Winnipeg Free Press

Winnipeg Free Press (Newspaper) - August 26, 2006, Winnipeg, Manitoba Winnipeg free press saturday August 26, 2006 Canada a13 1,500-year-old Arctic carvings ransacked by vandals by Randy Boswell Canadas Only major Arctic Petro Glyph site ? a 1,500-year-old gallery of mysterious faces carved into a soapstone Ridge on a tiny Island off of Quebec a Northern coast ? has been ransacked by vandals in what the regions top Arche Logist suspects was a religiously motivated attack by devout christians from a nearby inuit Community. For years heritage advocates have sought special Protection for the ancient etchings at Raj Wrtalik Island located about one hour by boat from the 500-res?ident Village of Kangis Sujuan. Experts believe they were created by the extinct Dorset culture an artistically advanced civilization that occupied much of the Eastern Arctic before they were killed or driven away by the Thule ancestors of modern inuit. More than 170 mask like images Ani Mal shapes and other symbols have been recorded on the Island since the 1960s. Studies suggest Raj Wrtalik was a sacred place used for Dorset spiritual Cere monies and coming of age rituals. But the site has been dubbed the Island of the Stone devils because some of the faces ? possibly depicting a Dorset shaman in religious costume ? appear to be adorned with horns. In the past crosses have been scratched on the Pagan Petroglyph and some area residents have told researchers they believe the site is infested with evil Spir its. Long running negotiations Between Nunavut Quebec and the Federal government Over the ownership of the Hud study backs Safe injection Sites said using the facility meant they perspective about what will happen if by Camille Bains v weren to shooting up outside while 56 the site closes said Wood an Epi per cent reported less unsafe dispose Demi Logist at the . Centre for Vancouver ? the first study Al of dirty Needles. Excellence in his aids and an Assis to gauge drug addicts expert addicts who use the site ? called Tant professor in the department of fences at any Safe injection site inside ? inject their own heroin or Medicine at the University of British suggests North americas Only such cocaine under the watchful Eye of a Columbia. Facility needs to be expanded to nurse As part of a Pilot project that i think there will be such a Back reduce Public drug use and unsafe began three years ago. Lash in Vancouver when we go Back to disposal of Needles. Or. Evan Wood a senior author of the same patterns of Needles in store but As the clock ticks toward the the study said yesterday that his fronts and people injecting in Public in Sites licence expiring on sept. 12, the rates have also come Down in the the tourist areas of Gas town that Federal government remains tight drug riddled downtown Eastside British Columbia will probably not Tol lipped about whether the site will be since inside opened. Erate it for that allowed to continue operating under that Means health care costs have Federal health minister Tony an exemption of Canadas drug Laws. Been reduced because it costs tax Clement was not available for comment. The study which is published in the payers $250,000 to treat each person Robin Walsh a spokesman for the current Issue of the International Sci infected with the virus he said. Minister said no decision has yet been in Tiftic journal addiction Behaviours Wood is concerned that the Conser made on the Fate of the site. Surveyed 1,082 injection drug users natives received a request to continue the minister is undertaking assess?75 per cent of whom said the facility the exemption six months ago and still ment of the Pilot project and the positively changed their injecting Haven to made any kind of announce results to Date Walsh said from behaviour. Ment so close to the licence expiring. Ottawa. Seventy one per cent of respondents i a worried from a Public health ? Canadian press son Strait islands has delayed for a decade plans to protect the cultural trea sure which Arctic scholars have touted As a natural candidate to become a Enesco world heritage site. Two ancient african Rock Art Sites achieved that status earlier this summer and Canada recently Short listed Alberta a writing on Stone Petroglyph for a Enesco designation. Now dreams of global renown for Raj Wrtalik May be dashed after a visit to the Island last month by Quebec Cul Tural officials revealed extensive dam age to the prehistoric drawings including deep gouges across Many of the faces. This is a world class site a Despon Dent Robert Frechette director of the nearby Ping Bluit provincial Park in the nun Avik Region of Northern que told can West news service yesterday. I first visited the Island 12 years ago and i can see that every time its deteriorated he said. ? can West news service elite soldiers to get boosted pay packages hike an Effort to keep personnel by David Pugliese s special forces units ranging from Canadas joint task Force 2 to the British special air service Are hiking pay in an Effort to Stem the flow of skilled personnel to private military firms. Soldiers with the Ottawa based jtf2 will see their financial compensation ? which is not technically part of their salary ? boosted through various Means this year in recognition for their skills and the hardships they face on the Job such As in Afghanistan. Several weeks ago British military leaders approved a 50 per cent pay hike for those serving in its special forces the special air service and the special boat service in an Effort to Stop the flow of personnel leaving for jobs As guns for hire with firms in Iraq and Afghanistan. The . Military brought in a series of pay hikes and bonuses recently to Deal with the same Issue. Canadian forces spokeswoman cmdr. Denise Laviolette said the increases in financial compensation for jtf2 were not brought in specifically because peo ple were leaving the unit for the private sector. Allowances Are reviewed on a regular basis for everyone she said. It want specific to the Issue of going to other groups or leaving and. It was that we have a system in place they regularly get reviewed they were found to be lacking so we increased but she did acknowledge the end result of making such compensation competitive to the private sector is that personnel will consider staying with the unit. A March 13 background document produced by the defence department on jtf2 allowances notes the Money compensates for various hardships including conditions of work and risk involved with serving in the unit. The jtf2 allowance has been increased based on qualifying service with annual compensation ranging from $7,488 to $8,964 for general support personnel from $13,680 to $16,356 for close sup port personnel and from $21,756 to $25,260 for the compensation scheme also includes special allowances for certain skills. A special operations assaulted allowance sees annual compensation ranging from $15,000 for those com Mandos with less than two years of qualifying service As an assaulted to $39,576 for those with 14 years or More of qualifying service. As Saulters Are considered the fight ing Edge of jtf2 and Are serving in Afghanistan As Well As on duty for counter terrorism missions in Canada. The compensation is on top of the Reg ular military salary and benefits which Are based on rank. The Canadian armed forces recruit ment website reports the base monthly pay for a private is $2,421 a Corporal earns $4,069, while a sergeant can make $4,675. Senator Colin Kenny chairman of the Senate a National Security and defence committee said the allowance improve ments Are directly related to the fact that jtf2 has been losing highly skilled personnel to the private sector. He questioned Why the military would not acknowledge the obvious. If they Don to want to Call it a retention allowance Fine but the Bottom line is that you have people who like a certain kind of work and that work is available these Days in both the Public and the Pri vate sector said Kenny. ? can West news service ;