News quiz March 15 | Tootoo, Trudeau and a food bank needs a home

It’s been another busy week in the news — have you been paying attention? Let’s see for ourselves.

1. The federal government has extended Inuit Child First Initiative funding for one more year. What was remarkable about the way it was announced?

A. It came just days before the program was to expire.
B. The announcement was made by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau himself.
C. The decision still needs approval by Mark Carney, the new Liberal leader and next prime minister.

2. Life is better for 47 school children in Kugaaruk thanks to this pilot project carried out by Nunavut’s Health Department. What is it?

A. A mobile dental clinic provided braces and pulled several teeth during a recent visit.
B. A mobile vision clinic tested kids’ eyes and provided some with glasses.
C. An anti-smoking program helped several youngsters kick the habit.

3. The future of Baker Lake’s only food bank is in jeopardy. What’s the problem?

A. Its longtime manager is retiring and no one has stepped forward to take over.
B. The food bank building was destroyed in a fire.
C. Black mould was discovered in the building.

4. The CEO of the company that plans to buy Canadian North airline explained recently how he hopes to improve service in the North. What did he say?

A. Better service will come by “tweaking the strategies” of the airlines it owns.
B. Laying off employees will reduce the company’s expenses and allow it to provide better service.
C. The company will offer better on-board meals, including two cookies instead of the current one per passenger.

5. The Terence Tootoo Memorial tournament attracted some of Nunavut’s best men’s hockey teams this weekend. Where is it being held?

A. Iqaluit
B. Rankin Inlet
C. Cambridge Bay

A Canadian North plane approaches Iqaluit in this file photo. Winnipeg-based Exchange Income Corp. announced in February its plans to buy the airline from Makivvik Corp. and Inuvialuit Development Corp. for $205 million. (File photo by Jeff Pelletier)

Answers

1. A — The government left Inuit families dangling anxiously by announcing the program’s renewal just 23 days before it was scheduled to expire.
2. B — It tested 114 students’ eyes, provided 47 kids with glasses and found 11 children were legally blind without the glasses they received. Visits to several more communities are tentatively scheduled.
3. C — The discovery of black mould forced food bank operator Abluqta Society, which also runs a community soup kitchen and thrift store, to look for a new home despite a scarcity of available units in Baker Lake.
4. A — Mike Pyle, the CEO of Exchange Income Corp., said “tweaking the strategies of the airlines” — his company already owns others including Calm Air — will improve service. He also said the planned purchase is “not predicated on layoffs. It’s certainly not predicated on reducing the number of flights.”
5. B — The Tootoo tournament is being held in Rankin Inlet, from March 12 to 16.