December 2 2022

Nickel Belt News

Airport buys Ford winter weather testing facility

BY IAN GRAHAM EDITOR@THOMPSONCITIZEN.NET

The winter weather test ing industry in Thompson is undergoing a significant change this week, with the airport finalizing its pur chase of Ford’s testing fa cility, becoming not only the site of assets to testers but also an access provider.

Curtis Ross, CEO of the Thompson Regional Airport Authority, which runs the airport north of the city, says the purchase of Ford’s assets will be completed Dec. 1.

BY IAN GRAHAM EDITOR@THOMPSONCITIZEN.NET

Though she’s now written a book about her experiences growing up in Churchill, Addictions Foundation of Manitoba northern director Gisele deMeulles said writing wasn’t something she always thought she would do.

Ross spoke about the air port authority’s entry into the winter weather testing business with the Thomp son Citizen and confer ence attendees at Sub Zero North’s winter weather testing conference, which began in Winnipeg Nov. 15 and wrapped up with tours and presentations in Thomp son on Nov. 17. The airport CEO is familiar with the business, having worked for many years in his capacity as an independent business owner with companies such as Honda.

“The airport’s into the winter weather testing busi ness all of a sudden in a big way,” Ross said.

With the long-awaited new airport terminal ex pected to actually begin the construction process with

“In my youth I never felt good at writing,” she said. “But when I moved to Thompson to get into the school of social work, at that point I had to write for university and realized, ‘Holy, I’m not bad at this, right?’ I certainly developed a lot of skill in university and came out of there with a very strong skill in my writing and confidence in my writing. I write very clear and that’s it. It’s there. Some people say it’s kind of blunt or direct. I don’t tend

to write things that you have to figure out. It’s pretty clear when I get through.”

the driving of piles in the spring, there is potential for the amount of facilities available to winter weather testers to increase substan tially from what the former Ford facility has, which includes a cold chamber where different sections can be cooled to different temperatures as well as meeting rooms. Once the new airport is open, the old terminal’s parking lots will be available and eventually the current airport access road will be cut off from the highway once a road to the new terminal is built, which will create a closed loop for testers to use without encountering other traffic.

DeMeulles said she wrote her book, titled Whispers in the Wind: Stories from the North - Life in Churchill for a couple of reasons.

“They’re all going to be marketed as part of the winter weather testing and climate change and things like that that people can use for testing,” Ross said.

proximately 11:30 p.m. and 5 a.m., seven days a week.

The city’s location in a re mote and sparsely populated region is also an advantage, conference attendees heard from virtual presenter Alec Wilson of Spexi Geospatial, a company that provides software to help capture and use imagery from drones and came up to Thompson last spring, performing tasks such as helping investigate how the Hudson Bay Rail way could use drones to monitor the condition of its tracks between The Pas and Churchill.

‘Oh, I’m just as bad, right?’ I have all these stories and I need to capture them for my grandchildren really because they will be lost if I don’t.”

way up to Anchorage, Al aska is a little bit more dif ficult,” said Ross. “We can get that vehicle from point A to point B to Point C. You can see the economics of it makes so much more sense than trying to get to Fair banks, Alaska.”

More than anything, Thompson’s biggest selling feature is its temperatures, Ross said. But that might not mean exactly what you think — for example, that the number of really cold days is the most important factor.

Lindsay Moore of Air market, a company focused on developing ways to track the number of drones in a particular section of airspace that was working with Spexi last spring, said that climate change could mean more companies in Canada do ing work further north than they have in the past, and also increase efforts by the government to ensure Can ada’s Arctic sovereignty in its very sparsely inhabited near north and far north.

ernment and by us really exceeded expectations in severely cold temperatures.”

From the airport’s per spective, becoming the owner of winter weather testing facilities is not only good for the local economy, but for the airport’s viability as well.

“COVID taught us a lot of things,” he said. “One is diversify.”

She also has a reputation as a storyteller herself.

was not a very safe thing to do but I jumped at it. I thought that was exciting until the plane landed and they started throwing the fuel off and I realized, ‘Holy cats, I was probably sitting on a bomb.’”

“I think companies as a whole have to be able to understand what does that mean to them.”

Physical facilities are needed to help regrow and eventually expand the local winter weather testing in dustry, Ross said, but one of Thompson’s real advantages is providing a place for com panies to test their products in real-world conditions.

‘We’ll test it up here in real-time conditions,” said Ross, noting that winter weather testers can even make use of the airport’s runways between ap

“I just sort of thought, you know what, this history, this stuff that’s in my head, it’s going to be gone if I don’t write it down,” she said. “My kids are not going to get it if I don’t do it and it’s something I’ve always wanted my mom to do. My mom’s an elder and she’s an artist, she’s got so many wonderful stories because she always tells her stories at Parks Canada in Churchill and I’ve always hounded her, ‘Please, just put it on tape, I will write it for you because your story is going to be lost,’ and she’s never done it and I thought,

“It’s relatively unpopu lated,” said Wilson of the Thompson area. “This is really good for testing be cause it provides a safe environment. There’s not a ton of air traffic out there. For drones this is very use ful, not to worry as much about safety, and we don’t really have to worry about the safety of people on the ground.”

“I had such a varied history and I would tell people stories and they would go, ‘That’s not true, is it?’ I’d go, ‘Yeah it’s true.’ They’d go, ‘You didn’t do all that, did you? You’ve got to be really old.’ I was like, ‘No, actually I did all that before I was 27,’ and they went ‘What?’”

Looking back, some of those experiences are things she might not do again.

Despite being eight hours away from the nearest big cities, Thompson is not as far away from them as other testing centres, like Yellow knife or Fairbanks, Alaska, said Ross, which makes test ing here logistically more sensible.

“To get a vehicle from Detroit, Michigan all the

“I did some pretty bizarre stuff like fuel hauls into the high Arctic at -35,” said deMeulles. “It didn’t dawn on me until after. That was a very dangerous thing to do. Being on a plane full of fuel

Jordan Ilot of the GLA CIER jet engine testing facility south of Thompson just off Highway 6 told the conference that that facility, for the most part, doesn’t need to test engine icing below about -23 degrees Celsius for safety agencies in the United States or -27 for some in Europe. How ever, with tests at temper atures up to about -3 degrees also required, the sheer number of days below zero is important.

swallow when people say that Churchill residents should just find somewhere easier to live.

Ross also said he is im pressed with the growing number of partnerships connected to winter weath er testing that are being established.

Another thing that spurred her on was the hard times facing Churchill since the Hudson Bay Railway suspended operations north of Gillam last spring.

“It used to be a really thriving large community and it’s just dwindled down to such a small population now,” deMeulles says.

Though she’s not there any longer, her parents and her sister and other family members still are.

“My cousin owns the hardware store there,” she says.

“We’re not looking for a large number of -40 days, we’re looking for a good spread,” he said. “Thompson gives us some variability, which we need, and a good early start to the testing and a fairly long extended tail in the spring.”

Because of that, deMeulles finds it hard to

As Wilson and his counterparts at Spexi learned last spring, it’s often people who have the hardest time standing up to harsh winter conditions, while equipment can per form better than expected, even when it isn’t sub-zero temperature rated, possibly because it hasn’t been tested to determine its ability to withstand the cold.

“To say, ‘Those people choose to live there. They should just leave,’ is quite simplistic. It’s quite disrespectful. If we were in the same boat in another area I think we would scream about that so why don’t they have the option to do that?

For all the harsh weather and the dangers of polar bears, deMeulles said if it had been viable she would have moved back to Churchill in a heartbeat.

“The networking in a few months that’s happened and the connections that are being made, we’ve got Transport, Canada, the Na tional Research Council, all those players are wanting to embed themselves in some way, shape or form and test here,” he said.

Much of the equipment they were using, he said, was recommended only for operation in temperatures down to zero degrees Cel sius, or perhaps -10.

“Our software handled it extremely well,” Wilson said. “The hardware that was provided by the gov

I think right now they’re feeling like they’re pawns in a political game and that’s really sad for them because I think the people of Churchill really want to thrive. They’ve built their worlds there. How would we feel if someone came to you and said, ‘I’m sorry, you have to leave your home community and we’re going to displace you somewhere else and all your loved ones and your history is gone?’”

“I miss the shoreline, I miss the rock, I miss the polar bears even though they’re very dangerous and I really miss the Hudson Bay,” she says. “When I go back home, standing on the Hudson Bay looking out on the bay, it just gives you an incredible sense. You feel so small and you feel great.”

In the future, Thompson could be a source not only of suitable winter weather testing temperatures and facilities, but even of ex pertise, Ross believes.

Now that she’s got one book under her belt, deMeulles says she may try to produce another.

“We’re moving from just supplying people assets to test to maybe being involved in the testing industry and having technical people employed in Thompson and working on testing and sending the data,” he said.

“I have another book in me,” she says. “It’s a darker story, more about personal growth and struggles. Maybe in the next five years it’s something I’ll focus on doing.”

Serving the Norman Region since 1961

-A Kelsey Bay Thompson, MB R N S Ph: Fax:

Nickel Belt News photo by Ian Graham Addictions Foundation of Manitoba northern director Gisele deMeulles has written a book about her experiences growing up, mostly in Churchill.

2022

Delivering News to the Nickel Belt since 1960

Thompson Citizen photo by Ian Graham

Thompson Regional Airport Authority CEO Curtis Ross tells conference participants Nov. 17 about his organization’s new venture into the winter weather testing industry.

MKO getting $23.7 million in federal health and safety funding

The federal government announced Nov. 25 that it is investing $23.7 million in efforts by Manitoba Kee watinowi Okimakanak to deliver health services and develop public safety initia tives for the 23 Northern Manitoba First Nations it represents, many of which are remote and do not have year-round road access.

Indigenous Services Can ada Minister Patty Hajdu made the announcement in Winnipeg.

$23 million will go to MKO and its health organiz ation Keewatinohk Inniniw

Minoayawin, which is Cree for Northern Peoples’ Well ness, over two years to help them transform how health services are delivered to members of MKO First Nations.

“Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak and Keewat inohk Inniniw Minoayawin Inc. are leading the way on Indigenous designed and led services,” said Hajdu in a news release. “Self-deter mination is the path to better care, healthier people and communities.”

The federal government and MKO signed an memo

randum of understanding in 2018 that they would work together towards a First Na tions-led health care trans formation in MKO territory. Two years later, MKO es tablished KIM to help en sure that Northern Manitoba First Nations people have access to health-related ser vices that reflect their needs and priorities.

“During the pandemic, Keewatinohk Inniniw Minoayawin Inc. has dem onstrated ability, and pro gressive leadership in health transformation for First Nations people in North

ern Manitoba,” said KIM CEO Dr. Barry Lavallee. “Our partnerships with the First Nations communities are the foundation to health transformation. The federal government has provided solid support that will al low our team to continue to build towards a new and in novative healthcare system for First Nations. Moving forward our relationships with the federal govern ment, other regional par ties play a significant role in changing the healthcare system.”

$715,000 will also go

to MKO over three years through ISC’s Pathways to Safe Indigenous Commun ities Initiative. This money is intended to help it en hance the law-making cap acity of its First Nations and to advance recognition of, respect for and enforcement of First Nation laws, bylaws and customary bylaws.

“It is the vision of the MKO First Nations that our MKO First Nation com munities are the healthiest and safest places for our cit izens to live,” said MKO Grand Chief Garrison Set tee. “The recognition, re

spect, enforcement and ad judication of enforceable First Nation health and public safety standards and laws that reflect community priorities are a key part of the path toward the health, safety and well-being of the MKO First Nations. MKO is working in partnership with KIM and Canada to develop community safety and well-being plans cen tred within an Indigenous world view and perspective and founded on Indigenous protocols, customary laws and objectives for public safety, health and wellness.”

Hydro reduces rate increase request from 3.5% to 2%

Manitoba Hydro said Nov. 29 that it has reduced its requested rate increases for the next two years.

Previously, the Crown corporation was seeking increases of 3.5 per cent in 2023 and 2024 but is now asking the Public Utilities Board only for two per cent increases in each of those years.

The reduction comes af ter the provincial govern ment announced it would reduce the amount it col lects each year in provin cial debt guarantees and water rental payments by half, which is expected to save Hydro about $190 million in the 2022-23 fis cal year.

“The reduction an nounced by the govern ment will help keep rates low for customers, and that’s great news when we know many customers are struggling with the cost of living,” said Manitoba

Hydro CEO Jay Grewal in a press release. “It also gives Manitoba Hydro the ability to start to reduce our debt while making invest ments in our system so our customers get the service they demand. The reduc tion also helps ensure that Manitoba Hydro will have the financial resources available to handle risks created by factors out of our control like fluctuating interest rates, prices on the export market and drought like we saw last year.”

Manitoba Hydro current ly has about $24 billion of debt and has been spending approximately 40 cents of every dollar customers pay to cover the interest on that debt.

Finance Minister Cam eron Friesen said when he announced the reduction in water rental and debt guarantee payments that applying that savings to wards debt would save the

Crown corporation and its ratepayers $4 billion in accumulated debt over the next 20 years.

Manitoba Hydro said it expects to only require an nual rate increases of two er cent per year over the next 19 years.

“We know customers want greater certainty of any future rate increases so they can budget for their energy costs,” Grewal said. “Starting to reduce the debt now will begin reducing annual interest costs, providing savings for customers in the longterm as the need for higher rate increases is reduced. Regular, predictable rate increases also help Mani toba keep pace with re investing in the system, such as replacing old wood poles to retrofitting older generating stations to en hance their power produc tion and efficiency. We’ll also be in a better position

to meet the needs of our province in the future as we see increased electri fication, resulting in the need for new generation and transmission, coupled with improvements to our distribution system and technology enhancements, all with the goal of serving our customers better.”

For a customer without electric heat using ap proximately 1,000 kilo watt-hours of electricity per month, a two per cent rate increase would make their bill go up about $2 per month in 2023 and again in 2024. Customers with elec tric heat using an average of 2,000 kilowatt-hours per month can expect their bill to go up about $4 per month with each two per cent rate increase.

Manitoba Hydro is also asking the PUB to confirm the 3.6 per cent interim rate increase that took effect in January 2022.

Thompson Citizen photo by photogodfrey/Getty Images Manitoba Hydro is now asking the Public Utilities Board for two per cent rate hikes in 2023 and 2024, down from its original request of 3.5 per cent each year.

Thompson Citizen photo courtesy of Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak

Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak Grand Chief Garrison Settee, right, with a picture presented to him by Indigenous Services Canada Minister Patty Hajdu, left, during a Nov. 25 announcement of $23.7 million in federal government funding for MKO to transform the delivery of health services by its First Nations and to enhance their law-making capacity.

Municipal funding-freeze could lead to higher taxes or service cuts, says AMM

BY DAVE BAXTER LOCAL JOURNALISM INITIATIVE REPORTER, WINNIPEG SUN

The leader of Manitoba’s official opposition vowed last week that an NDP government would put an end to a municipal funding freeze that has now been in effect since 2016, and the head of the Association of Manitoba Municipalities says putting an end to that freeze is something that is needed now more than ever.

While addressing offi cials at the AMM fall con vention in Winnipeg on Nov. 22, NDP leader Wab Kinew told municipal pol iticians and officials that a current funding freeze for municipalities that has been in place for nearly seven years needs to end and that it would end if the NDP were elected to lead the province.

Kinew said while the cost of living and the cost of run ning a municipality and of fering municipal services continues to rise in Mani toba, communities aren’t

seeing increased funding from the province to offset those increased costs.

“The PCs have frozen operating funds to muni cipalities for seven years, meaning municipalities are tackling 2022 costs and new inflationary pressures with 2016 levels of funding,”

Kinew said in a statement released after he addressed those at the convention.

While the province has supplemented funding with support for some specific municipal projects since 2016, Kinew said he has heard from officials that the only way to adequately fund

municipalities is to put an end to the funding freeze.

“The freeze has forced municipalities to cut es sential services and scale back on services that mat ter to families. Municipal operations that contribute to our sense of community like recreation facilities, have been forced to limit hours or close altogether because of staffing challenges,” he said.

Kinew also worries that without increased funding, communities could be more prone to emergencies such as flooding that can cause property damage, and put residents in harm’s way.

“Municipalities are strug gling to maintain culverts and ditches which is mak ing flooding more threat ening around the province to homes, and to farms and infrastructure,” Kinew said. “For seven years, the PCs have abandoned families and communities and left it to municipal leaders to try and fill the gaps.

“Enough is enough.”

AMM president Kam Blight, who also serves as the mayor of the RM of Portage la Prairie, said on Nov. 23 that every offi cial he has talked to at this week’s AMM convention agrees that the funding freeze cannot continue.

“The operating freeze is something that has come up in every single conversation that I have had this week,” Blight said. “There has been a seven-year funding freeze, but now with the rates of in flation we continue to have to do more with less, so we want to see some positive changes on that.”

And if the funding freeze does not end, Blight said he worries that more muni cipalities will be forced to raise taxes or cut services.

“Without increased fund ing increased taxation is the only way you have to increase your revenue, or the other option is to cut services, or a combination of both,” Blight said. “And no municipal leaders want to do that, and no residents

want to see that in their communities.”

Municipal Relations Minister Eileen Clarke took questions from muni cipal officials at this week’s AMM fall convention, and said publicly on Nov. 22 that the province does want to work on creating what she said would be a “new funding model.”

“I did make a commit ment to president Blight in the spring that I would make it a priority to work on a funding model that would be more acceptable to the municipalities and perhaps meet some of the additional demands," Clarke said

“We are working on it, and hopefully when the budget comes out in 2023, there will be news to follow.”

— Dave Baxter is a Lo cal Journalism Initiative reporter who works out of the Winnipeg Sun. The Lo cal Journalism Initiative is funded by the government of Canada.

Indigenous women gather to discuss roles as leaders in Manitoba First Nations

long time the voices of Indigenous women were silenced, and women were held back from leadership roles because of patriarchal systems of government.

“Often because of col onization, our voices have been silenced and we have been excluded from the de cision-making tables, but today women are trail blazers, they are building pathways for changes in our communities for the inclusion of Indigenous women and girls and twospirited and gender diverse people,” Anderson-Pyrz said.

“It is critically important that women’s voices are at the table.”

Dumas was ousted from the role following sexual assault and misconduct allegations.

As well, in August of this year, Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation in Northern Manitoba elected its first ever female chief when Angela Levasseur was voted in.

Back in April, Long Plain First Nation, a com munity near the city of Portage la Prairie, elected a female chief for the first time since the early 1970s, as Kyra Wilson captured the most votes.

“We need to include Indigenous women in all political spaces, and it’s all about empowerment and building confidence within our women and within our families,” Wilson said.

“It’s about building that confidence in our families and in our homes, and it’s about women and men working together, because we want what is best for our communities, and we are working towards the same goals, which is to bet ter our people and better our communities.”

BY DAVE BAXTER LOCAL JOURNALISM INITIATIVE REPORTER, WINNIPEG SUN

As more Indigenous women take on leadership roles in Manitoba, women gathered in Winnipeg this week to discuss their roles as leaders, and as nation builders in First Nations.

The Southern Chiefs

Organization hosted the Women’s Gathering on Nation Rebuilding event Nov. 28-29 at the Victoria Inn in Winnipeg, an event that is bringing Indigenous women together to discuss their roles as leaders, and as nation and community builders.

Hilda

Anderson-Pyrz,

who is a longtime advocate for Indigenous women and girls in Manitoba, spoke at the event on Nov. 28, and said events like the one held this week are important, because for a

And the gathering this week is timely, as In digenous women have been increasingly taking on leadership roles in Manitoba.

Back in October, Cathy Merrick was elected as the first ever female grand chief of the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs after former grand chief Arlen

Wilson said Nov. 28 that it is important that more women step into leader ship roles in First Nations communities, and be given opportunities to step into those roles.

— Dave Baxter is a Lo cal Journalism Initiative reporter who works out of the Winnipeg Sun. The Lo cal Journalism Initiative is funded by the government of Canada.

Thompson Citizen file photo

Association of Manitoba Municipalities president Kam Blight

Thompson Citizen photo by Ian Graham

Angela Levasseur, the first-ever female chief of Nisichayawasihk Cree Nation, speaks in Thompson in September, about a month after being elected. The Southern Chiefs Organiz ation hosted a two-day gathering in Winnipeg Nov. 28-29 that brought Indigenous women together to discuss their roles as leaders and nation builders.

Flin Flon MLA Report:

Manitobans need their jobs to combat workforce shortage, rising cost of living

As Flin Flon MLA, I empathize with the diffi culties people in North ern Manitoba face as a result of government cuts to healthcare and infra structure. Up until now, there have been no actions taken by this government nor apologies made for the abrupt shutdown and slowdown of healthcare facilities in Flin Flon, Lynn Lake, Snow Lake and Leaf Rapids. As a result of this shortage in medical facilities and staff, patients from the north are often medivaced to Winnipeg to receive treatment. I have heard from constituents who tell me that after receiv ing treatment in Winnipeg they have had to find their own way home.

I have also heard from constituents who continue to bear the burden of trans porting themselves for miles to access healthcare, because ambulance servi ces are short-staffed. Sick people needing ambulance

Tom Lindsey

Flin Flon MLA Report

Tom.Lindsey@yourmanitoba.ca

services are expected to find their way to medical facilities on roads that are not safe to drive on.

Again, I am hearing from many constituents about the state of our roads. Highway 391 north of Thompson to Lynn Lake is in drastic need for repairs. Highway 395 to the Lalor mine site is dangerous on a good day with numerous accidents reported in the last little while. Many times, your NDP MLAs have raised the issue of proper snow clearing of our roads and highways, as the condi tions on our roads in win ter is not acceptable.

This Progressive Con

servative government continues to make more and more road mainten ance cuts that are detri mental to the people of Northern Manitoba. They sold off nearly 300 pieces of equipment that could have been used to repair our roads and clear snow. We recently learned that 47 per cent of northern highway maintenance pos itions are vacant due to PC cuts. That is about half of the workforce needed to ensure that our northern highways are maintained and cleared. There are cur rently 127 positions un filled. That’s far too many jobs that should be filled and put to work fixing our

roads.

I am also hearing a lot from constituents about the cost of living. That’s why we proposed a freeze on Manitoba Hydro rates, to give Manitobans a break during times of quickly rising costs. Both the Lib erals and Conservatives voted against our propos al. The PC government’s cuts certainly hurt North ern Manitoba. We all know that we can’t cut our way to growth in the north. The government should com mit to funding healthcare and infrastructure that is accessible to all members of the community. This is why I support NDP’s commitment to invest in healthcare and fix the damages this PC govern ment has caused.

If you would like to con tact me regarding govern ment cuts or any concern in your community, please feel free to get in touch by email at tom.lindsey@ yourmanitoba.ca or by phone at 204-687-3246.

Port of Churchill finally opening for business?

BY LEE HARDING

Manitoba premier Hea ther Stefanson finally voiced support for more energy exports out of Hud son Bay. That is excellent news because the potential is real and the reasons to refuse are illusory.

“We are looking at lique fied natural gas, primarily,” Stefanson told reporters recently.

“We know with the energy challenges in Eur ope, with the horrible situ ation there, the shortage of food potentially, that Mani toba is well-positioned with the Port of Churchill to be able to look at what that could mean in the long term for our province.”

This was welcome clarity from Stefanson after more than a month of mixed mes sages and from a govern ment that doesn’t like to think “big”.

On Oct. 13, Stefanson announced that she would visit Churchill, Thompson and Flin Flon “to promote jobs, tourism and economic opportunities.” The release reminded readers of the joint $147 million invest ment by Ottawa and the Manitoba government so the Arctic Gateway Group could upgrade and rebuild its line.

Eleven days later, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith wrote Stefanson and Sas katchewan Premier Scott

Moe to propose a meeting in Churchill to discuss ex port possibilities for food, energy, fertilizer, and more. But Stefanson was strangely reticent.

“I will tell you there are more pressing things for us to be dealing with right now,” Stefanson said, naming affordability, health care, and homelessness. She also wanted to ensure First Nations were OK with fur ther developments and the federal government was on board.

This reluctance made no sense. There’s no better social program than a job, and governments can’t do anything without revenues.

Given that the AGG is a partnership between 41 First Nation and Bayline com munities, would they object to more business? As for Ottawa, did it want its in vestment to be for nothing?

Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre already

knew Churchill was a worthwhile political and economic bet. While trav elling through Manitoba in April, he said if he be came prime minister he would fast-track export and shipping permits to send 100,000 barrels of oil a day by rail and 200,000 by pipeline right to the Port of Churchill.

On Nov. 22, federal Northern Affairs Minister Dan Vandal seemed posi tive about developments. And the most opposition the NDP could muster was that Manitoba-made hy drogen should be shipped down the line and through the port. In the near term, unfortunately, this is pie in the sky and years away from reality, if ever.

Recently, Ottawa and the Alberta government an nounced $476 million for a net zero hydrogen plant in Edmonton set to be the world’s largest. Blue hydro gen would be derived from natural gas, with the carbon removed and sequestered. The hydrogen would be converted to anhydrous am monia for shipping. Don’t hold your breath folks.

Meanwhile, the opportun ity costs of not exporting natural gas and oil remain enormous. Energy expert Terry Etam calculates that the revenues from a natur al gas pipeline and LNG to Asia would generate $2.8

billion in tax revenue per month if Canada had its act together.

Of course, investments in Churchill don’t preclude wider development around accessing tidewater ports on Hudson Bay. A rail line already runs to Port Nel son at the mouth of the Nelson River without the headaches of repairing the muskeg-impaired rail line to Churchill. The proposed Neestanan Utility Corridor to Port Nelson, which also involves First Nation part ners, nicely complements Churchill as a terminus for oil and gas exports.

After too many years of finding ways not to make things happen, it’s time Canada got it right.

Lee Harding is a research associate at the Frontier Centre for Public Policy. He holds a Master's in Public Policy from the University of Calgary, a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from the University of Regina, and a Bachelor of Arts in Theol ogy from Briercrest College and Seminary.

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Lee Harding

BY SHARI NARINE LOCAL JOURNALISM INITIATIVE REPORTER, WINDSPEAKER.COM

The Assembly of First Nations and the federal government are seeking a judicial review of the de cision from the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal to reject a $20 billion com pensation package for First Nations children discrimin ated against in the child welfare system on reserve.

The CHRT ruled Oct. 24 that a final settlement agreement, although “out standing in many ways,” still fell short in meeting the orders set out by the panel.

After six months of in tense negotiations between the federal government and the AFN, compensation was allotted for children and families who were dis criminated against through

the underfunding of the First Nations Child and Family Services program and by the federal govern ment’s narrow interpreta tion of Jordan’s Principle.

However, the agreement did not include two other groups identified by the CHRT: children and youth in placements that were not funded by Indigenous Services Canada and the estates of deceased parents.

The panel also noted that “no meaningful steps” were taken by either the AFN or Canada to inform the public, the victims or their families that the final settlement agreement saw a group of people losing en titlement to compensation.

“The AFN will also seek judicial review to ensure the rights of our children and families are fully re spected in this process

and that they receive the compensation that’s due to them,” said Manitoba Regional Chief Cindy Woodhouse, addressing the media Nov. 23.

Woodhouse, who led the negotiations on behalf of the AFN, said it was impos sible to tell how long this next legal phase would take as they had yet to receive the CHRT’s full explana tion for its reasoning.

However, to comply with legal requirements, appli cation for a judicial review had to be made within 30 days of the CHRT decision being delivered.

“It could be a quicker resolution or it could be tied up in the courts. De pending on the decision and how the different parties respond to it, I know that, if we keep the best interest of the kids the focus, that’s the

focus of this, to get them compensated, and I think we can all agree on that, hopefully it goes quickly,” said Woodhouse.

There are 300,000 people, she said, that are eligible for compensation.

Woodhouse got emotion al when she talked about the children she grew up with on reserve who had been separated from their families and how now they would need to wait even longer for compensation.

“Thinking about how they would feel, we have to try to find a resolve for this as quickly as possible and…don’t play politics with people,” she said.

The federal government said in a statement that a judicial review would not impede ongoing work in determining how to distrib ute compensation to chil

dren and families covered in the existing agreement.

Indigenous Services Canada Minister Patty Hajdu addressed media in a news conference just prior to Woodhouse.

She stressed that the settlement had been In digenous led as had been the compensation regime and so she found it difficult to understand the CHRT’s decision not to accept the settlement.

“So that’s one of the questions,” she said.

Hajdu would not commit to adding more money to a settlement that was al ready a “historic sum” but said, “We are always open to looking with partners at how we satisfy those other categories of individuals.”

The complete $40 billion settlement package also in cludes $20 billion for long-

term reform of child and family services system.

Hajdu said that Dr. Cindy Blackstock, executive dir ector of the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society, would be “very helpful” with her expertise and knowledge in working to reform the system.

Blackstock had opposed the final settlement agree ment saying children had been cut out.

The AFN and the Car ing Society were partners in 2007 when they filed a human rights complaint against the federal gov ernment. That action got the ball rolling on the final settlement agreement.

However, Blackstock did not join the AFN in nego tiating the final settlement agreement, which was an nounced in January.

Canada’s new climate adaptation plan puts up $1.6 billion to tackle wildfires, heatwaves, flood risk and more

BY NATASHA BULOWSKI LOCAL JOURNALISM INITIATIVE REPORTER, CANADA'S NATIONAL OBSERVER

Canada’s much-antici pated roadmap to weath er the impacts of climate change is out, and it in cludes $1.6 billion in new spending to fortify infra structure, protect human health and predict future risks.

The country’s first Na tional Adaptation Strategy lays out specific targets for its five focus areas: disas ter resilience, health and well-being, nature and biodiversity, economy and workers and infrastructure.

Minister of Emergency Preparedness Bill Blair made the announcement in St. Peters Bay, P.E.I., on Nov. 24, two months after post-tropical storm Fiona hit the East Coast leaving colossal damage and mass power outages in its wake.

Coast to coast, Can adians have been touched by climate-linked disasters: From Fiona to British Col

umbia’s devastating floods and deadly heat wave.

Extreme weather events wreak havoc on people's lives and cause billions of dollars in damage: the adaptation strategy seeks to help us prepare for and deal with the inevitable impacts of climate change.

Of the $1.6 billion ear marked for initiatives over the next five years, $29.9 million will help expand a Health Canada program to provide guidance and re sources to Canadians ex periencing extreme heat, $284 million will go to reducing wildfire risk in communities and $164.2 million will help provide Canadians up-to-date flood risk maps. Flooding is Can ada’s costliest hazard, with average residential costs of $2.9 billion per year, ac cording to a report by Can ada's Task Force on Flood Insurance and Relocation published in 2022.

There’s also a $489-mil lion top-up to the Disaster Mitigation and Adaptation

Fund and $530 million to expand the Federation of Canadian Municipalities’ Green Municipal Fund. Funding is also provided to carry out a Canada-wide climate assessment to help identify trends and risks associated with climate change.

One expert was pleasant ly surprised by the contents of the plan.

“The adaptation strategy is actually stronger than what we were expecting. They've included very ambitious targets,” said Craig Stewart, the Insur ance Bureau of Canada’s vice-president of federal affairs and spokesperson for Climate Proof Canada, a coalition of insurance industry representatives, municipal governments, Indigenous organizations, environmental NGOs and research organizations.

Stewart highlighted the 2028 commitment to de velop a plan to get people who have been displaced by climate disasters back

into their homes or reset tled more quickly.

“That's significant,” he said. Homeowners with major destruction or total loss cannot return home for an average of nearly three years, according to an analysis by the Canadian Red Cross that examined over 4,000 recovery files from insured and uninsured events.

It also aims to completely eliminate deaths due to ex treme heat waves by 2040 and embed climate change into all infrastructure deci sions. By 2025, the goal is for at least 60 per cent of Canadians to be aware of the climate-related disaster risks for their households.

Public education goals like this one are critical, said Stewart.

NDP MP and emergency preparedness critic Ri chard Cannings said in an emailed statement that the strategy is “a start” but the new funding “is only about a third of what is needed.” Calling it “too little, too

late,” Cannings invoked a recent report by Canada’s auditor general that found Indigenous Services Can ada is spending 3.5 times more money helping First Nations communities re spond to and recover from emergencies than fund infrastructure projects that would lessen the impact of disasters.

The old adage “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” rings true — Public Safety Canada says for every $1 invested in preparedness and miti gation, $6 can be saved in emergency response and recovery costs.

Above all, “it's nice to finally have a strategy,” said Ryan Ness, adapta tion research director for the Canadian Climate In stitute. The plan has “all the right bones,” but he would like more direct connections to be drawn between the action items and the biggest threats fa cing Canadians.

“It sort of immediately

makes it clear that adapta tion is a national priority and while maybe this strat egy isn't perfect, it still is a really big step.”

Ness said the Canadian Climate Institute will pub lish a detailed review of the strategy in the coming weeks.

Provinces, territories and national Indigenous organ izations now have 90 days to provide additional input on the strategy’s common goals and specific measur able targets and objectives.

Climate Action Network Canada welcomed the plan in a press release that em phasized “adaptation action is about saving lives and dismantling colonialism.”

“We also call on the gov ernment to tackle climate denial and misinformation, which acts as a distraction from urgent action and makes us more vulnerable to climate impacts,” reads a statement from Eddy Pérez, international climate diplo macy director, in the press release.

Liberals’ climate strategy insufficient, says NDP MP

NDP MP Niki Ashton, whose Churchlll-Keewati nook Aski riding covers all of Northern Manitoba, says the Climate Adaption Strat egy announced by the feder al Liberal government last week doesn’t do enough to support communities most at risk from extreme climate disasters like flooding and wildfires.

"Communities need to be ready before a disaster hits, not after," said Ashton in question period Nov. 25

"It took years for the Lib erals to finally announce a Climate Adaptation Strat egy. A strategy that even they deem insufficient. It is underfunded and fails to deliver the urgent help communities need to face the catastrophic impacts of the climate crisis.

"We need to use every tool at our disposal, includ ing changing the way Can ada's Infrastructure Bank does its work. Indigenous and Northern communities

are already bearing the brunt of climate change. Why are the Liberals shortchanging regions like ours?"

Last February, Ashton tabled a bill that would instruct the Canada Infra structure Bank to prioritize projects that help the coun try adapt to or mitigate the effects of climate change. It would also require the bank’s board to have at least three members rec ommended by Indigenous organizations to represent

Inuit, Métis and First Na tions people.

If passed, the bill could facilitate important infra structure projects like access roads to remote Indigenous communities. A recent study found a disproportionate number of wildfire evac uees in Canada were from First Nations communities, and determined commun ities and municipalities are best placed to decide what they need to fight climate change.

The Canada Infrastructure Bank is a Crown corpor ation that financially sup ports revenue-generating infrastructure projects that are "in the public interest" through public-private part nerships. Its growth plan in cludes investments in clean energy, broadband internet, energy-efficient retrofits, zero-emission buses and agricultural projects.

Ashton’s bill would re move language in the bank’s mandate that allows it to

seek out private investment and instead encourage the federal government to fund public projects that will help Canadians manage the cli mate crisis.

The bill does not ear mark money for specific projects, it simply reorients the bank’s priorities so the $35 billion in its coffers would not be directed to for-profit projects with pri vate partners.

- with files from Canada’s National Observer

Thompson Citizen file photo

Churchill-Keewatinook Aski NDP MP Niki Ashton, seen here during the federal election campaign in September 2021.

Candy cane lane

Thompson Citizen photos by Ian Graham

Thompson’s Santa parade made its way past throngs of spectators and candy-seeking children of all ages on Nov. 26.

PBCN Selects hit ice for first season, offer opportunity for northern athletes

BY ERIC WESTHAVER FLIN FLON REMINDER

Northern Manitoba and Saskatchewan’s newest junior hockey team is on the ice. After years of plan ning and with a long list of regional talent on board, the Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation Selects have arrived.

Playing out of the Whit ney Forum this season, the PBCN Selects are the new est team in the Keystone Junior Hockey League (KJHL), a Northern Mani toba-based junior B league. All six teams in the league operate in agreement with local First Nations — the Cross Lake Islanders, the Nisichawayasihk Cree Na tion Flames, the Norway House North Stars, the Opaskwayak Cree Nation Storm and Peguis Juniors will be PBCN’s immediate competition this season.

The Selects held the first home game in franchise his tory back on Oct. 15, a 9-5 win over Norway House. That home opener brought a sizeable crowd to the Whit ney Forum — a crowd that Selects head coach and gen eral manager Gatlin Church remembers fondly.

“It gave me goose bumps,” he recounted.

“I anticipated having some people — the com munity kind of blew the doors open and filled up the place. Anytime you can

get 500 people to a junior B game, things are going good. We hope that our fan support continues, we hope to have a good product that will be competitive.”

Attempts to get a junior team on ice representing PBCN have been made before, but none have successfully hit the ice until this season. To get to that point, the Saskatch ewan-based band looked at joining junior B leagues in either Manitoba or Sas katchewan, going with the Manitoba-based KJHL in the end.

The PBCN team has backing from the band, receiving a band/council resolution to kick things off earlier this year and working with councillors and administration. Players from close to town stay with their families, while others stay together in a team com pound set up in Creighton.

“I’m very excited for where we are. I think this has the opportunity to be a special season for us, a building block to success for the next few years,” Church said.

The team went 3-7-03 through their opening stretch in the league, good enough for fifth in the sixteam loop.

The Selects have used a combination of local and imported talent to get there

— players from Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Quebec and Nunavut play for the squad. That includes 11 players from the eight commun ities of PBCN, including six players from Pelican Narrows — among them captain Tyler Bird — and others from Prince Albert and Denare Beach.

Five skaters from Flin Flon and one from Creigh ton also play for the club, each of whom played their minor hockey in the same rink they play in now.

The team's three assist ant coaches — Jay Fehr, Drew Morin and Andrew Smith — also all hail from the north, with Fehr a Flin Flon native, Morin from Denare Beach and Smith from Thompson.

Dwayne McKenzie, ori ginally from Cumberland House, was the team’s first recruit for this year.

A 19-year-old, 6-foot-3 defenceman and an assist ant captain, McKenzie has been an offensive catalyst so far this season, with 13 goals and 23 points in just 11 games — good enough for second in team scoring and tops on the team for de fencemen. McKenzie even managed to score a lacrosse goal in a road game for the Selects earlier this season.

“It’s going good — I ac tually like it out here. The team’s going good this

year,” he said.

“We still have a lot to go, but it should be working. We’re building right now.”

The emphasis on north ern talent encompasses three players from Nuna vut, including Terence Pi lakapsi, who recently joined the club from Rankin In let. A nephew of the famed Tootoo brothers, Jordin and his namesake Terence, Pi lakapsi joined the Selects in time for a home stand against Peguis.

“So far, it’s been really

great. I’ve been enjoying the boys here. It’s a great working team,” Pilakapsi said.

Church doesn’t see the Selects as a direct competi tor to the Bombers — in stead, he sees them more as something different, saying that community support has been coming in.

“Flin Flon is a hockey town. The Bombers have been here for almost 100 years and they’ve done a very good job of making this a hockey town. We

kind of just ride in there and benefit from the foundation that the Bomber organiza tion has led,” Church said.

“Being honest, Flin Flon was lukewarm to the idea of junior B at first. They love the Bombers and we don’t want to replace that — we just offer another idea of hockey because this is a hockey town and it provides a place for a lot of local kids to play. There’s more and more people going forward saying, ‘How can I get in volved? How can I help? What do you need?’”

Church sees the team as an opportunity to bridge gaps between Indigenous and non-Indigenous north ern communities, bring ing players from different walks of life — particularly northern talent — together to provide them a chance to advance their careers.

“Our mission statement here, our goal is to open doors, to bridge gaps be tween First Nation and nonFirst Nations, Indigenous and non-Indigenous — if our dressing room is a French kid, an Inuit kid, a First Nation kid, a Métis kid, a non-status kid and we can get along and form a bond, then society hope fully can do that.”

“By opening those doors, we want to take those kids and show them that there’s more opportunity.”

Housing, health care among priorities Manitoba First Nations leaders bring to PM

BY DAVE BAXTER LOCAL JOURNALISM INITIATIVE RE PORTER, WINNIPEG SUN

Manitoba’s top Indigen ous leaders met face-to-face with the prime minister in Ottawa this week, and say the meeting was an oppor tunity to let him know they want to see changes in the way the federal government funds and supports First Na tions across the country and here in Manitoba.

On Nov. 29, Prime Min ister Justin Trudeau met with Assembly of Mani toba Chiefs Grand Chief Cathy Merrick, Southern Chiefs Organization Grand Chief Jerry Daniels, Mani toba Keewatinowi Okima kanak Grand Chief Garri son Settee, and Assembly of First Nations Regional Chief for Manitoba Cindy Woodhouse.

The leaders said First Nations in Manitoba con tinue to struggle to access adequate housing, and ad equate services like health care, mental health and ad dictions services, and that they let the prime minister know on Tuesday the way that the federal government is currently funding First Nations communities is not working here in Manitoba.

“We articulated to the

prime minister that First Nations governments in Manitoba need to be given oversight and control over the administration of fund ing for services for First Na tions in Manitoba,” Merrick said in a joint media release from the four organizations

after the meeting concluded.

“There are chronic short falls in government services for First Nations, such as health and housing that have been present for as long as Canada has existed.”

But while leaders want to see a change to how First

Nations communities are funded, they say the feds also need to be putting up more dollars for those communities.

“We have some of the largest reserves in Can ada and 22 per cent of the First Nations population

in Canada,” Settee said about Manitoba. “Chronic underfunding has created crises in our First Nations, and we need investments to flow in this next budget that will address the needs and priorities identified by our leadership.

“We need the prime min ister to commit to work ing with us in partnership to ensure the Crown is meeting its constitutional, international human rights and other legal obligations, with respect to Aboriginal and treaty rights.”

Woodhouse said she did give the Trudeau govern ment credit for the work they have done to fund First Nations commun ities in recent years, even though she said the level of funding is still not where she and others believe it should be.

“I feel First Nations and Canada together have made a start. Over the last six budget cycles, all under the federal government, $55.65 billion of new investments have been committed to First Nations peoples in response to our own budget priorities,” Woodhouse said “This is a landmark, and represents a degree of responsiveness that no other prime minister has achieved.”

— Dave Baxter is a Lo cal Journalism Initiative reporter who works out of the Winnipeg Sun. The Lo cal Journalism Initiative is funded by

government of Canada.

the

Thompson Citizen photo courtesy of Assembly of First Nations

Assembly of First Nations Regional Chief for Manitoba Cindy Woodhouse, Southern Chiefs Organization Grand Chief Jerry Daniels, Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak Grand Chief Garrison Settee and Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs Grand Chief Cathy Merrick met with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in Ottawa Nov. 29.

Flin Flon Reminder photo by Eric Westhaver Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation Selects captain Tyler Bird hits the Whitney Forum ice for the team’s home opener on Oct. 15.

Health auxiliary donates exam bed to Thompson clinic

SOCIAL MEDIA / MARKETING COORDINATOR

FISHER HELPER 2 WEEK WINTER TRAINING PROGRAM

The Northern Regional Health Authority’s Thomp son clinic received a new high-low exam bed Nov. 21 through a donation from the Thompson Health Auxiliary.

The auxiliary purchased

the bed, which cost about $10,000, with the help of grants from the Thompson Community Foundation, the Moffat Family Fund and the Irene Moore Fund.

An all-volunteer organiz ation, the Thompson Health

Auxiliary’s main way of raising money is by oper ating the Thompson General Hospital gift shop.

“The health auxiliary raises money, and all funds

stay local, to purchase health care equipment and items deemed to bring com fort to all those in the health care system,” said auxiliary member Wendy Lucas.

PROFESSIONAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY AWASIS AGENCY OF NORTHERN MANITOBA

HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT

LOCATION: TO BE DETERMINED (TBD)

Position: Human Resources Administrative Assistant One (1) Full Time Term position (ASAP to March 2024)

Summary of Position:

Supporting the work in the Human Resources department, the Human Resources (HR) Administrative Assistant plays an integral role in the department. The work requires knowledge of, and adherence to the Agency’s policies, procedures and practices, as well as the ability to effectively communicate with a diverse range of people. The work environment is fast-paced and requires the incumbent to use superior organizational skills to meet the demands of the job. Additionally, the incumbent must strictly follow confidentiality requirements and have the ability to work with competing priorities.

Qualifications:

• A certificate or diploma in Office Administration or an Administrative Assistant Program preferred.

• 2-3 years of experience in an administrative role.

• Superior written and verbal communication skills.

• Proficiency in the use of Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, Outlook) including Office 365 and Share Point.

• Maintain a valid driver’s licence and have access to a reliable vehicle.

• Demonstrated understanding and respect for Indigenous culture.

• Ability to speak Cree and/or Dene is an asset.

• Knowledge of, or work experience in northern Manitoba communities is preferable.

Working Conditions:

• Large, fast-paced, child welfare agency.

• Professional office environment.

• Access to confidential information.

• Provide satisfactory Criminal Record, Child Abuse Registry and Prior Contact checks prior to starting the position, and throughout employment as required.

• Occasional travel required.

Salary: Awasis Agency offers a competitive salary and employee benefit package. Salary will commensurate with education and experience.

Closing Date: Tuesday, December 13, 2022

Awasis Agency provides service to Indigenous children and families, therefore preference will be given to Indigenous applicants.

Applicants are encouraged to self-identify. Individuals interested in this challenging opportunity please reference Competition Number 2022-099 on your resume/cover letter and in the subject line of your email in confidence to:

Human Resources Department Awasis Agency of Northern Manitoba

Competition #2022-099

701 Thompson Drive, Thompson, MB R8N 2A2

Fax: 204-778-8428 Email: hr@awasisagency.ca

We thank all applicants who apply, however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted. Applicants may request reasonable accommodation related to the materials or activities used throughout the selection process

**Note: Awasis Agency Vaccination policy mandate: fully vaccinated plus booster

Communities Economic Development Fund (CEDF), lead entity for the delivery of the Look North Initiative is seeking a dynamic Social Media and Marketing Coordinator with the position based out of our Thompson office. If you are well experienced in Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn, this is a job for you. The position will require you to create content to build brand awareness, facilitate marketing and coordinate ads with multiple groups as well as other duties assigned by management. Successful candidate must have excellent time management, organizational skills and an ability to meet deadlines.

• ARE YOU A FISHER THAT NEEDS A TRAINEE ?

• WOULD YOU LIKE TO TRAIN TO BE A FISHER ? WE OFFER EXPERIENCED INDIVIDUALS A $1,500.00 SUBSIDY TOWARD TRAINING A FISHER HELPER BETWEEN JANUARY 1ST & MARCH 31ST TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR THIS PROGRAM ALL TRAINEES MUST BE 18 OR OLDER AND: UNEMPLOYED, UNDER EMPLOYED OR RECEIVING SOCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FISHER TRAINING PROGRAM CALL: CEDF THOMPSON MB. (204)778 4318 OR TOLL FREE: 1 800 561 4315

This position requires someone who has a creative communications diploma or an equivalence in experience in social media and marketing. You must have a high level of written and verbal communications, be proficient in Microsoft Office Suite (outlook, word, excel, PowerPoint and publisher) or be familiar with other publisher type software. Experience with our northern communities in the area of economic development as well as being knowledgeable with “word press” websites would be considered an asset.

CEDF is a Manitoba Crown Corporation. Our legislative mandate is to encourage economic development across Northern Manitoba. CEDF offers a competitive compensation and benefits package with salary to be determined based on education and/or experience. Interested applicants can submit a cover letter with resume by email to admin@cedf. mb.ca or by mailing to:

CEDF

Attn: Chris Thevenot, CEO 15 Moak Cres.

Thompson, MB R8N 2B8

PROFESSIONAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY AWASIS AGENCY OF

NORTHERN MANITOBA

UNIT/OFFICE: THOMPSON CENTRAL OFFICE (TCO)

LOCATION: THOMPSON, MB

Position: IT Support Technician

One (1) Full Time Permanent position

Summary of Position:

A key member of the IT department, the IT Technician is the primary point of contact for all end user Operating Systems and Microsoft Office related issues. The incumbent responds to, and resolves service tickets in a timely manner, supporting employees on technical issues and with problems relating to hardware and software. The IT Technician installs and configures computer hardware, software, systems, networks, printers and scanners. The incumbent must effectively communicate with a wide variety of people within the Agency, some of whom may not have strong technical knowledge.

Qualifications:

• Post-secondary education in a Computer Science program.

• ITIL, A+, MCSE certifications an asset.

• 3+ years in a similar role preferred.

• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite.

• Maintain a valid driver’s license and have access to a reliable vehicle.

• Demonstrated understanding and respect for Indigenous culture

• Ability to speak Cree and/or Dene languages an asset.

Working Conditions:

• Fast-paced, community-based child welfare working environment.

• Independent work.

• Professional office environment.

• Access to sensitive information for which confidentiality must be maintained.

• Mentally challenging problems.

• Diverse culture.

• Provide satisfactory Criminal Record, Child Abuse Registry and Prior Contact checks prior to starting the position, and throughout employment as required.

• Overnight and remote travel approximately 30% of the time.

Salary: Awasis Agency offers a competitive salary and employee benefit package. Salary will commensurate with education and experience.

Closing Date: Tuesday, December 13, 2022

Awasis Agency provides service to Indigenous children and families, therefore preference will be given to Indigenous applicants. Applicants are encouraged to self-identify. Individuals interested in this challenging opportunity please reference Competition Number 2022-097 on your resume/cover letter and in the subject line of your email in confidence to:

Human Resources Department

Awasis Agency of Northern Manitoba Competition #2022-097

701 Thompson Drive, Thompson, MB R8N 2A2

Fax: 204-778-8428 Email: hr@awasisagency.ca

We thank all applicants who apply, however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

Applicants may request reasonable accommodation related to the materials or activities used throughout the selection process

**Note: Awasis Agency Vaccination policy mandate: fully vaccinated plus booster

Thompson Citizen photo courtesy of Wendy Lucas

From left to right, Jay Patel, Dr. Chukwuma Abara, Justine Larocque, Mervat Yehia, Cathy Pellizarro, June McTavish, Jo Ann Sehn and Blessing Adelufosi around an exam bed donated to the Northern Regional Health Authority’s Thompson clinic by the Thompson Health Auxiliary.

Goggles open students’ eyes to impact of impairment

High school students had a chance to try out mini-golf while wearing impairment goggles as part of addictions

Salary:

week activities. As part of Manitoba Sub stance Use and Addiction Awareness Week, R.D.

We thank all applicants who apply, however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

Applicants may request reasonable accommodation related to the materials or activities used throughout the selection process

**Note: Awasis Agency Vaccination policy mandate: fully vaccinated plus booster

Parker Collegiate students had an informal education session on Nov. 25 during the lunch hour when they tried to play some mini-golf

wearing various impairment goggles. As well, the Stu dents Offering Support stu dent group sold popcorn and baked goods.

Intake Worker – Permanent Position Mathias Colomb Cree Nation Pukatawagan, Manitoba

Cree Nation Child & Family Caring Agency (CNCFCA) is responsible for administering and providing for the delivery of Child and Family Services. CNCFCA is dedicated to providing comprehensive CFS Services that are community-based and incorporate both protection and prevention services.

Our agency will strive to maintain family unity.

POSITION SUMMARY:

Under the supervision of the Unit Supervisor and as required under the Child and Family Services Act, the Intake Worker assesses requests for service with reference to risk of children, functioning of families and service needs of families, provides crisis intervention, initiates child protection investigations, apprehends children at risk and places them in appropriate and/or available placements, initiates referrals to other community collaterals as required, and completes written reports, file recordings, forms and correspondence.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

§ Receive & Assess Requests For Service

§ On-Site Risk Assessment

§ Determine & Implement Service

§ Documentation, Practice & Relationship Building

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

§ Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) or related undergraduate degree in Human Services

§ Work experience in Child & Family Services with demonstrated knowledge of child development, child abuse, family-centered service, early intervention, family support and community-based services

§ Excellent assessment, intervention and writing skills

§ Knowledge of the Child and Family Services Act and provincial standards

§ Understanding of child development and child abuse theory and practice

§ Knowledge of available resources within the community

§ Ability to use a variety of computer applications such as CFSIS and FACTS

§ Ability to converse fluently in Cree (preferred)

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT § Must pass a criminal records check, child abuse registry check and prior contact check. § Cannot be active on a protection case. § Varied amounts of travel required within this position. § Must have a valid Manitoba driver’s license. § Must be able to provide own vehicle for work. § Other duties related to the position may be assigned.

Deadline: December 14, 2022 @ 4:00 PM

SUBMIT COVER LETTER & RESUME ALONG WITH THREE (3) REFERENCES MARKED “PERSONAL & CONFIDENTIAL” TO:

Human Resource Manager

Cree Nation Child & Family Caring Agency Box 10130, Opaskwayak, MB. R0B 2J0

Fax: 204-623-3847 Email: hr@creenation.ca

We thank all who apply and advise that only those selected for further consideration will be contacted.

“Please visit our website at https://creenation.ca”

Our office ensures that best practices in COVID-19 are observed. Under Cree Nation Child & Family Caring Agency’s COVID-19 vaccinations policy, all applicants are required to be fully vaccinated.

Family Enhancement Worker –Permanent Position Thompson Sub Office Thompson & Lynn Lake, MB

Cree Nation Child & Family Caring Agency (CNCFCA) is responsible for administering and providing for the delivery of Child and Family Services. CNCFCA is dedicated to providing comprehensive CFS Services that are community-based and incorporate both protection and prevention services.

Our agency will strive to maintain family unity.

POSITION SUMMARY: Under the supervision of the Unit Supervisor(s), the Family Enhancement Worker is responsible for providing and administering CFS Services in accordance with the Child & Family Services Act.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

§ Responsible for gathering information and assessing child and family functioning problems;

§ Responsible for the development of case plans for children and families within program guidelines and provide referrals, support, guidance and problem solving;

§ Responsible for all file documentation, referrals, ensuring services are applied;

§ Case Monitoring, Risk Assessment & Follow up;

Provides case management and support for children in care and families.

QUALIFICATIONS

§ Work experience in Child and Family Services with demonstrated knowledge of child development, family centered service, early intervention, family support and community-based services;

Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) or related undergraduate degree in Human Services (preferred);

Ability to converse fluently in Cree (preferred);

Excellent assessment, intervention and writing skills;

Knowledge of the Child and Family Services Act and provincial standards;

Ability to use a variety of computer applications including CFSIS and FACTS.

OF EMPLOYMENT

CONDITIONS

Must pass a criminal records check, child abuse and prior check;

Cannot be active on a protection case;

amounts of travel required;

is required to work in Lynn Lake office one week per month;

have a valid Manitoba driver’s license;

Must be able to provide own vehicle for work;

Other duties related to the position may be assigned.

Deadline: December 6, 2022 @ 4:00 pm Submit cover letter & resume along with three (3) references marked “personal & confidential” to:

Human Resource Manager

Cree Nation Child & Family Caring Agency Box 10130, Opaskwayak, MB. R0B 2J0

Fax: 204-623-3847 Email: hr@creenation.ca

We thank all who apply and advise that only those selected for further consideration will be contacted.

“Please visit our website at https://creenation.ca”

Our office ensures that best practices in COVID-19 are observed. Under Cree Nation Child & Family Caring Agency’s COVID-19 vaccinations policy, all applicants are required to be fully vaccinated.

Thompson Citizen photos courtesy of Julian Arcega

history, keen follow monthly objects background sky. referred our solar “wanderers” which can followed with is now western sky Other Venus is the object reason. It is surrounded by comprised of reflects sunlight night out countryside and source, a shad paper. great sub astrophotography. goes on

BY GARY BOYLE

Backyard Astronomy

garyboyle@wondersofastronomy.com

under the clouds is some thing out of a science fiction novel. Thanks to its 50- to 75-kilometre cloud deck, pressures at the surface are 90 times that of earth. That is comparable to be ing a kilometre under the ocean or in a car crusher. It rains sulphuric acid (battery acid) that never reaches the ground.

The YWCA Thompson invites you to celebrate International Women’s Day with a

Laugh-ternoon

Backyard Astronomy

garyboyle@wondersofastronomy.com

Some three billion years ago, Mars was believed to have been a water world just like Earth. It possessed great oceans and was most likely on its way to forming life in one form or another. Water is made up of hydrogen, the most common element in the universe and oxygen, the third most common element. Water is extremely important to the development and sustaining of life as we know it.

The clouds also produce the greenhouse effect, trap ping the solar energy and locking it in. This keeps the day and night side a toasty 400 degrees Celsius and is so hot you could cook a large pizza in nineseconds. It is safe to say human astronauts will never visit the Venusian surface. However, in 1970 the Russians launched Ven era 7 and became the first of its kind to land on another planet. The craft only lasted about 50 minutes but opened the door to the planet’s hid den secrets. Today, X-ray images pierce these clouds to reveal its landscape and volcanoes that still seem to be erupting.

moon moves its width every hour. Throughout the month, it covers stars as seen through a telescope and in rare events, bright planets. This should be a fantastic photo opportunity as the disappearance and later reappearance should be quite evident.

The Mars show

Because Mars is half the size of the earth, the planet lost its heat faster as its in ternal core stopped rotat ing. Similar to earth’s core which produces a magnetic field around our planet, Mar’s core ceased producing its pro tective magnetic field thus al lowing the solar winds to eat away at its atmosphere and the red planet lost its water.

Black Wolf Kixen Spence

Ever since the early tele scopic observations made by the Italian astronomer Gio vanni Schiaparelli in 1877 when Mars was in opposition, residing 56 million kilometres away, he is said to have seen “canali” or channels on Mars. Seeing these features gave the impression of a possible civilization. Since then the red planet has been the focus of searching for ancient life and is also the base of sci ence fiction writers and movie makers.

Sunday, March 8, 2020

Letkemann Theatre - Thompson, Manitoba - Tickets available at Scotiabank Limited tickets available at the door) offering this fun, lighthearted event the women in our lives who deserve laughter and fun! We are also launching #sheinspiresme campaign again this year!

Please visit our website ywcathompson.com, check out our Facebook page YWCA Thompson or call 204.778.1209 for info.

Venus along with Mercury are termed inferior planets as they reside inside earth’s orbit. It takes only 224 days for Venus to circle the sun and takes on different phas es when viewed through a telescope, much like we see with the moon as more or less sunlight illuminates its surface. On March 1, Venus will only be illuminated by 62 per cent. It reaches its farthest point from the sun on March 24 and then begins to move lower to the horizon. Over the next few weeks, the planet will position itself between the sun and earth. Following this progression through a telescope, you will notice the planet growing in size as it moves closer to us but shrinking in illumination.

Clear skies.

Known as “The Backyard Astronomer,” Gary Boyle is an astronomy educator, guest speaker, monthly columnist for the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada as well as a STEM educator. He has been interviewed on more than 55 Canadian radio stations as well as television across Canada and the U.S. In recognition of his public outreach in astronomy, the International Astronomical Union has honoured him with the naming of Asteroid (22406) Garyboyle. Follow him on Twitter (@astroeduca tor), Facebook and his web site www.wondersofastron omy.com.

On April 3 it will be located in the Pleiades Cluster and on the night of May 21 and 22, teams up with Mercury low in the northwest sky but will be a thin four per cent lit crescent.

Known as “The Backyard Astronomer,” Gary Boyle is an astronomy educator, guest speaker and month ly columnist for the Roy al Astronomical Society of Canada. He has been interviewed on more than 50 Canadian radio sta tions and local Ottawa TV.

By the 2030s or 2040s, humans are expected to land on this fascinating world, looking for the possibility of life that might have once existed, even at the microbial level. After all, life is life. But Mars is now in the news for other reasons, as it is currently a very visible object in the night sky.

Provincial Court Judge Juge de la Cour provinciale

The Judicial Appointment Committee welcomes the interest of qualified persons wishing to be considered for appointment to the Bench of The Provincial Court of Manitoba. There are currently four positions available in Winnipeg and one position available in The Pas.

As the Judicial Appointment process has been amended by legislation, we invite all interested applicants to apply. Previous applications will not be considered. It is the expectation that all interested persons will apply taking into consideration the new requirements, including providing an Undertaking or Confirmation. We urge all applicants to carefully review the requirements for application including what information and documentation must be provided to perfect your application.

In recognition of his public outreach in astronomy, the International Astronomic al Union has honoured him with the naming of Asteroid (22406) Garyboyle. Follow him on Twitter: @astro educator or his website: www.wondersofastronomy. com.

Appearing as a bright-or ange object rising in the northeast sky about 45 min utes after the sun sets in the west, Mars is nicely placed amongst the bright winter constellations of Orion the Hunter, Taurus the Bull etc. If you are still not sure where to look, any smartphone astron omy app will guide you.

So why is it so bright? Earth orbits the sun in 365 days whereas Mars does so in 687 days. Just like the inner lap on a race track, Earth catches up and over takes slower Mars every 26 months. This upcoming op position will occur on Dec. 8 at a separation of only 82 million kilometres. Over the weeks after opposition, our distance increases and Mars will slowly fade. Every sev enth opposition is super close such as back in 2003 and 2020. The next opposition occurs on Jan. 15, 2025.

Be sure to look at Mars the night before on Dec. 7 as the full cold moon will cover Mars for a little less than one hour. All of Canada as well as much of the US except for Alaska and the southeastern states will see this amazing sight. Throughout its 29.5day orbit around the Earth, the

The mandate of the Judicial Appointment Committee is to assess the professional excellence, community awareness and personal suitability of candidates, while taking into account the diversity of Manitoba society (c. 275, The Provincial Court Act).

Applicants must have practised for not less than five (5) years as a barrister and solicitor in Manitoba, be a member in good standing of The Law Society of Manitoba, be entitled to practise as a barrister and solicitor in this province, or have other equivalent experience and complete an Undertaking or Confirmation respecting continuing legal education as contemplated by Section 3(2)(d) of The Provincial Court Act, C.C.S.M c. C275.

Applicants must be willing to reside in the the judicial centre of appointment and be capable of and willing to travel by automobile and small aircraft to circuit courts throughout the province.

Judicial responsibilities will include a caseload of criminal cases and child protection matters as well as family law. The successful applicant will be subject to screening checks.

It is the responsibility of the Judicial Appointment Committee to provide to the Minister of Justice a list of candidates and indicate whether such candidates are recommended or not recommended for appointment.

Your Application Package must clearly indicate how you meet the qualifications and must include a cover letter, a résumé, and the following documents located at the Manitoba Court’s website at http://www.manitobacourts. mb.ca/provincial-court/about-the-provincial-court/judges/judicial-vacancies/

• Judicial Candidate Information Form;

• Cover Letter;

• Consent to the Disclosure and Verification for Screening Checks;

• Law Society of Manitoba Authorization for Disclosure of Information Concerning Candidate;

• Undertaking or Confirmation; and

• A brief summary of your background and qualifications, not to exceed 30 words.

Please submit one copy of your application package via email to judicialapplication@lawsociety.mb.ca and an original plus eight copies (nine copies in total) of your application package by 4:30 p.m. on the Application

Deadline to:

The Administrator, Judicial Appointment Committee 200 - 260 St. Mary Avenue Winnipeg, Manitoba R3C 0M6

Application Deadline: December 12, 2022

Le Comité des nominations des juges invite les personnes qualifiées souhaitant devenir juges à la Cour provinciale du Manitoba à poser leur candidature. Il y a actuellement quatre postes disponibles à Winnipeg et un poste à The Pas. Étant donné que le processus de nomination judiciaire a été modifié par la loi, nous invitons toutes les personnes intéressées à poser leur candidature.

Les demandes reçues précédemment ne seront pas prises en considération.

On s’attend à ce que toutes les personnes intéressées posent leur candidature en tenant compte des nouvelles exigences, y compris en fournissant un engagement ou une confirmation. Nous exhortons tous les personnes à examiner attentivement les exigences de candidature, y compris les informations et les documents à fournir afin de parfaire votre candidature.

Le mandat du Comité des nominations des juges est d’évaluer l’excellence professionnelle, la connaissance de la collectivité et les qualités personnelles des personnes candidates, tout en tenant compte de la diversité de la société manitobaine (C275 – Loi sur la Cour provinciale).

Les personnes candidates doivent avoir exercé pendant au moins cinq (5) ans comme avocat et procureur au Manitoba, être membre en règle de la Société du Barreau du Manitoba, avoir le droit d’exercer comme avocat et procureur dans cette province, ou avoir une expérience équivalente et remplir un engagement ou une confirmation concernant la formation juridique continue, comme le prévoit l’alinéa 3(2)d) de la Loi sur la Cour provinciale, CPLM c. C275.

Les personnes intéressées doivent être prêtes à résider dans le centre judiciaire de la nomination et être capables et désireuses de se rendre aux tribunaux itinérants de la province en voyageant par automobile ou par petit aéronef.

Les personnes choisies auront comme responsabilités judiciaires de traiter des affaires criminelles, des affaires relatives à la protection de l’enfance et des affaires relatives au droit de la famille, entre autres. Les personnes choisies feront l’objet de vérifications des antécédents.

Il incombe au Comité des nominations des juges de fournir au ministre de la Justice une liste de personnes candidates et d’indiquer si celles-ci sont recommandées ou non pour une nomination.

Votre dossier de candidature doit clairement démontrer que vous répondez aux exigences du poste, et doit inclure une lettre d’accompagnement, un curriculum vitæ et les documents suivants, que vous pouvez télécharger à partir du site Web des Tribunaux du Manitoba au www.manitobacourts.mb.ca/fr/ cour-provincial/sur-la-cour-provinciale/juges/judicial-vacancies/ :

• la Formule de renseignements des candidats à la magistrature;

• une lettre de présentation;

• le formulaire de consentement à la divulgation et à la vérification aux fins des enquêtes de filtrage;

• l’Autorisation de communiquer des renseignements au sujet du candidat de la Société du Barreau du Manitoba;

• l’engagement ou la confirmation;

• un bref résumé de votre parcours et de vos qualifications, ne dépassant pas 30 mots.

Veuillez faire parvenir une copie de votre dossier par courriel à judicialapplication@lawsociety.mb.ca ainsi qu’une version originale et huit copies (neuf au total) de votre dossier de candidature, au plus tard à 16 h 30 à la date limite de réception des candidatures, à l’adresse suivante : Administrateur, Comité des nominations des juges 200 – 260, avenue St. Mary Winnipeg (Manitoba) R3C 0M6

Date limite de réception des candidatures : le 12 décembre 2022

Cour provinciale du Manitoba

The Provincial Court of Manitoba

Thompson Citizen photo and map courtesy fo Gary Boyle (Above) Mars will be hidden by the moon for an hour on Dec. 7.

(Right) A map shows the parts of North America where people will be able to witness the disappearance of Mars when it is blocked by the moon and its reappear ance about an hour later.

Gary Boyle

Gary Boyle

Issa

Featuring

OBITUARIES

Nonchalant polar bear tour guide fined

Dec 12, 1956

With sadness, the family of Lane Boles share his passing at his home on Tuesday, November 22, 2022 at the age of 65 years old.

Lane is survived by his wife, Susan, his daughters Bayley (Deji) Ibikunle and Ainslee (Kyle) McLaughlin, his 4 grandchildren, Finnegan and Ruby McLaughlin and Kaci and Kobi Ibikunle. He is also survived by his brother Brant (Tina), his nephew Chris and family, his nephew Jarrit, his niece Katie, his step mother Anne Haigh, and his aunt Liz Boles. As well, Lane is survived by his extended family, his sister-in-law Anita (Kirk) Melnick and family, his brother-in-law Mark (Darlene) Chlan and family. He is predeceased by his parents Robert and Merle Boles, his brother Kirk, his maternal grandparents, Charlie and Jean Jackson, and his paternal grandparents Harry and Susan Boles and many aunts, uncles, cousins and friends. He is also predeceased by his mother and father-in-law, Donelda and Allan Chlan.

Lane was born in Wawanesa, Manitoba on December 12, 1956. At the time his family resided in Wabowden, where his father was stationed with the RCMP. He was proud to say that he started his life in Wabowden. They lived in many communities throughout Manitoba and upon completion of high school in Swan River, Lane attended the Maritime Forest Ranger School in Fredericton, New Brunswick and received a diploma as a Forest Technician. He returned to Manitoba and began his career with the Manitoba Conversation experiencing many transfers and postings all over the province. In 1986, he married his wife of 36 years. Their first adventure of many as a married couple took them to Yellowknife, NT where Lane had been chosen for a reciprocal officer program with the NT government. Three weeks prior to leaving Yellowknife, their first daughter Bayley arrived. He returned to his position in Manitoba and resided with his young family in Boissevain. In early 1990, Ainslee arrived to complete their family. His next posting took him to Cranberry Portage, where they lived for 3 years, followed by 4 years in Grand Rapids. In 1997, they moved to Thompson, where he resided until his passing. Prior to his retirement at the end of 2012, he had a brief posting in Killarney and then finished his career in Leaf Rapids. During these final work years, he commuted back and forth to his home in Thompson, while his wife continued to work at her career. In his retirement, Lane continued to enjoy his fishing, trapping and all things nature. He took great pride in sharing his knowledge and educating the young people about trapping, fishing, and wildlife. He was passionate about the north and enjoyed showing anyone who showed an interest. He also enjoyed traveling to warmer climates for winter vacations where he would scuba dive and deep-sea fish. Lane’s pride and joy were his grandchildren. He wanted nothing more than to be a grandpa and was blessed with four beautiful grandchildren. Despite his health issues, Lane remained a strong, independent and determined man who did not let his health concerns get in the way. Lane will be remembered for his witty ways, his love for fishing and trapping and all his little life lessons to others. Susan, Bayley, Ainslee and families would like to thank everyone for the support and kindness shown to all of us and for the sharing of “Lane Memories” by so many. In honoring Lane’s wishes, cremation has taken place and there is no service scheduled at this time. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Heart and Stroke Foundation, www.heartandstroke. ca, in his memory.

OBITUARIES

ROBERT SINCLAIR

Robert (Bob) Sinclair of Thompson, Manitoba, passed away suddenly on November 12, 2022, at the Thompson General Hospital at the age of 70 years.

Robert (Bob) leaves to mourn his loving family, children Robert W. J. J., (Jackie), Sinclair, Heather Houle, Dwayne Flett (Terrilynn MacWilliam), grandchildren, Johnathon, Jacob, Brielle, Lachlan, Kaliona, greatgrandson, Jason, brothers, Russell (Louise) Sinclair, Charles (Frances) Sinclair, sisters, Margaret (Gordon) Martin, Arlene (John) Thorne, Sylvia Sinclair, Isabella MacLeod, and Rosalea Merasty.

Bob was raised on the bay line in the small community of Pikwitonei, he enjoyed spending time with his family, fishing and hunting.

Robert was predeceased by his parents Charlie and Betsy Sinclair, sons, Ralph Louis Sinclair, and Jason Flett, Sisters, and brother in laws, Florence & Lyle Doetzel, Elizabeth & Harry Brightnose, Eleanore & Harvey Brightnose, brother and sister-in-law, Alvin & Jill Sinclair, nephews, Darryl Chartrand, Trevor Doetzel, Stan Macleod and Stuart Sinclair, niece, Eleanor Sinclair, maternal grandparents, James & Caroline Dick, paternal grandparents Fred & Mary Sinclair.

Viewing was held on Sunday, November 20, 20222 at the Boardman Funeral Home n Thompson, Manitoba from 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm. Funeral Service was held on Monday, November 21, 2022, @ the St James Apostle Anglican Church in Thompson, Manitoba officiated by Rev, Jean Arthurson. Interment followed at the Thompson City Cemetery.

Pallbearers: James Sinclair, Russell Sr Sinclair, Russell Jr Sinclair, Jeremy Sinclair, Charles Sinclair, Lorne Brightnose, Jesse Simard, Ernest Brightnose, Dwayne Flett, Johnathon Flett, Jacob MacWilliam Phillip Thorne, Gordon Martin, Andrew Martin, Billy Martin and Michael Somers. The family would like to thank the Thompson General Hospital Health Team for their care and compassion, all our family and friends for their love and support during this time of mourning.

A Churchill tourism operator was fined $802 after being found guilty of not following

Conservation officers were conducting regular hunter compliance checks in the Churchill area on Sept. 28 when they saw a local tourism operator providing a polar bear walking tour to clients.

The group was observing a polar bear mother and her cub and the officers noticed the operator did not have anything to deter the bear if it were to approach and that they had let the members of the tour group spread out on foot, potentially exposing them to a bear attack.

The operator was charged with failing to comply with polar bear safety conditions on their resource tourism operators licence and found guilty in court Nov. 9, at which point the fine was imposed.

safety protocols during a September polar bear viewing expedition.

Thompson Citizen file photo A mother polar bear and two cubs near Churchill in August 2020.