canadian dentists here for short periods. In 2000 there will be no more board examinations; graduates from overseas will be expected to attend Canadian dental schools for a two-year course (and pay $30,000 per year for tuition) Strike Three!
Add all this to the acknowledged housing shortage, high cost of travel, and the type of dentistry expected here, which is not generally the glamorous cosmetic variety, and I believe you have a very difficult task in attracting suitable practitioners.
It is time to make a choice: Either the provision of dental services administered by the government, or private dental clinics in Nunavut. If the choice is for private dentistry, the package has to be sufficiently attractive to bring dentists to the North.
Charles Pastori
Iqaluit Dental Clinic
November 6,
1998
Francophones deserve recognition
The Internet resembled a high-tech sewer last week, as a number of Iqaluit residents anonymously posted ugly anti-French comments on Nunanet's political discussion forum.
Why? The news that 12 years of hard work by the Association Francophone du Nunavut has resulted in a commitment by the federal government to provide $3.75 million towards the construction of a French first-language school in Iqaluit.
It's too easy to dismiss the knee-jerk bigotry on the Nunanet forum as the intemperate ravings of an unrepresentative minority: the sad fact is that less extreme versions of the same mindset are in common currency around town. Some people argue that better support for FAS kids is "more important" than French-language education - as if the two needs are somehow in competition. Others argue that despite what the Charter of Rights and Freedoms says about minority language rights, it's just "too much money" for a small minority - the same argument the Reform Party uses to attack the creation of Nunavut.
A few points worth noting:
1) Iqaluit's francophone are a vibrant part of our community. Five hundred or so people (kids included) operate a trilingual daycare, a trilingual radio station and an active community center at which all are welcome. The French-speaking population will continue to grow as Iqaluit becomes a capital.
2) Last year's study by the Cornerstone Planning Group recommended that a French first-language school be built in Iqaluit by 2001. That recommendation was accepted by the Iqaluit District Education Authority. Their chairperson, John Thomas, reiterated at Monday night's meeting that it "definitely wants to see one built."
3) The AFN has never wanted a stand-alone French first-language school. In fact, Heritage Canada's practice has been to provide funding only for stand-alone French schools - but the AFN talked them into making an exception in this case. The AFN's preference is for a shared facility, offering both French first-language and Inuktitut first-language programs as well as strong second- and third-language instruction for all students.
Now it's up to the Iqaluit education authority to decide how, where and when a French first-language school will be built. The Cornerstone Planning Group also recommended that an elementary school be built in Tundra Valley, and the AFN has proposed a shared facility there as an inclusive, cost-effective option. A shared French-Inuktitut facility would be a step forward for quality education for all kids in Iqaluit, no matter which language or languages they speak.
If the IDEA rejects the francophone association's proposal, and insists instead on a stand-alone French school, then French-speaking children would be more - not less - isolated from the rest of the community. And wouldn't the bigots on the PDF love that?
Iqaluit's francophones deserve recognition and appreciation - not condemnation or segregation - for what they've accomplished.
Jack Hicks
Iqaluit