Looking at the statistics, it is obvious the city's population has dropped while expenses have not.
What does city council intend to do about it? Some councillors support raising taxes.
Councillor Ben MacDonald warns of closing the pool if taxes don't go up. What about Max Hall, city administrator? Has he been directed to draw up options less painful than cutting the pool and the jobs that go with it?
The main purpose of repealing the tax hike is not to save ratepayers any money. They pay more as it is. A smaller population base means fewer people carrying a greater financial load.
Repealing the tax increase puts into action the tightening that must begin. The Cadillac treasury built up by former administrator Doug Lagore, and there are various reserve funds and surpluses, should be spent by administration to deal with the immediate shortfall.
Then begin work on an emergency budget that will maintain services and jobs without a tax hike now or in the near future. This should have been done in the beginning.
Taxes went up without any concentrated effort to find alternatives. If there were discussions, the public was not a party to decisions about what the public considered a priority.
It should be remembered the last time ratepayers got to vote, they saved Yellowknife from being in a worse situation. They stopped a $12 million twin-pad, rock climbing, youth centre arena project. Did their collective wisdom not save us from a 12 per cent tax hike?
We ask councillors to trust the people. If Yellowknifers wanted more services, they would pay for them. Our back alleys are being paved. What more could we want?
To offer a suggestion for a solution to the apparently never ending question of how wide, or narrow, to make Franklin Avenue -- how about neither?
Neither in the sense that the portion of the avenue currently under construction could be closed permanently to vehicular traffic.
Instead, why couldn't that section of roadway be turned into a permanent park and walking area?
That would add some welcome greenbelt area to the downtown and offer a location where shoppers could browse, relax and enjoy a coffee or a rest on those long summer evenings.
By adding connected, glassed-in walkways around the perimeter of the square, browsing from shop to shop in the winter could be made a much more attractive and pleasant prospect, which would encourage more shoppers to spend more time in the downtown.
Such a development would make a terribly attractive addition to downtown Yellowknife: a town square, if you would.
The traffic rerouting we are currently following seems to be working extremely well, so there doesn't seem to be any overpowering reason to change it back to what it was. It seems much easier and more pleasant to actually walk around the downtown with Franklin free of cars and trucks.
Finally, such a development would give the downtown a much more relaxed and attractive feel and look. On first glance, at least, it would appear to be a win-win-win proposition.
Add to that the fact that once the project was completed, the upkeep would be minimal and far less expensive than changing the dimensions of the avenue every few years to accommodate perceived changes in traffic flow and needs.
Aside from all of which, it would just look nice, give tourists and visitors a nice centre point from which to explore the city.
Editorial Comment
Daniel MacIsaac
Inuvik Drum
I have an attraction for the North.
While I just arrived in Inuvik a little over a week ago and originally come from Hamilton, Ont., my previous work took me to the wilds of northeastern Europe including Poland, the Baltic States and Mother Russia. I survived two winters in Moscow which, with that city's 11 million inhabitants and thousands of stinky Lada cars, are more slushy and soupy than outright freezing, though fur hats and fur coats were still the norm.
A student of history and political science, some innate sense led me North after graduation and I ended up teaching English then working for an English-language newspaper in Russia.
But sometime last fall, I decided three years was enough and that it was time for me to rediscover my Canadian roots. I leapt at the chance to come work for Northern News Services in January and explore places like Yellowknife, Rankin Inlet, Iqaluit and Inuvik -- names that hold that air of mystery for southerners and places that I'd only ever really encountered in school books. In fact, before heading up here, I'd never been west of Lake Huron, let alone to the northwestern-most corner of the country.
So, here I am. Yellowknife proved to be a great transition point between Ontario and Inuvik. I've already experienced -37 C, but also a midnight-sun summer and am looking forward to getting to know Inuvik better, its people and its land.
I hope to be a visible editor and invite all residents of the town and surrounding communities to feel free to call me or drop into the office whenever you're in the neighbourhood.
If there's anything that concerns me at all at this point, it's the frigid thought of a month without any sun at all. Is that really possible?
A festive atmosphere
My timing couldn't have been better. I left Yellowknife in the middle of the Folk on the Rocks Festival and arrived in Inuvik just after the Great Northern Arts Festival began. Clearly my attraction to parties is another indication of my innate sense.
But seriously, it was great to show up in Inuvik in time to witness such a major gathering of artists and art-lovers. It was a pleasure covering the event for the paper and working with outgoing editor Paula White as well as getting to meet so many new people in such an open, intriguing atmosphere. I've had my introduction to the local cultures and witnessed an amazing display of dancing by the children of the East 3 Reelers.
The fact that the town's festival drew artists from across the country and tourists from around the world speaks for itself.
The Inuvik art scene appears to be alive and kicking.
Editorial Comment
Terry Halifax
Deh Cho Drum
Mandy, the resident newscat here at the Drum, chirps and clucks at flies. As I write she's chasing one around the room -- swatting here and there and making this very un-catlike sound. I've noticed this before with other cats.
Do they think they are luring the flies closer or is that some cat attack sound?
I wonder if they have different sounds for birds and mice, like a fisherman has different flies and lures for sport fishing?
I'd better call RWED. There has got to be a research grant in there somewhere...
The cart and the horse
Kudos to Premier Jim for postponing a new constitution on the basis of the much ballyhooed Bill 15.
Until issues of self-government and the process are settled, the constitution cannot be written. These knuckleheads waving Bill 15 are looking for a make-work project we cannot afford.
We've already been around the block 10 times with the constitutional working group, which was also a giant waste of time and millions in tax dollars.
Duncan's out of doughnuts
Had the opportunity to dine at Simpson's new eatery on wheels and found it to be a taste treat and a real convenience. He's open late and Duncan's quite able to literally work both sides of the street and the ball game and the golf tourney...
Don't ask him for doughnuts though -- he's fresh out.
Circus, shmircus?
Heard a lot of whining and moaning about how expensive the circus was and thought the folks had a valid gripe.
Four bucks for a lousy snow cone, six bucks for ponies, two bucks for peanuts, etcetera.
I thought it was outrageous until Tuesday, when I looked at the photos from Thursday's show in Simpson.
One look at those wide-eyed kids and great big smilers and I realized that those in themselves were worth the price of admission and all the extras.
I had as much fun watching the kids as they did watching the show.
Looking through those photos and the others I've taken through the month, I've think these are probably the best looking group of kids I've had the pleasure of working with.
There are some lucky parents here, to have such pretty babies. Love 'em up!
Until next time...
Anyway, that about does it for me here. Derek has decided to come home, despite my pleas for him to extend his vacation.
I've enjoyed my short time here and I've met some great folks. I hope to be back next year about this time.
I'm back to the capital for a while anyway, but I'll be reading all about you people by the big river.
Editorial Comment
Darrell Greer
Kivalliq News
Full marks must be given to the group of people responsible for turning the Makkuktut Sangitilirput (Youth Becoming Stronger) group into a reality.
Based out of Rankin Inlet, the group's program is delivered through the Pulaarvik Kablu Friendship Centre and is part of the Rediscovery family. This is a well-known group with a solid track record of bringing various age groups within specific cultures together to help reinforce pride in their culture and tradition, and bridge the communication gap between young and old.
Makkuktut Sangitilirput is a prime example of the type of program needed in Kivalliq. A way to bring our youth and elders together so that they may rediscover each other and share their thoughts and experiences.
One of the more appealing aspects of the Makkuktut Sangitilirput program is that it is fun to participate in. As the group grows, the program intensifies and word of mouth spreads from its initial participants, an increasing number of local youth should be enticed to take part.
The youth, of course, stand to benefit from the elders' knowledge on culture and tradition and more tangible skills, such as hunting and fishing and survival on the land. The youthful participants are also afforded the opportunity to refamiliarize themselves with Inuit stories and legends, begin or improve upon their Inuktitut skills and get a better understanding of their culture's amazing journey from living on the land to having their own territory.
As important as these benefits are to our youth, understanding is a two-way street and our elders also stand to gain plenty from such programs. The problems, challenges, issues and decisions which face our youth today differ greatly from those of their parents, let alone those of their grandparents.
Intimate gatherings such as Makkuktut Sangitilirput provide elders with the opportunity to hear their youth voice their hopes and concerns, dreams and ambitions in their own words. It gives our elders valuable insight into the modern issues our youth are dealing with. And, it affords them the opportunity to integrate those concerns into their own cultural teachings so they may be able to address some of them from a spiritual sense in future encounters.
The Makkuktut Sangitilirput group is another valuable stepping stone in creating a harmonious balance in today's diversified society. It is another tool to provide our youth with a means of staying in touch with their past as they head out to meet the new horizons of their collective futures -- and a way for our elders to help them with that journey. And, hopefully, it is a program which will grow in popularity and continue to benefit both our youth and our elders for many years to come.