January 13, 2012

Regional

Ex-speedskate champion from Iqaluit jailed six months (January 12, 2012): Young man, 22, acquires 52 adult convictions Justice Robert Kilpatrick sentenced Matthew Haslem of Iqaluit to six months in jail Jan. 10 for escaping legal custody, drug possession, and breach of a probation order, following a sentencing hearing held at the Nunavut Court of Justice

Chidliak planning on hold for now, say owners (January 12, 2012): Peregrine Diamonds also waiting for regulators to approve project’s next phase The president of Peregrine Diamonds said it's still too early to say whether bulk-sampling work will begin this year at the Chidliak property. The company put its plans on hold last month after assuming full ownership of the property. The company is also waiting for regulators to approve the next phase of exploration, which would require more equipment and more workers on site.

Nunavut furs fetch record-high prices at recent auction (January 12, 2012): But sealskin prices remain low due to EU seal ban Nunavut furs set record-high prices at a recent fur harvester’s auction, where a top-selling polar bear hide sold for $12,400. A Jan. 7 sale of the Fur Harvesters Auction Inc. offered up polar bear, wolf, wolverine, Arctic fox and ringed seal pelts from across Canada and North America.

Iqaluit eyes 2020 Arctic Winter Games host job (January 12, 2012): City last hosted sporting event in 2002 The City of Iqaluit wants to host the 2020 Arctic Winter Games. Councillors decided at a meeting this week to formally express an interest in hosting the games. Amy Elgersma, Iqaluit’s recreation director, told CBC News the decision is very exciting. “Now the government of Nunavut is submitting a report to the international committee indicating Nunavut’s interest in hosting the games and also to demonstrate our ability to host the games,” said Elgersma.

Iqaluit hopes to land 2020 Arctic Winter Games (January 12, 2012): City confident that it will have proper infrastructure The City of Iqaluit hopes to bring the Arctic Winter Games to Nunavut’s capital in 2020. City council passed a motion Jan. 10 expressing interest in launching a bid to host the 2020 games, which could attract more than 1,500 athletes from around the circumpolar world.

Nunavut duo throat-sing on a global stage (January 12, 2012): “We felt so lucky to be there" When Annie Aningmiuq and Cynthia Pitsiulak first learned to throat-sing together, the pair hit it off immediately. Aningmiuq, originally from Pangnirtung, and Pitsiulak, from Kimmirut, learned the skill while studying at Nunavut Sivuniksavut in 2004.

N.W.T. diamond gift donated, says former premier (January 12, 2012): Harry Winston-crafted gifts didn't cost taxpayers Yellowknife is being recognized in British tabloids, but not for the scenery, northern lights or a reality television show. Instead, it’s getting attention for giving lavish gifts to Prince William and Kate Middleton.

Man jailed nine months for punching, threatening woman with gun (January 12, 2012): “You are part of a very big problem that affects women throughout this territory” A Pangnirtung man will spend nine months in jail after assaulting his common-law wife and threatening her with a rifle. Justice Robert Kilpatrick sentenced Johnny Akulukjuk, 24, of Pangnirtung to nine months in jail for assault, a firearms offence and breaching a probation order to have no contact with his victim.

City of Iqaluit denies allegations made in Bertol lawsuit (January 12, 2012): Ex-senior director of lands and planning launched wrongful dismissal suit in 2011 The City of Iqaluit has released a statement of defence denying allegations made by a former senior employee who recently slapped the city with a wrongful dismissal lawsuit. Michele Bertol, the city’s ex-senior director of lands and planning, launched a wrongful dismissal suit at the city government last month claiming more than $700,000 in damages arising from her abrupt dismissal on Jan. 26, 2011.

Labrador caribou hunting situation unacceptable: MHA (January 11, 2012): Torngat Mountains MHA Randy Edmunds says some Quebec residents are being allowed to harvest caribou from the George River Caribou herd in Labrador without any restrictions, while Labrador hunters are bound by strict rules. He said it’s a repeat of a similar situation in 2010. “Labrador hunters have just been subjected to very strict conservation measures on this herd, drastically restricting their harvesting privileges in the interest of conservation,” Edmunds says in a news release.

MHA Edmunds On Caribou Hunting Concerns (January 12, 2012): The MHA for the Torngat Mountains district is concerned that hunters from outside of the province are not following the conservation measures put in place on the George River caribou herd. MHA Randy Edmunds believes there are outside hunters who are taking as many animals as they please from the declining herd.

Labradorians Lining Up for Cain’s Quest (January 12, 2012): Labradorians are lining up to take part in Cain’s Quest 2012. Todd Kent is a Co-Chairperson with the snowmobile endurance race. He says 29 teams have registered for the event so far. Three others were in the process of registering when we spoke with Kent. Included in the teams are three from Natuashish and one from each of the communities of Makkovik, Hopedale, Sheshatshiu and Happy Valley-Goose Bay.

Climate Change

Global Warming May Trigger Winter Cooling (January 12, 2012): It seems counterintuitive, even ironic, that global warming could cause some regions to experience colder conditions. But a new study explains the Rube Goldberg-machine of climatic processes that can link warmer-than-average summers to harsh winter weather in some parts of the Northern Hemisphere. In general, global average temperatures have been rising since the late 1800s, but the most rapid warming has occurred in the past 40 years. And average temperatures in the Arctic have been rising at nearly twice the global rate, says Judah Cohen, a climate modeler at the consulting firm Atmospheric and Environmental Research in Lexington, Massachusetts. Despite that trend, winters in the Northern Hemisphere have grown colder and more extreme in southern Canada

Scientists say cut soot, methane to cool globe (January 12, 2012): An international team of scientists says the key to slowing global warming in the short run is to reduce emissions of methane and soot. Simple, inexpensive measures to cut emissions of two common pollutants will slow global warming, save millions of lives and boost crop production around the world, a large international team of scientists reported Thursday. The climate-change debate has centered on carbon dioxide, a gas that wafts in the atmosphere for decades, trapping heat. But scientists in recent years have pointed to two other, shorter-term pollutants — methane and soot, also known as black carbon — that also drive climate change.

Other

Russian tanker carrying fuel to Nome just 6 miles away, waiting for daylight to proceed (January 13, 2012): A Russian tanker hauling much-needed fuel across the ice-choked ocean to the Alaska city of Nome is just six miles from its destination. A Coast Guard icebreaker has cut a path through ocean ice to help the vessel with its cargo of 1.3 million gallons of fuel reach Nome.

Shell leader expects Arctic offshore drilling this year (January 12, 2012): Shell Oil Co. expects to clear remaining regulatory hurdles and begin drilling later this year in the Chukchi Sea near Alaska, company President Marvin Odum said at a scientific conference on Thursday. Shell received conditional federal approval last month to drill six exploratory wells in the Arctic offshore region but still must secure permits for individual wells.

Social Media

Mansbridge One On One (January 13, 2012): On Wednesday morning I had the pleasure of being interviewed by the CBC’s Peter Mansbridge for his “One on One” program. During the interview we covered a fairly wide variety of topics. They included the difference between “Inuit” and “First Nations Indians”, finding a balance between Inuit and Western culture, education and the Inuit Education Strategy. Peter was also interested in health and mental health issues, climate change, resource development, land claims agreements and implementation, and the cost of living in Inuit Nunangat.

Via @CBCNunavut: City of Iqaluit closed due to water problems. A water main burst near the high school last night, unleashing a flood of water that drained a large part of the city's reservoir. At this point, the amount of water left is not enough to meet the communities' needs. The City of Iqaluit is closing all non-essential services, and asking people to stay home and conserve water.  We'll also have updates on the web at cbc.ca/north and on our twitter feed @cbcnunavut.