Editorial

At the end of an old year and the beginning of a new one, the ink-stained wretches who scribble for Nunatsiaq News sit down to gaze at the future.

Here are our uninformed prognostications for 1998. When we’re proven wrong – which is inevitable for most of them – don’t hesitate to let us know.

Most of Nunavut’s deputy ministers will be hired by June – and most will be hired from outside of Nunavut.

Natsiq Kango will not be re-elected to her seat as secretary-treasure of Nunavut Tunngavik Inc., but James Etoolook will be easily re-elected as NTI’s first vice-president.

The Keewatin Regional Health Board will begin to lose control of health care in the Keewatin, as Ottawa begins negotiations aimed at transferring control of aboriginal health care to the Kivalliq Inuit Association. One of the first battles will be fought over who owns and controls the new hospital in Rankin Inlet.

At least one NWT cabinet minister will be forced to resign.

Delegates at Nunavut’s language conference in March will take part in an intense debate over language standardization and whether or not to use Roman orthography instead of syllabics.

Keewatin Central MLA John Todd will announce that he won’t run in Rankin Inlet in the first election for Nunavut’s legislative assembly, expected to be held early in 1999. Instead, he’ll contest a seat in what’s left of the NWT legislative assembly – probably a Yellowknife seat, and probably in Yellowknife-Frame Lake, now held by Yellowknife’s weakest MLA, Charles Dent.

The headquarters of the Nunavut Planning Commission will finally move to Nunavut, whether their staff like it or not.

First Air will announce another rate freight increase, then apologize profusely. First Air will then announce not one, but two air fare increases – again, they will apologize profusely.

A new community hall in Apex will become a popular gathering place.

Peter Ernerk and Bryan Pearson will write at least one letter to the editor of Nunatsiaq News.

The Evaz Group’s shareholders will begin to move investments out of the Keewatin. As they approach their golden years, some will spend more and more time at the company’s private island in the Caribbean.

The Town of Iqaluit will either have to introduce a property tax increase or cut programs in 1998.

The Aurora Fund will turn out to be the least of the GNWT’s problems in 1998.

Interim Commissioner Jack Anawak will keep his job – but only as a figurehead.

CBC Radio will reward northerners for their years of patience by making the small investment in equipment necessary to finally offer us CBC FM (sorry, that’s Radio 2) programming.

The Colorado Avalanche will win the Stanley Cup.

The New York Yankees will win the World Series, and the Florida Marlins won’t even make the playoffs.

Lastly, Team Canada will win the Olympic gold medal for hockey by defeating the U.S. in a thrilling final game that will probably go into overtime.