Nickel Belt News
Volume 58 Number 11
Friday, March 16, 2018
Thompson, Manitoba
Serving the Norman Region since 1961
Wednesday, January 26, 2022
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Volume 62 • Issue 04
City in limbo due to communication breakdown with administration staff and no committee meetings since October, four councillors say
Book a way to preserve and pass on memories of growing up in Churchill
Thompson City Hall
Thompson Citizen file photo
of November, when chairs had reached out to city ad- ported reversing the provi- and council,” he said. “Is does not rest with adminand co-chairs of the existing ministration to ask them to sional estimate resolution the administration planning istration staff alone, said A group of four Thomp- standing committees were join councillors in renewing said they didn’t want to on meeting with this mayor Coun. Braden McMurdo son councillors has resorted selected. However, no com- their commitments to the suspend all spending be- and council in the next 10 “The discord at present to unusual means in an ef- mittee meetings have been city but that the “gesture tween now and when the months that we’ve got left can be attributed to befort to get city department held since then, though was refused.” budget is approved but or do we ned to do some- haviour from definitely heads back to the table councillors at the Jan. 17 The release also said that merely to approve it on a thing different?” both sides,” he said. “We and resume committee meeting did reference an the four councillors’ sense month-by month basis, rathFountain said that the fact played a role in this as well, meetings. in camera council meeting of pride in being drivers of er than all at once, but city that five-month provisional at least in my opinion. My The councillors – Jeff scheduled for Jan. 20 which change had been replaced manager Anthony McInnis estimates had been passed fellow councillors are right Fountain, Earl Colbourne, they hoped would move for- by a feeling that they were said the motion to rescind, as routine housekeeping that these meetings need Duncan Wong and Les ward the process of renewed mere rubber stamps “ex- which was defeated in a items that allowed the city to resume as quickly as Ellsworth – issued a press co-operation between mem- pected to blindly accept 5-4 vote, would have led to continue functioning in possibly.” release Jan. 15 urging mem- bers of the administration the whims of administration to city operations grinding the past was a moot point “We’re all to blame, not Nickel Belt News by Ian Graham bers of administration to re- staff and council. and a few influential council to a halt because current in light of the current only us,photo administration sume meeting with council. Thenorthern Jan. 15 director press release members.” spending needs have not dysfunction. too,” said Colbourne. Addictions Foundation of Manitoba Gisele deMeulles has written a book about her experiences growing up, mostly in Churchill. They also tried, in vain, to from the four councillors Wong stated openly dur- been individually approved “What’s not normal is Wong pointed out that BY IANa GRAHAM For all the weather write things that have ‘Oh, I’mdebate just as right?’ was not a very safe thing swallow people say council rescind resolution approv- to characterized the you situation ing the onbad, his motion by council we’re not when meeting and when hasharsh only four EDITOR@THOMPSONCITIZEN.NET all these stories and to “City gure out. It’sbreakdown pretty clear Itohave do but I jumped at it.toI that residents and the to dangers ing provisional estimates at to as fi“a complete rescind the provisional Hall would have we’reChurchill not meeting, we’re months come of up polar with nowmeeting written when I get through.” and Iestimates, need to capture for thought that washe exciting should nd somewhere deMeulles if it theThough Jan. 17she’s council in communications whichthem allow close tomorrow,” said. not ablejust to fimeet that fidu- bears, and pass a budget said before it a book about her experienDeMeulles said she wrote my grandchildren really until the plane landed and easier to live. had been viable she would as a way of limiting admin- co-operation between fac- the city to spend money in Colbourne said council- ciary duty,” he said. has to be submitted to the ces growingspending up in Churchill, book, titled Whispers in because theymonths will be of lostthe if they started throwing the “To say, ‘Thosetrying people moved to Churchistration’s ability her tions within the administhe first five lors who asked questions The councillors to have province byback mid-May and Addictions Foundation of the Wind: from the Iyear don’t.” off and I realized, there. They in a heartbeat. in an effort to coerce them reverse to thelive provisional es- ill tration andStories city council,” before the budget is fuel of administration at ‘Holy their choose suggested that the fact that Manitoba northern director - Life shutting in Churchill for developed, She also has a reputation I was meetings probably sitting leave,’ is quite time “I has miss thewasted shoreline, back to committee meet- North effectively down approved and cats, biweekly have should timates just heard sympathetic been wouldI Gisele deMeulles said writa couple of reasons. as a storyteller herself. on a bomb.’” simplistic. It’s quite disremiss the rock, I miss the ings, which have not been the work that had gone on submitted to the province, repeatedly been told in the comments from a couple of be used to pressure counciling she in “I just sort of thought, “I had such varied hisAnother thing If we in the polar though heldwasn’t since something late October, committees. The release that it was ana attempt to past that if they wantthat an- spectful. councillors whowere ultimately lors to bears go witheven the flow and always she organwould you what, this his- tory I would tell people her on for wasthem, the same in another area they’re and prior tothought the annual also know says that accusations lure and administration staff spurred swers to be ready did notboat support the motion approvevery the dangerous budget that is do. tory, this stuff that’s in my hard times facing Churchill I think we would scream I really miss the Hudson stories and they would go, izational meeting of coun- of harassment and disre- back to regular committee they should come to com- to rescind. developed without changes mycommittee youth I chairs never head, it’sconduct going to be gone not true, is it?’ I’d go, since Hudson Rail- about so why don’tbeen they Bay,” she “When I go cil,“In when spectful have been ‘That’s meetings. mitteethe meetings toBay ask them “I that agree it has because ofsays. time constraints. felt good at writing,” she if I don’tagainst write itcouncillors, down,” she ‘Yeah true.’isThey’d go, way the option to do that? standing on the are appointed and co-chairs levied “Myit’s motive very simfirst. suspended operations have frustrating not having the back In home, its statement to said. when I moved all bring that, did “My kids not“dare go- ‘You of Gillam last think right now they’re looking on elected“But by the members fo said. particularly thoseare who ple,” didn’t he said,do“To the north “Now we can’t dospring. it,” he Icommittee meetings,” said Hudson CHTM, Bay the city saidout counto Thompson to get into ing to getor it if I don’t dothe it you? You’ve gotback to be to really “It “We’re used totrying be a to really like they’re bay, it just gives you an council. question challenge administration the said. find feeling Coun. Andre Proulx.pawns “I do the cil is regularly briefed by theCouncil school of work, and something I’ve al- old.’ was like, ‘No, actually large community a political game sense.toYou feel so hassocial reportedly statusit’squo.” tableI to discuss with elect- thriving some way to get back to in look forward to and ourthat’s new incredible and connected adminisat that point I had to from write ways my momintoa Ieddid all thatInbefore I was and it’s just dwindled down really sad for because feelcity great.” decided to change Thewanted city confirmed officials. my opinion, work.” structure thatthem we’ve beenI small trationand staffyou by the manfor university and realized, do. My mom’s an elder and 27,’ and they went ‘What?’” to such a small population think the people of ChurchNow that she’s got having multiple stand- statement to CHTM radio right now the city is in limEllsworth said not hold- working on. I would hope ager, council’s only direct ‘Holy, I’m not badtoatusing this, she’s an artist, deMeulles says. book under of now,” want to quicker thrive. one ing committees last week that she’s theregot aresoa bo.Looking We neverback, had a some meeting, ing committee meetings ill thatreally it moves a bit employee. It also her saidbelt, that right?’ I certainly developed wonderful be- those experiences areend things Though she’s not built their saysprovide she maydirtry a committee of the whole many number of active stories workplace I believe, since the of was preventing himthere and They’ve than it has been. I doworlds think deMeulles council would a lot of skill in university cause she always tells her she might not do again. any longer, her parents and there. How would we feel to produce another. approach, according to a misconduct investigations, October with administra- his council colleagues from we do need to sit down with ection to administration to and came from out ofthe there Parks Canada on in tion. “I did some pretty bizarre sister came to and you disand resume “I have anothermeetings book in statement citywith and stories which itatwon’t comment This is the only way her doing whatand theyother werefamily elect- if thesomeone administration committee a very strong skill in mya Churchill and I’ve always stuff like fuelleverage hauls into said, ‘I’m sorry, to me,” she says. “It’s a darker still are. statements by councillors, because human resources that we have to the get members ed to. cuss what needsyou to have be disbut none are scheduled yet, writing confidence in hounded her, ‘Please, just high -35,” said “My cousinthe owns the leave moretoabout persondecisionand apparently arrived matters are confidential. them Arctic back toatthe table to “Certainly admincussedyour andhome movecommunity forward in story, according the minutes my writing. I write very putThe it onfour tape, Icouncillors will write it deMeulles. storethe there,” we’re going to displace al struggles. at after the organizational discuss.” “It didn’t dawn hardware istration runs city she but and a positive manner.” andgrowth agendasand section of the clear and that’s It’s there. also for you because your story onCouncillors me until after. who That was somewhere else and all Maybe in the next five years meeting at theit.beginning alleged that council sup-a says. they don’t run the mayor you Blame for the impasse city’s website. BY IAN GRAHAM
EDITOR@THOMPSONCITIZEN.NET
Some people say it’s kind of blunt or direct. I don’t tend
is going to be lost,’ and she’s never done it and I thought,
very dangerous thing to do. Being on a plane full of fuel
Because of that, deMeulles finds it hard to
your loved ones and your history is gone?’”
it’s something I’ll focus on doing.”