News quiz March 8 | The trouble with Trump and vans that aren’t being used

What a busy week in the news. Let’s do the quiz!

1. A big cultural event kicked off in Kangiqsualujjuaq on Feb. 26. What is it?

A. Ivakkak is a weeklong competition of traditional Inuit sports.
B. Ivakkak is a dogsled race to Tasiujaq.
C. Ivakkak is a fishing tournament running over several days.

2. Nunavut cabinet minister David Joanasie announced this week that four communities could receive high-speed fibre optic internet service by 2031. Which of these communities is not on the list?

A. Kimmirut
B. Kinngait
C. Pangnirtung

3. It was announced this week that a historic property in Ottawa is being transformed as a permanent space for Indigenous governance, cultural events and meetings. What did the building used to be?

A. The U.S. Embassy
B. Office space used by prime ministers John Diefenbaker and Lester Pearson
C. The head office of the Ottawa Senators hockey team

4. Nunavut, like the other territories and provinces, responded this week to the tariffs the U.S. has imposed on most Canadian products that it imports. What did Nunavut do?

A. Banned American companies from bidding on infrastructure projects.
B. Pulled American-made liquor from sales at Nunavut beer and wine stores.
C. Cancelled its satellite service contract with Elon Musk’s Starlink.

5. Recently, Arviat South MLA Joe Savikataaq slammed Premier P.J. Akeeagok over five elder mobility vans the Government of Nunavut bought last year that still are not in operation. What did Savikataaq characterize it as?

A. “A million-dollar photo op”
B. “The bus to nowhere”
C. “A million-dollar boondoggle”

Five Iqaluit communities will be linked to Nunavik’s high-speed fibre optic internet service by 2031, it was announced last week. (File photo)

Answers

1. B — The Ivakkak dogsled race started with 11 teams setting out to cover the 328-kilometre route from Kangiqsualujjuaq to Tasiujaq.
2. C — Pangnirtung will not join Kimmirut, Kinngait, Coral Harbour and Iqaluit in being connected to Nunavik’s Tamaani Internet network, at least not in 2031.
3. A — The buildings near Parliament Hill at 100 Wellington St. and 119 Sparks St. used to house the U.S. Embassy. They were vacant for more than 20 years before being redeveloped by the federal government for use by Indigenous groups.
4. B — All American-produced liquor will no longer be purchased by or sold at Nunavut Liquor and Cannabis Commission stores. It accounts for $600,000 to $700,000 of the total inventory, Lorne Kusugak, the minister responsible for the NULC, said in the legislative assembly.
5. A — Joe Savikataaq called it “a million-dollar photo op” and wondered why the vans weren’t working yet in the communities of Iqaluit, Cambridge Bay, Coral Harbour, Pangnirtung and Rankin Inlet.