Columnists
|
|
Out with the old, in with the new
Cece Hodgson-McCauley Guest comment Monday, November 3, 2008 Previous columns 
New ministers: I am happy to see Hon. Chuck Strahl back in Indian Affairs and Northern Development. The most important part as far as I am concerned is Transportation and Hon. John Baird has that job! He seems like a very out-going and approachable minister. Time will tell. On the Monday, Oct. 27, News/North headline ("The GNWT's billion dollar idea"): Premier Roland is not only in his cabinet's bad books for being so secretive about his talks and letters with Prime Minister Harper, but he is my bad books. What is he trying to prove? Who are his advisors, anyway? I like Prime Minister Harper but I'm beginning to have doubts. In his letter to our premier he says building the NWT is strengthening Canada. We've been trying to send that message to Canada for years! Canada and their federal government are going to have a rude awakening some day soon! The world is moving fast, while Canada is in a stalemate - our population is still only about 40 to 42 million. America is about 370 million. Canada completely ignored the whole three territories for years until the last war when the Americans built the Alaska Highway through the Yukon (in one year!). It sure helped the Yukon to become part of the world and to advance and prosper. Well in about 1957 to 1960, our glorious federal government decided to finally look North! They never bothered before because Queen Victoria at that time said the NWT is a waste land so don't bother with it! I wish they had sold the NWT to the Americans and we would be part of Alaska! Anyhow, back to 1957 to 1960. Our federal government decided to move in to the NWT. What they found was a very orderly lifestyle of nomadic, simply happy, healthy people. It was too simple for them, so they created a government for us (the GNWT). That was 50 years ago and you all see the results. Where is all the wealth and development? It's all next to the Alberta border! Yellowknife and Hay River South, kissing and hanging on to Alberta's skirt! The rest of us in 3/4 of the territory are still waiting for the deliverance of the good and cheap life they promised us! And then to read our premier dream of the $1 billion pipe dream and 10 years of on-going discussions on infrastructure with the feds? We cannot let that happen, we could all be dead by then. (Western Arctic MP Dennis) Bevington thinks it should be done in stages. We say no to that - I don't want to see it dragged out for 10 years. Bevington and the premier, as our top leaders, better jump on the bandwagon or real movers who are ready to help us out of our misery - the Mac group! They are 51 per cent aboriginal and 49 per cent industry partnerships. What more could you ask for? A 3-P (Private Public Partnership) program and one-stop job made in the North. Plus, they have been ready to start work on the extensions and completion of our Mackenzie Valley road from Wrigley to Tuk for a few years now. What is holding them up? The feds are passing the buck with the excuse that they need the support of the GNWT and aboriginals. What a lame excuse! If they don't have the money, there are other countries that could help. China, for one. They have trillions to invest. Talking about China, about 100 aboriginals are leaving to China from Vancouver Saturday! And I am happy to see our own Darrell Beaulieu is one of them. He even said they will bring up the subject of the highway to the Chinese! Why not? The Inuvialuit are planning a job on the Mackenzie River with their Dutch partners. The MAC Group partners are one of the largest construction companies in Canada, building highways, bridges and pipelines. The group has the expertise and can finance and we must keep them interested. Harper is planning a premier's meeting Nov. 10. Roland should plan a private meeting with the prime minister and John Baird, the new transportation minister, and bring along the MAC group. Today I paid $9.98 for two-litres of milk. Children need cheaper nourishment in the Sahtu.
|
