Iqalungmiut should speak up on issues

I am going to comment on some issues that have been made public either through the paper or the radio.

1. I am appalled at the thought of one of the city councillors voting against the banning of smoking in public places.

He must be thinking in his own little protective shell. There are a lot of children out there who are being taught not to smoke because it is bad for you, as well for teenagers.

Being seen as a role model and as a councillor, he should practise and promote healthy lifestyles, instead of “promoting smoking is OK.”

know he has children and I would like to know if he would like it if his children were sitting in the mall in the middle of a smoking area and inhaling the toxins from the cigarettes.

I don’t think so.

The way to stay healthy in a community is to ban smoking in public places: nine feet from the entrance to the hospital and public health buildings, in taxis, at airport entrances and store entrances, in hotels and everywhere the public commutes through.

We need healthy children for a healthy future, Mr. Councillor.

I encourage Iqaluit residents to vote him out of office, because this issue of tobacco use is always going to be an issue among the Inuit.

Inuit have to start thinking of healthier lifestyles by doing active things, walking, hunting, community activities, by being involved with the youth of Iqaluit. We are forever trying to promote healthier lifestyles through programs delivered by the health departments and there is always a shortage of funds reaching the community level.

You can see the hard work that the ladies do at the public health in Iqaluit, namely Mrs. Arreak, working very hard on publications promoting healthier lifestyles. Keep up the good work public health employees, as well as the CHRs in the communities of Nunavut.

2. The story on the Premier announcing the proposed detox centre for Nunavut. I thank him for thinking of others who need help and don’t want to leave their home settings, but get better in the surrounding area. Congratulations, Paul Okalik. This is good and a new trail of promotional programs toward healthy lifestyles in the sober community will, I believe, make your communities healthier.

3. The detox centre would work well with the institution we need (another jail) since they are both under the jurisdiction of the justice department. The Premier, who is also the minister of justice, should be able to work with all the people who work on this issue and achieve what the Inuit of Nunavut need. I fully support your request for a new jail in the Kitikmeot or Kivalliq regions.

4. This one is exciting to hear about. The first elder’s clinic that opened its doors to elders in Rankin Inlet so the elders have a voice and a place to learn more about their health. This is a great step to take since quite a lot of people tell us younger people that the elders’ knowledge is power and we can learn from them. Way to go Rankin Inlet!

I know that each and every community in Nunavut has the power to do the same, so by following this example and maybe adopting the model, each one can achieve the goals and visions of the community members.

5. This story of Northern Property Real Estate buying out and owning all the private houses and apartments in Iqaluit, less a couple, is very scary to me. That company will now have a monopoly on the cost of rent, unless the town puts a limit or ceiling on how much they can charge, or anyone else for that matter. The already known shortage of housing for the public is going to skyrocket.

The already high rent in the private dwellings is probably going to get higher and not better, again looking at the previous news bulletins of the Nunavut government buying apartment buildings (which they should lease to own to their employees) is going to affect the housing situation.

The employees of the government who live in public housing should be forced to move out to government staff housing and give the public houses or apartments to the local community members who are waiting in line for a home.

I would like to express my feelings, as a former Iqalungmiutaq, of how the community members should start saying things, demand answers to your questions and concerns. If you don’t say anything, no one is going to hear you but if you say something, whether interesting or not, to the public and councillors, then you will start a dialogue that will turn into action.

Mary S. Alainga
Ottawa