Ex-DM defends record

I wish to respond to Jim Bell’s editorial “Between now and the next election” (April 5, 2002), specifically his remarks on the department of sustainable development, which I had the privilege of being deputy minister of until August 2001.

I accept that editors are entitled to their opinions, but I would think that at a minimum your readers would count on good research to back your opinions.

It may therefore come as a surprise to readers of the editorial, in which you made an inferred reference to my competence, that during my time as deputy minister we never met. You never requested an interview with me or asked for background facts on any issue or, to my knowledge, attended any meeting in which I was involved. Even the articles dealing with the department under your byline, you never once contacted me for information. To my recollection, only one Nunatsiaq News reporter ever contacted me for commentary and background facts over a period of three years.

I can only conclude therefore, that your research relies on second- and third-hand opinions, available either through unsolicited e-mails and letters, or on the political discussion forum. Apparently, you do not believe in soliciting opinions of those most affected by your critical opinions. Frankly, I am surprised your publishers approve of this approach to journalism.

One would think that your comments on the current state of the department of sustainable development follow a long trail of coverage of troubled issues. A review of your paper over the past three years would reveal a scattering of articles referencing the department of sustainable development, some critical, some not, but certainly no more than the trials faced by all departments within the new government.

One of the challenges of senior managers in the new government is to support and motivate the hard working employees who you refer to in your editorial as the “over-worked, over-stressed permanent northern workforce.” Your poorly researched attacks on the department of sustainable development not only demoralizes this overworked, overstressed workforce, but it contributes nothing to the continued growth of our new government.

Katherine Trumper
Iqaluit