Latest news with #Nunavummiut
Hamilton Spectator
2 days ago
- Business
- Hamilton Spectator
Shocked by new Canadian North prices? It's just a ‘clerical error'
Alex McConnachie couldn't believe his eyes: When he checked Canadian North's website Monday morning, it said the price of a one-way ticket from Ottawa to Iqaluit had more than tripled to approximately $2,000. 'I'm a hostage to these fares,' said McConnachie, who lives in Iqaluit and shares custody of his 12-year-old son with his ex-wife, who lives in Halifax. Under their custody agreement, McConnachie has to pay for the plane ticket for his son to travel to visit his mother regardless of how much the ticket costs. 'So if they say that flight is $9,000, I have to pay it,' he said, adding that a drastic increase in Canadian North prices would mean that simply fulfilling his duties as a father might drive him deep into debt. Turns out, it was all a false alarm. A 'clerical error' led to one-way tickets — which usually sell for approximately $500 — being listed for $1,800 to $2,000 on Canadian North's website Monday, said Lauren D'Oliveira, an airline spokesperson. D'Oliveira said it might take some time for the website to update, but early Monday afternoon it still listed the wrong prices. 'We can confirm a configuration error during a recent system update did affect fares that would have been visible on our website,' said Pam Plaster, vice-president for investor development for Exchange Income Corp., the airline's owner. She said fares are not being increased. Plaster said Canadian North will contact passengers, such as McConnachie, who already booked flights at the incorrect prices to issue 'appropriate refunds.' D'Oliveira said she didn't know the exact number of passengers who will receive a refund or when the incorrect prices first appeared on the website. Canadian North was recently acquired by Exchange Income Corp. Its chief executive officer, Mike Pyle, promised the sale would not drive up the airline's fares. News that the price hike was an error came as relief to McConnachie. He said the panic he and other Nunavummiut experienced reminded him of a long-running joke that the North's dominant airline's motto should be: 'Canadian North — what are you gonna do, walk?' 'It's not like we have other options,' McConnachie said. Doubling the price of tickets would have contravened the orders of Transport Canada, the federal department responsible for national transportation policies and programs. In 2023, the department announced conditions for Canadian North's 2019 merger with First Air that included a 25 per cent cap on annual fare increases. The conditions remain in effect until June 30, 2026. 'Transport Canada monitors Canadian North's compliance with the terms and conditions and will take the appropriate actions should they not be complied with,' Hicham Ayoun, spokesperson for Transport Canada, said in an email Monday. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
CBC
3 days ago
- Health
- CBC
Virtual dermatology care coming to Nunavut
The Ottawa and Qikiqtani General Hospitals are working to bring virtual dermatology care to Nunavummiut, to help alleviate the need for patients to fly out of the territory for care.
Hamilton Spectator
16-07-2025
- Hamilton Spectator
Private yachts can still travel through the Northwest Passage undetected
Inuit guardians are on the front lines of maintaining sovereignty over the Northwest Passage, but small yachts are still allowed to travel through Nunavut's waters undetected, experts told a conference in Iqaluit on June 26. Because Inuit monitoring teams don't have enforcement capabilities, any ships entering restricted waters in environmentally sensitive areas are simply referred to federal authorities, the Arctic Sovereignty and Security Summit heard. 'We observe and report because we don't have the power to observe a vessel unless Transport Canada comes in to do that kind of work, so we still have a gap there,' said Daniel Taukie, the Inuit Marine Monitoring Program coordinator at Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated. The summit heard several accounts of Inuit spotting vessels they didn't recognize, and asked experts where these ships were coming from. Unidentified vessels being spotted by local residents are likely private yachts that have turned off their tracking beacon, called an automated identification system (AIS). 'It's not mandatory for the smaller vessels to have AIS, but many have it due to safety reasons,' Steven Lonsdale, senior program manager at the Qikiqtani Inuit Association, told the audience. 'If we want to change that, we need to change the regulations.' Lonsdale said he's advocated for mandatory AIS on all ships in the Northwest Passage in the past, but that's still not a reality. However, the federal government will require all vessels to have permits before entering some marine conservation areas in the near future, Lonsdale said. Most of the pleasure craft are going to Eastern Baffin Island, and the High Arctic generally, to observe the mountains and lakes, according to Taukie. Both Taukie and Lonsdale praised Transport Canada and Parks Canada as productive partners in monitoring the Northwest Passage. Lonsdale explained how Inuit guardians, or Nauttiqsuqtiit, are using traditional knowledge and modern science to facilitate enhanced maritime situational awareness for Transport Canada. Nauttiqsuqtiit have learned the skills to survive in the wilderness, where they can use digital mapping software. 'They can create a digital fence anywhere, and if a ship is to cross that digital fence, they receive an alert on their cellphone as a text or an email,' Lonsdale said. Nunavummiut communities and Transport Canada then receive updates from the Nauttiqsuqtiit on where vessels are heading. The software only works, however, if the ships have their AIS system turned on. That remains a legal requirement for all maritime transport, apart from small pleasure craft, Taukie and Lonsdale explained. The cooperation between the federal government and Inuit peoples on monitoring the Northwest Passage and remaining stewards of the land is vital, said Suzanne Lalonde, professor of international law at the University of Montreal. Canada's claim over the Northwest Passage as internal waters — as opposed to an international shipping route — remains an open debate on the global stage. 'I'm worried that Canada's legal position, which is based on, founded on Inuit use and stewardship, might be tested,' Lalonde said. The most likely challenge against Canadian and Inuit sovereignty over the Northwest Passage is likely to come from the U.S., according to Lalonde. Sightings of unknown vessels in open or restricted waters cause concern among Nunavummiut communities, Jeannie Ehaloak, a former mayor of Cambridge Bay, told the summit. 'There was one summer where there was a big silver yacht or a ship that came into Cambridge Bay, and it just sat there, nobody came off, nobody got on,' Ehaloak said. 'Why were they there? Do we know who they are? Do we know what they're doing here?' Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
CBC
16-07-2025
- Politics
- CBC
Who's vetting tenants? + Arctic sovereignty
The National talks to frustrated landlords who blame their real estate agents for bad tenants, but whose responsibility is it to vet them? And why Nunavummiut say investment in northern communities is crucial to Arctic sovereignty.
Hamilton Spectator
15-07-2025
- Health
- Hamilton Spectator
Premier offers condolences to Pond Inlet following 3 deaths
Nunavut Premier P.J. Akeeagok offered his condolences to the hamlet of Pond Inlet as Nunavut's coroner investigates three deaths in the community. 'I want to extend my deepest sympathies to the community of Pond Inlet during this incredibly difficult time,' Akeeagok said in a statement Saturday morning. 'Like many Nunavummiut, I am heartbroken by the tragic events that have shaken your community.' Akeeagok's statement did not elaborate about the events he referred to. But the territory's coroner said his office is looking into them. 'I can confirm that we are investigating three deaths in Pond Inlet as coroner's cases,' Dr. Michael Foote, the territory's chief coroner, said in an email. Foote also did not provide additional information about the deaths. He urged sensitivity to the families and the community. 'As these are currently open investigations it would be inappropriate to share details at this time,' he said. Nunavut RCMP referred comment to the Department of Health and the Office of the Coroner. 'We don't feel we are in a position to comment on this matter,' said RCMP spokesperson Sgt. George Henrie. Akeeagok said the Nunavut government is stepping in to support Pond Inlet. 'The Department of Health, under the leadership of the Minister [John] Main, is coordinating the response and working closely with all government departments and local partners on the ground,' he said. 'To the residents of Pond Inlet: please know that the entire territory stands with you. You are not alone. We will walk with you through this tragedy and support your healing in the days and weeks ahead.' Resources are available for people who need to talk with someone: The national Suicide Crisis Helpline is 9-8-8. Kamatsiaqtut Help Line offers services in Inuktitut. Phone: 979-3333 for Iqaluit residents and 1-800-265-3333 for other Nunavummiut. The First Nations and Inuit Hope for Wellness Helpline: 1-855-242-3310 or chat online at . Healing by Talking Program offers virtual long-term counselling services to Inuit across Nunavut: visit your local Health Centre for more information, or email healing@ , or call toll-free at 1-888-648-0070 or 867-975-5367. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
