Gordon Foundation Newsletter - Autumn 2012

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Walter and Duncan Gordon Foundation <mharrison@gordonfn.org>
Date: 29 November 2012 12:54
Subject: Gordon Foundation Newsletter - Autumn 2012

Autumn 2012 View this email in your browser President's Message Thomas S. Axworthy   Preserving Canada's water. Empowering Canada's North - The Walter and Duncan Gordon Foundation In achieving the Gordon Foundation's goal of "Preserving Canada's water. Empowering Canada's North," the Foundation has re-directed its program spending so that more than two-thirds of our activities have a northern focus. The Jane Glassco Northern Fellowship Program will recruit a new cohort of Fellows in early 2013. The Mackenzie River Basin Initiative supported the Rosenberg International Forum on Water in the fall of 2012 to draw international attention to the significance of the Mackenzie. The Munk-Gordon Arctic Security Program will be hosting its annual conference on January 29-30, 2013 on the theme Arctic People and Security. In carrying out these initiatives, we strive to ensure that northerners are fully engaged. Members of our Board, like Mary Simon, and partnerships like ones we share with the Small Change Fund's North of 55 Fund, are crucial in this regard. Designed to support small-scale projects in the North, the Fund's attention to capacity building, leadership and networking is well aligned with the Foundation's goals.    Empowering the North means giving northerners themselves the tools to create their own futures. That is the underlying mission of all of our northern programs.   Message from the Board of Directors The Board of Directors of the Gordon Foundation is pleased to welcome two new members: Willa Black, vice-president, corporate affairs and corporate social responsibility (CSR) for Cisco Canada; and Mary Simon, chairperson of the National Committee on Inuit Education. Willa Black Willa Black is responsible for strategies designed to drive Cisco's external brand relevance and transformational impact across key constituencies. She leads initiatives in support of CSR, building strategic partnerships and reinforcing the company's role as an organization committed to social advancement across governments, non-governmental organizations, and communities of all kinds with a focus on Education and Healthcare. Black is a 30-year veteran of the public relations and marketing industry, and has been with Cisco since 1999. In 2011 she was named one of Canada's Top 25 Women of Influence.    Mary Simon Mary Simon has advanced critical social, economic and human rights for Canadian Inuit regionally, nationally and internationally. Over four decades she has held senior leadership positions including, president of Makivik Corporation (the Land Claims Organisation for the Inuit of Nunavik), president of the Inuit Circumpolar Council, Canadian Ambassador For Circumpolar Affairs as well as to the Kingdom of Denmark. More recently for six years, she was the president of Canada's National Inuit organization, Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami. She is an Officer of the Order of Canada and a recipient of the Gold Order of Greenland. Toronto | January 29-30, 2013 The goal of this conference is to explore different ways of conceptualizing and understanding security in the Arctic in order to develop and implement sounder, more productive, and more inclusive public policies in the North.   The traditional view of Arctic security is focused primarily on military defence, and is habitually seen as distinct from local, northern understandings of security that are often inclusive of economic and social concerns.   This conference is designed to engage decision-makers and the academic community in a conversation about how to better integrate the needs and wants of northern residents into the broader Arctic security debate. Register here Arctic Security 865 followers 1,056 tweets following 633 people follow Rosenberg International Forum on Water Policy Presented by the Walter and Duncan Gordon Foundation and Simon Fraser University's Adaptation to Climate Change Team (ACT), the prestigious Rosenberg International Forum on Water Policy convened in Vancouver, BC from Sept. 5 to 7, 2012 to discuss the national and global importance of the Mackenzie River Basin and what can be done to protect it going forward. Along with presentations from the Honourable Bob McLeod, Premier of the Northwest Territories, and The Honourable Michael Miltenberger, Minister of the Environment and Natural Resources, panellists were also invited to a special presentation by Dr. Lance Lesack, professor of limnology and biogeochemistry at Simon Fraser University. The lecture, entitled "The Mackenzie Basin: Why it Matters to Canada and the World", is available online in video and PDF formats.   The outcomes of the three-day discussions are currently being compiled into a report to be released in early 2013. EVENT Munk-Gordon Arctic Speaker Series welcomes J. Michael Miltenberger Northwest Territories Devolution and the Impacts on Water December 10, 2012 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Toronto The Speaker Series is pleased to host Minister J. Michael Miltenberger of the NWT as our December keynote speaker. Minister Miltenberger will review an initiative currently underway that could see authority over NWT's land, water and resources migrate from Ottawa to the NWT. He will highlight the responsibilities of water management as they currently exist in the NWT and will discuss how this might change when and if this authority is devolved. Register here PUBLICATION Speech by Thomas S. Axworthy "The North's Contending Visions" The North's Contending Visions Senior Fellows Luncheon Massey College University of Toronto Delivered Nov. 14, 2012 Dr. Axworthy's speech describes four contending visions of the North: a military frontier, a treasure trove, a wilderness park and a homeland. In outlining these contending visions Dr. Axworthy draws heavily on his experiences with the 2012 Jane Glassco Arctic Fellows, the work of the Gordon Foundation, as well as the works of prominent northerners. In his analysis he concludes that the North as a Homeland is most apt, as it reflects the realities on the ground. Download here

--
GEORGE LESSARD

Information, Communications and Media Specialist
Spécialiste en l'information, communications et  media
451 Norseman Dr.
Yellowknife, Northwest Territories
X1A 2J1, Canada
Yellowknife Cell # (867) 445-9193
E-mail: mediamentorATgmailDOTcom
Website mediamentor.ca
Twitter Feed on Northern  & First Nations Issues
Twitter Feed on Journalism & Media Issues
Twitter Feed on Community Radio Worldwide
Member:
Canadian Artists Representation / le Front des artistes canadiens
Canadian Artists Representation Copyright Collective

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CRTC comes down on Northwestel, again

CRTC comes down on Northwestel, again
The Canadian Radio and Telecommunications Commission has rejected an
appeal by Northwestel, another in a series of mounting defeats for the
company.
Rick Steele is a tech expert in Whitehorse. Click on the link below to
hear him explain the impact of this recent decision
http://www.cbc.ca/airplay/episodes/2012/11/27/crtc-comes-down-on-northwestel-again/

Northern Arts and Cultural Centre Fundraising

Northern Arts and Cultural Centre Fundraising
http://www.scribd.com/doc/114366090/Fundraising-to-help-complete-the-recent-renovations-at-the-NACC-theatre-in-Yellowknife
Dear Friend of NACC, I am contacting you because we need your support. We are fundraising to help complete the recent renovations at the NACC theatre in Yellowknife.
This is a $1.6 million project and the Northern Arts and Cultural Centre has raised $1.5 million. In order to reach our goal, we decided to organise a fundraiser on December 19th 2012. There will be a performance with the violinist Timothy Chooi, hors d'oeuvres, wine and a live and silent auction.
We are hoping to collect as many donations as possible.
Your support can make a big difference and will benefit the whole community as the Northern Arts and Cultural Centre belongs to everyone.The Northern Arts and Cultural Centre (NACC) has a record of success in getting performances off the ground in the Northwest Territories for almost 30 years.
Celebrating new works in various art disciplines, your cultural centre combines artistic trends through a program lead by brilliant performers.
From Yellowknife to Norman Wells, Norman Wells to Inuvik and Hay River to Fort Smith or Fort Simpson, the Northern Arts and Cultural Centre is a wonderful vehicle for dialogue between cultures and generations. We want to highlight and showcase major artists as well as emerging unique talents.
The North is a cultural and artistic mixture that is characteristic of the performing arts.
We invite artists and audiences to join us to discover intriguing and unique perspectives.
We are pleased to welcome you to a fresh, new theater.
Thanks to NACC staff, NACC's Board of Directors, Heritage Canada, and the Government of the Northwest Territories, we have new theatre seating. We also have new carpets, a new loading dock, upgraded backstage areas and new office space.
The acoustics of the venue have been improved and will make you appreciate even more the quality of the performances.
We thank you for your support and know there are Angels among us.
Marie Coderre
Executive and Artistic Director
Northern Arts and Cultural Centre
E-mail ead@naccnt.ca
Work (867) 873-4950
Fax (867) 669-9826
Box 1025 Yellowknife,
NWT X1A 2N7
http://www.naccnt.ca/

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Frozen Eyes Exhibition at the Deh Gah Elementary & Secondary School

Frozen Eyes Exhibition at the Deh Gah Elementary & Secondary School, a set on Flickr.

Frozen Eyes Photography http://frozeneyes.com Workshop & Exhibition at the Deh Gah Elementary & Secondary School in Fort Providence NWT ©2012 George Lessard http://mediamentor.ca

Travel Scholarships Available for Native People to Participate in Major Conference on Protected Areas & Cultural Sites

Travel Scholarships Available for Native People to Participate in Major Conference on Protected Areas & Cultural Sites
Indigenous people from anywhere in North America (Canada, Mexico, and USA) are eligible to apply.
Fri, Nov 23, 2012
DEADLINE: DECEMBER 1, 2012. Indigenous persons who are active in caring for and protecting natural areas and cultural/sacred sites are invited to take part in North America's largest professional meeting on protected areas. Held every two years, the George Wright Society Conference on Parks, Protected Areas, and Cultural Sites is the leading interdisciplinary forum for Native and non-Native people to gather and discuss issues and innovations in place-based stewardship. The next conference will be in Denver, Colorado, USA, March 11-15, 2013. The conference website is http://www.georgewright.org/gws2013. 
Guided by an all-Native planning group, portions of this wide-ranging, week-long meeting are designed to meet the needs of Native professionals, community activists and students. The Native-focused parts of the conference program include papers, posters, sharing circles, a Native Film Night, and other events, as well as great informal networking opportunities. To help Indigenous people take part, the George Wright Society offers two travel scholarship
programs:

Full-time Native students at an institute of higher education (including 2-year tribal colleges) can apply for a George Melendez Wright Student Travel Scholarship. Go to http://www.georgewright.org/gws2013_gmwsts for details.

Indigenous people who are not full-time students can apply for a Native Participant Travel Grant. Complete information is at http://www.georgewright.org/gws2013_nptg.

Indigenous people from anywhere in North America (Canada, Mexico, and USA) are eligible to apply. Applications are due by December 1. You must apply on-line; the application forms can be accessed through the links above.

GWS2013 is a wonderful opportunity to meet with Native and non-Native colleagues and exchange ideas in a supportive, collegial atmosphere.

If you have any questions about the scholarship programs, please contact Dave Harmon, GWS Executive Director, at dharmon@georgewright.org or 1-906-487-9722. Thank you

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COLLECTIVE9 "Dead North" 48hr short horror film competition

Jay Bulckaert [collective9@gmail.com] has requested distribution of the following announcement (poster attached):
Film Competition open to anyone North of 60°
COLLECTIVE9
http://www.collective9.com
(867) 444 8382

Stephen Harper government lies to world on housing

Occupy Canada posted: "Harper government continues to ignore housing problems and human rights issues surrounding housing while simply lying to the world about the realities of living in Canada. "Shapcott said that the international community doesn't expect Canada to solve the housing problems of every citizen, but that it does expect things to improve. In 2009, the then–UN special rapporteur on housing, Miloon Kothari, reported that Canada was violating this notion of realizing progressive gains, and that things were in fact getting worse. According to Shapcott, representatives of other countries have told him they're "shocked" that Canada appears to be falling behind. They also can't understand why Canada, unlike other industrialized countries such as the United States and Great Britain, has no national housing strategy in place to address this." - Charlie Smith, Georgia Straight. ᐰ"
http://www.straight.com/article-833076/vancouver/feds-lie-world-housing

Only in Nunavut? Pity! "...Money to pay harvesters for country food to be distributed free to hungry people"

Only in Nunavut? Pity!
"...Nunavut urges people to apply for money to provide "local food" for "local people" "They can get money to pay harvesters for country food to be distributed free to hungry people"
http://www.nunatsiaqonline.ca/stories/article/65674nunavut_urges_people_to_apply_for_money_to_provide_local_food_for_loca/
The Government of Nunavut's economic development and transportation department is urging hunters and others who want to harvest or distribute country food — for free — to apply for money through the GN's country food distribution program.
http://www.edt.gov.nu.ca/
The GN said Nov. 13 that it wants to ensure that "local food is available for local people."[...]
The program, part of the GN's efforts to fight food insecurity,
http://www.nunatsiaqonline.ca/stories/article/65674gn_says_its_fighting_food_insecurity_in_nunavut/
was first announced at the release of the Makimaniq anti-poverty plan in February 2012.
Among Makimaniq's goals: to establish a food security coalition and produce a food security plan for Nunavut.
A Nunavut food security symposium take place January 2013 in Iqaluit.
Participants at the symposium will prepare a food security strategy, which will be released in the spring of 2013.... "

Digital divide: The high costs of Arctic broadband

"....In concluding its review of the situation [in the North] last fall,
the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission found
things to be dire indeed. Aging networks, service outages, prohibitive
costs – the hallmarks of a neglected region. The culprit: a regulated
monopoly by incumbent provider Northwestel.
The company, owned by Bell Canada Enterprises since 1988, has historically
been the sole provider of Internet and phone services in the territories.
In its review, the CRTC said Northwestel had failed to make necessary
investments in its network despite receiving an annual subsidy of
$20-million since 2007 to provide services in remote communities.
Over that same time, the company's annual income from operations had
nearly doubled, to $69.3-million in 2010. The company, according to the
CRTC, had unjustly enriched its shareholders at the expense of the 100,000
people it had been charged with serving...."
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/technology/tech-news/digital-divide-the-high-costs-of-arctic-broadband/article5165177/

Nunavut Impact Review Board Recommends Digital Indigenous Democracy

NIRB Baffinland Decision Recommends Digital Indigenous Democracy - press
release September 25, 2012
http://www.isuma.tv/hi/en/DID/nirb-baffinland-decision-recommends-digital-indigenous-democracy-press-release#.UJ7UT7Sc52Q.facebook
"...The Nunavut Impact Review Board broke new ground for regulators in
Canada this month. NIRB recommends using new media technology to inform,
consult and connect Inuit communities in its Final Hearing Report on
Baffinland's Mary River Project released September 14, 2012.
The potential of digital media to improve public participation in oral
Inuktitut was demonstrated to NIRB by IsumaTV's Digital Indigenous
Democracy [http://www.isuma.tv/DID], a new web portal launched last May by
Inuit filmmaker Zacharias Kunuk.
The website streamed live call-in radio shows, used Skype and collected
video testimonies of Elders and Youth to promote region-wide community
discussion in Inuktitut on the Baffinland development. ..."

#NWT Chamber cries .. over yesterday's Sahtu #fracking pull-out by #MGM #Energy

NWT Chamber of Commerce whines over a business decision while the Fed's "regulatory reform" is already in a Bill...
RT @upherebusiness: The NWT Chamber of Commerce cries foul over yesterday's Sahtu fracking pull-out by MGM Energy:  http://t.co/wJdtpEW4  #nwt
"...MEDIA RELEASE
NWT Chamber Renews Calls for Regulatory Reform after Sahtu Project Cancelled
Yellowknife, NT (November 9, 2012) – The NWT Chamber of Commerce along with the Norman Wells and District Chamber of Commerce today is strongly renewing its cries to Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada and Minister John Duncan for regulatory reform in the Northwest Territories.
Following the referral of its plans to drill two horizontal wells in the Tulita District to Environmental Assessment (EA) before the Mackenzie Valley Environmental Impact Review Board, MGM Energy Corporation has announced its partner Shell Canada Energy has walked away from the project citing an unwillingness to fund the EA process. MGM Energy further scaled back its previously approved plans to drill two vertical wells this winter and now only intends to complete one project this winter.
"MGM Energy simply cannot justify the allocation of resources to pursuing a regulatory process that is uncertain both in terms of requirements and time lines, and thus cost," MGM Energy President Henry Sykes said in a press release. "We believe it is premature to invest substantial and indeterminate time, money and resources in this regulatory process at the exploratory phase of the Canol shale oil play. As the play advances, the time for such a process may come, but that time is not now."
"Sahtu oil exploration activity has been a rare bright spot in our economy over the past year," said NWT Chamber President Hughie Graham. "This new development, whereby hundreds of millions of dollars are literally getting up and walking out of the North due to our flawed regulatory process and organizations, is alarming to say the least."
Norman Wells and District Chamber of Commerce President Chris Buist said, "For communities like Tulita and Norman Wells, and in fact all of the Sahtu, this activity holds the promise of career and training opportunities, business contracts and a better quality of life for all residents."
"If this same fate befalls the other companies exploring the Central Mackenzie Valley – or if it spooks them into changing their plans to invest in the North – it will be a long time before this sort of opportunity returns to our territory," said Graham. "It is imperative that the federal government and Minister Duncan follow through on their longstanding promise to reform the regulatory regime in the NWT before a bucket of ice water is allowed to be dumped on our collective future."
In association with the network of community chambers of commerce in Fort Simpson, Inuvik, Norman Wells, Hay River, Yellowknife, and Fort Smith, the NWT Chamber of Commerce represents the interests of members across the NWT. For more than 35 years, it has been the only pan-territorial voice of businesses across all sectors of the Northern economy.
For more information, contact the NWT Chamber Office at 867-920-9505 or by email at admin@nwtchamber.com...."

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Jean Crowder MP (NDP Nanaimo-Cowichan) Aboriginal Affairs Critic on the need to fix Nutrition North

Jean Crowder MP (NDP Nanaimo-Cowichan) spoke about the need to fix the Nutrition North program
- November 6, 2012 - Critic Areas, Aboriginal Affairs  
November 6th, 6:50 p.m.
https://www.facebook.com/jeancrowder
http://jeancrowder.ndp.ca/post/jean-spoke-about-the-need-to-fix-the-nutrition-north-program-november-6-2012
"...Mr. Speaker, when I last raised this question I asked the government what it was going to do about the nutrition north program, specifically whether it would commit to fixing the program given that it is not working for northerners.
I want to refer to the Feeding My Family Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/239422122837039/ , which has been working hard to bring awareness of the fact that the high cost of food is preventing many northerners from living healthy, happy and productive lives.
They have some suggestions for how to tackle this problem.
Their current objectives include encouraging northerners to empower themselves to create independence from within the people at the grass roots level; unifying people across the north to share one voice; encouraging government policy-makers and retailers to find better ways of lowering the cost of food, given that Nutrition North Canada is not doing enough; encouraging new food suppliers to operate in the north in order to increase competition and lower prices; encouraging improvements in food quality through better inventory control, such as removing inedible and rotting food from store shelves, proper food shipping and handling, and reducing transit time for perishable foods; encouraging the establishment of more food banks; and working with government and other NGOs to improve the overall quality of life for northerners.
I do not have time to go over all the statistics, but according to recent reports, residents spend an average of $14,815 per year on food, or 25% of their total expenditures. This compares to an average of $7,262 in Canada overall. One of the other problems is that the few food banks that are around the north have seen an 18% increase in use over the past year, according to Hunger Count.
Hunger Count also indicates that it has some solutions the government might want to look at. In its report it says:
 It is clear that a new model for household food security in the North is necessary. Although there is much innovation and experimentation at the community level, a new model requires investment, which is sorely lacking in many northern communities.
It recommends:
The creation of a federal Northern Food Security Innovation Fund, to help jumpstart and sustain community-based, community-led food initiatives across the North;
The establishment and adequate funding of comprehensive school breakfast programs across the territories;
Significant investment in community-building infrastructure in northern communities, including the construction or rehabilitation of community-identified resources like community centres and community freezers.
Given the fact that the price of food in the north is still far beyond what Canadians in the south pay, will the government pay attention to what northerners are asking for and commit to working closely with them to invest in the programs and services that northerners are proposing would help address the high food prices?
November 6th, 6:55 p.m.
Mr. Speaker, that still does not deal with the fact that many northern communities are facing prices that are more than double what southerners pay.
In the statistics that came out from January 1 to March 31, country food was the least subsidized food. Only 192 kilograms of country food was distributed to communities at a total cost of $218. Yet country food is often talked about as being an important staple. In a question on the order paper I asked the government what it was doing about country food, and it indicated that Health Canada and the CFIA have said that there are no legal implications for applying a federal government subsidy to country food that is certified by a territorial or provincial regulatory authority, as long as the food remains within the same territory or province in which it was certified.
The government says that the program is prepared to consider subsidizing traditional country food, subject to these criteria. It has also indicated that the departments will continue to support access to country food with a view toward bringing together the relevant actors. What is the government doing to improve access to country foods?..."

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GEORGE LESSARD
Information, Communications and Media Specialist
Spécialiste en l'information, communications et  media
451 Norseman Dr.
Yellowknife, Northwest Territories
X1A 2J1, Canada 
Yellowknife Cell # (867) 445-9193
E-mail: mediamentorATgmailDOTcom
Website mediamentor.ca
Twitter Feed on Northern  & First Nations Issues
Twitter Feed on Journalism & Media Issues
"Stuff about media (new and old) RT'ed on @MediaMentor [Full story? Click on headline]"
Twitter Feed on Community Radio Worldwide
Member:
Canadian Artists Representation / le Front des artistes canadiens
Canadian Artists Representation Copyright Collective

Want a signature like mine? Click here.  

Bob Bromley, MLA for Weledeh #NWT: What is being done to ensure Income Support cheques are no longer issued late?

Bob Bromley, MLA for Weledeh NWT: What is being done to ensure cheques are no longer issued late?
[excerpt]
"...Bromley said that he raised this issue in 2010 and was told that the problem would be fixed.
These instances should never deny destitute people of their income support cheques, said Bromley.
[...]
Bromley said that he hopes this problem never happens again, but if it does he would like ECE to re-imburse clients and incur late fines as a result of income support cheques being issues late.
Lafferty did not commit to this, answering instead that there are often issues with missing documents, which is a shared responsibility between workers and clients...."
http://www.nwtpolitics.com/node/1531

Tackling #Food #nsecurity One Step at a Time by MLA Ron Elliot from #NUNAVUT HANSARD

Tackling Food Insecurity One Step at a Time

NUNAVUT HANSARD
UNEDITED TRANSCRIPT
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2012
IQALUIT, NUNAVUT

Item 3: Members' Statements
Member's Statement 352 – 3(3): Tackling Food Insecurity One Step at a Time
(Elliott)

Mr. Elliott: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise today to acknowledge the efforts of individuals and organizations in raising awareness and suggesting solutions to address food insecurity in Nunavut.

Mr. Speaker, yesterday I tabled a document titled "HungerCount 2012," which not only provides an overview of food insecurity issues across Canada, but profiles food bank and school breakfast programs in Nunavut. As noted in the report, there has been an 18 percent increase in use of the Nunavut Food Bank in the last year alone.

Mr. Speaker, the high cost of food in the north is a key aspect of food insecurity. This aspect is highlighted by the website and Facebook page titled "Feeding My Family," which was initiated last summer.

Mr. Speaker, families in Nunavut spend at least twice as much per year as southern Canadians to put food on the table. Nunavummiut, on average, allocate 25 percent of their income on food compared to 11 percent of a southern income. The burden becomes even heavier for single-parent families, seniors, and those with little or no income other than social assistance.

Mr. Speaker, the HungerCount 2012 report makes a number of recommendations, with one specific to increasing social investment in northern Canada. The recommendations read:

"We recommend:
1. The creation of a federal Northern Food Security Innovation Fund, to help jumpstart and sustain community-based, community-led food initiatives across the North;
2. The establishment and adequate funding of comprehensive school breakfast programs across the territories;
3. Significant investment in community-building infrastructure in northern communities, including the construction or rehabilitation of community-identified resources like community centres and community freezers."

Mr. Speaker, I would like to encourage the government to consider including significant funding for Nunavut-wide school breakfast programs in its upcoming budget.

It is heartening to see that many communities, such as the community of Arctic Bay and other communities across Nunavut, are trying to adopt the charitable food model by providing school breakfast programs. However, the overall problem needs to be supported by government-driven initiatives. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

>>Applause

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GEORGE LESSARD
Information, Communications and Media Specialist
Spécialiste en l'information, communications et  media
451 Norseman Dr.
Yellowknife, Northwest Territories
X1A 2J1, Canada 
Yellowknife Cell # (867) 445-9193
E-mail: mediamentorATgmailDOTcom
Website mediamentor.ca
Twitter Feed on Northern  & First Nations Issues
Twitter Feed on Journalism & Media Issues
"Stuff about media (new and old) RT'ed on @MediaMentor [Full story? Click on headline]"
Twitter Feed on Community Radio Worldwide
Member:
Canadian Artists Representation / le Front des artistes canadiens
Canadian Artists Representation Copyright Collective

Want a signature like mine? Click here.  

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Some Facebook comments about the #NWT Income Assistance program

From the

Housing Issues in the Northwest Territories & Nunavut

open group on Facebook...
Income Assistance Policy and Procedure Manual
http://www.ece.gov.nt.ca/Divisions/Income_support_NPV1/Income%20Asistance%20PDF%20File/IncomeAssistancePolicyManual.pdf
Income Assistance Amendments to the Policy and Procedures Manual
http://www.ece.gov.nt.ca/PDF%20Income%20Security/Amendments%2020120423.pdf

http://www.ece.gov.nt.ca/Divisions/Income_support_NPV1/Income%20Asistance%20PDF%20File/IncomeAssista

www.ece.gov.nt.ca

Like · · · Share · October 29 at 12:43pm near Yellowknife

• 
  
• 

  Marjorie Ovayuak How will address client(s) on Disability,who are selling/doing illegal activities under Income Support..this is going on far to long..

  October 29 at 1:42pm · Unlike · 2
• 

  Frances M. Wolki They would have to be charged and found guilty in the court of law, otherwise it is considered hear-say...

  October 29 at 3:12pm · Like
• 

  Frances M. Wolki Our policies suck up north...basically, if computers are crashing and Income Support workers can't produce a clients cheque for that month. It's bad enough with the amount of income assistance given does not last a family to the end of the month...Leaders are giving themselves far too many raises, benefits,etc., and keeping up to the cost of living as it continually increases, while the poor get poorer. No different than the Housing Policy...what isn't working should've had results a long time ago, as these have been on-going for far too long...it's un-real, especially for those families with children who rely on this assistance.

  October 29 at 3:15pm · Like · 1
• 

  Clara Anikina some times ppl have NO CHOICE but to try to make ends meet, no matter how...just to feed little children...or hungry family...i see it a lot...its the system that we have to change...to make a better world...cause when ppl are hungry and worried it leads to a lot of bad things; like violence, and abuse...etc...cause they are hurt and worried and don't know how to vent their hurts and fears. and the LEADERS TRAVELLING ALL OVER THE WORLD, TOO, and ...not doing anything but benefitting themselves...what a shame.

  Sunday at 12:00am · Edited · Like · 2
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  Clara Anikina i know it is wrong however what is a person suppose to do???

  October 29 at 5:25pm · Like
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  George Lessard Tell you MLA.. via e-mail so there is a record of it..

  October 29 at 5:40pm · Like · 1
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  Clara Anikina USING ME as an example, for the month of Nov. i will receive approx. $481.50, made out to a groc store, plus FINALLY $100.00 cash, in a cheque...course the chq cashing fee will hurt...ow...cause I won bingo in oct. twice, someone staked me...shudda used somebody's name...how will i ever get by??

  October 31 at 12:41am · Edited · Like
• 

  Marjorie Ovayuak One disability client,in Edmonton gets like $1,400.00 to $1,500.00 a month,in Tuktoyaktuk those on disabilty gets between $600.00 to $1101.00 a month,last only 1 or 2 and a half weeks,plus rent,power and communication access like phone/internet,some of them including myself don't even have cable connection,just bingo channel,the price of power/groceries/rent and phone/internet covers all our groceries together that leaves me with like $600 to a little over $800 to spend on groceries for the whole entire month,depending on what is deducted from your disability this includes single mothers with little child/ren,for about close to 5-6 hundred dollars a month .Hopefully get a side job,even though I have a lower spinal back and limping right hip problem while waiting for 2 major operations due sometimes in the late year or early new year.

  October 30 at 5:38pm · Like · 1
• 

  Clara Anikina i won $277.50, plus $150.00 which adds up to $427.50. I told her that i was allowed $400 she told me that there is a diff between unearned and earned income. i asked her why we get our land claims at $400 then and she do not deduct. she went on and on, so i just left. in the past i was ALLOWED 400 per month

  October 31 at 10:19am · Like
• 

  Clara Anikina i am so worried these days but will trust God to help me like He always does to get by. I know i have been put in this position to help and speak out for others. i worked all my LIFE and am not used to not having no money to pay for bills and buy necessities and i have a lot of birthdays in my big family that i love to treat my family with cause they need cheering up and we need to celebrate. it is so hopeless i feel like giving up but i WILL NOT GIVE UP, no way, but am still so worried. so worried. so many bills too. the bingos i won were like early october so the monies were all spent on groc right away.

  about an hour ago · Like
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  Gailann Raddi Why does ECE take from bingos and housing dont? but housing can take from selling native food and baked goods and ECE dont I thought they work together?

  28 minutes ago via mobile · Like · 2
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  Clara Anikina with the vouchers too, we can't even buy our native food. which is so awful can't really have a taste for dunniktak food, cause i had cancer three yrs ago, food still taste awful to me...only native food taste good to me.

  6 minutes ago · Like

10

GEORGE LESSARD
Information, Communications and Media Specialist
Spécialiste en l'information, communications et  media
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