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Inuvik Drum, Thursday, January 22, 2015 3

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News
Briefs

Dine out, Italian style

East Three Secondary School's

Art Travel Club is serving up a taste
of Italy at the Legion on Feb. 7, with
funds raised through the event going
towards its upcoming trip to San
Francisco.
The menu includes all of the staples including spaghetti, lasagna and
garlic bread, as well as a caesar and
spinach salad. For dessert, apple pie
and ice cream will top off the meal.
Gluten-free and vegetarian meal
options will be available on request.
Dinner will begin 7 p.m., with takeout offered a half-hour before. A
silent and live auction will take
place immediately following dinner.

Fitness course coming

From Feb. 13 to 15, a fitness
theory course will be instructed at
the Midnight Sun Complex and is
open to people with or without a
background in exercise science.
The course will go through
the basics of anatomy, physiology
and exercise. The fundamentals of
strength and flexibility training will
also be taught.
For those interested in teaching a variety of fitness classes, the
theory-based course is a step toward
instructor certification.

Budget report released

After public sessions held in
the territory's seven regions, and
11 written submissions, the Department of Finance has released its
budget dialogue report.
"The discussions reflected our
concern about the economy over the
medium term and serious implications for our fiscal situation," said
Finance Minister Michael Miltenberger. "Although we did not come
into the sessions with good news,
we left with optimism that together
we can improve our economy and
ensure that the GNWT's finances
remain sustainable."
The report showed public confidence in the government's strategy for financial management on
infrastructure development and
in increasing territorial revenues
through economic and population
growth. As the GNWT develops
its 2015 budget, feedback from this
budget dialogue will be taken into
consideration.

Minimum wage
increasing
As of June 1, the minimum wage
across the Northwest Territories will
increase to $12.50 per hour, up from
its current rate of $10.
"We all want to lead successful
and prosperous lives. We all want
opportunities that enable us to take
care of our families and support
our communities," said Education,
Culture and Employment Minister
Jackson Lafferty.
"And we all want to be fairly
compensated for our work."
The increase comes from findings of the minimum wage committee, which Lafferty appointed
in 2013 to look into options for the
minimum wage rate.

photos courtesy of Paul MacDonald

In 2012, the Inuvik Army Cadet Corp was lead by Capt. Paul MacDonald, left, who has resigned from the position after eight
years.

Commanding officer seeks

changes to cadets program
Captain goes public with letter of resignation
to shine light on problems
by Elaine Anselmi

of bureaucratic dealings with the

organization.
The future of the Army Cadet
"Two individuals in town were
program in Inuvik is in question asked if they would take over the
and the former commanding offi- position, both with military backcer has made public his reasons for grounds," said MacDonald. "One
resigning from the position after hung up laughing, and the other
eight years of volunteering.
said 'No.'"
"I posted it publicly on The
With no replacement for the
Truth About Cadets Canada Face- commanding officer position, the
book page. There was information Inuvik Army Cadet Corp is on an
on there talking about how Cadets indeterminate hiatus.
is suffering because of bureau"The parents were made aware
cracy," said Paul MacDonald, for- back in June that it was, at the
mer commanding officer, adding moment, shutting down until a
that he feels it is important to replacement could be found," said
inform others that he resigned for MacDonald.
that reason.
"I need a break. It's nothing to
"I'm hoping when other people do with the kids. The kids were
see me standing up for what's right excellent. The corp was functioning
and calling people on the bureau- well."
cracy and how heavy handed it is,
In his four-page letter of resigthat maybe the top
nation, MacDonald
brass in Ottawa will
outlined some of the
take notice and say
accomplishments
something needs to
and positive chanbe done."
ges within the corp
The Inuvik Drum
during his tenure.
reported in June
Increasing parthat MacDonald
ticipation to 30
had submitted his
cadets at its peak
resignation, effectfrom three cadets,
ive October 2013,
bolstering
combut stayed on in the
munity support and
position for nearly
fundraising more
a year following in
than $110,000 are
order to allow the
just some of the
Paul MacDonald
cadets to take part
highlights, in addiin the 2014 sumtion to a slew of
mer camp in Whiteaccreditation among
horse.
the corp and positive impacts on the
Since then, no replacement has lives of the cadets.
been found, which MacDonald said
MacDonald emphasized that it
goes back to the same challenges was not the cadets or a lack of supNorthern News Services

"Fire, floods
and natural
disasters can't
kill our unit but
the bureaucracy
... certainly has."

Paul MacDonald, left, sits in a canoe along with one of his

cadets, Master Cpl. Don Gruben Jr.
port in the community that contributed to his need to resign from the
position.
"With all these accomplishments over the past eight years,
fire, floods and natural disasters
can't kill our unit but the bureaucracy from (Royal Cadet Support
Unit Northwest) certainly has,"
MacDonald wrote in his resignation. He went on to clarify that he
is not leaving Inuvik, but simply
cannot continue on in the position
as it stands.
Having brought his con-

cerns forward previously, with no

adequate response offered, MacDonald's resignation was imminent
and he said he is concerned for the
future of the program.
"At the moment, it's disbanded
and it's quite sad. I put eight years
of work into it and I'm disappointed
it has come to this," said MacDonald. "No one wants to step forward,
knowing what the issues are. I'm
worried there won't be Cadets in
Inuvik anymore."
Cadets Canada could not be
reached for comment.