Friday, November 12, 1999
The recent conviction of First Air for carrying dangerous goods shows the seriousness with which the courts view such public risks.
Judge Brian Bruser found the airline guilty on five counts, from transporting propane canisters to passenger cargo leaking fuel, and fined them $105,000 as well as putting them on probation for two years.
He called First Air's safety procedures careless and a federal inspector described the violations as very serious, especially one involving an extremely poisonous material
Air travel in the North is remarkably safe considering the amount done. Over 200,000 passengers passed through Yellowknife airport every year. First Air alone anticipates carrying 210,000 passengers in 1999 and 18 million kilograms of freight to 26 Northern communities.
But recent disasters around the world illustrate the dangers of flying even when all procedures are followed. Lax procedures such as those First Air was found guilty of just ratchets up the natural risk.
To their credit, the airline's management chose not to appeal the judgement. They acknowledged past mistakes and made immediate changes to increase safety.
The hefty fine, probation and Judge Bruser's blunt observations about the airline's carelessness should serve to remind all in the industry of the grave responsibilities they face each and every day.
Passengers also have a role to play because after all, that's where the dangerous goods come from.
The airlines may be legally responsible but all of us are morally obligated to ensure our cargo is handled safely.
First Diavik, now Lupin. It seems that there is a silver lining in the cloud over Giant Mine.
The Lupin mine, mothballed about two years ago, is going back into production. Company directors believe that with gold trading at roughly $290 US, they can make a profit after spending some money to improve the efficiency of the mine.
The company estimates that they will need about 325 people.
Northerners will be looking for Lupin to operate in the spirit of the agreements made by the diamond mines. That is to say, a concerted effort to hire locally.
With that in mind, it appears that Yellowknife's economy is looking a whole lot rosier than it did six months ago.
While the route Miramar is proposing to truck ore from Giant Mine seems the best choice, there has been a consultation problem.
The company plans to haul 300 tonnes of ore -- 10-20 truckloads -- via Old Airport Rd. and Taylor Road daily. The trucks would pass by both Ecole Allain St. Cyr and William MacDonald school.
Yellowknife Education District 1 trustees say they were not informed when council designated part of Taylor Road as a trucking route. They find the lack of consultation to be unacceptable. We agree. The school board is responsible for student safety and should be consulted on anything that could affect their well being.
Last week, Councillor Kevin O'Reilly chastised Miramar for not consulting with school staff. His criticisms apply equally to council.
Editorial Comment
Daniel MacIsaac
Inuvik Drum
Sometimes too much consultation can be too much. Indeed, it's difficult to know when surveys and questionnaires and forums will result in valuable insight or when they are simply excuses for dragging feet and passing the buck.
Happily, the RCMP's initiative on policing in aboriginal communities seems to be on the right track -- particulary as it's never been done before.
Times are changing and as communities and government try to solve problems including education and youth crime, it's more important than ever to determine how the police can better serve society. Let's hope the survey produces timely suggestions that will then be adopted in a timely fashion.
Two-minute warning
Canada's veterans doubled their demands this Remembrance Day. Fearing perhaps that we've all slipped into the routine of the traditional minute of silence, the Royal Canadian Legion requested a two-minute silence to remember our war dead on the eve of the millennium.
Two minutes is not too much. While the "great" wars are only a memory, conflicts continue to rage around the world. Canada may have its share of economic crises, pepper-spray scandals and airline concerns, but these are small potatoes in light of what most of the world is worried about. We remain the United Nations' top choice among countries and our veterans, both living and dead, have helped make it that way.
That said, it should be added that Ottawa can too often be too slow in recognizing the contributions made by modern veterans, including the Canadians who served in Korea, the Gulf War and Yugoslavia. Our armed forces have evolved dramatically since the Second World War, as has Canada's role as peacekeeper, but when we commit to sending troops overseas we should also commit to supporting them when they get back home.
Spreading the word
National Addictions Awareness Week offers Inuvik agencies the perfect opportunity to showcase their programs and renew their call for an end to the social problems caused by substance addiction.
Inuvik is a very busy place, however, and the multitude of teams, clubs and boards can place a drain on the town's supply of volunteers. Those who can't help out full time should nevertheless take advantage of NAAW by dropping in on at least one of the scheduled events and letting the agencies and their clients see that the town supports their efforts. Moreover, a well-timed visit also equals a free lunch.
Editorial Comment
Derek Neary
Deh Cho Drum
For Steve Malescu to step forward -- putting many private details of his life on the table, in an effort to educate others about Hepatitis C, that's admirable. It's something he could easily have chosen to remain silent about. He's admittedly found a level of comfort and support through the Hepatitis C Society of Canada. Yet he's still chosen to be vocal about the disease to dispel the misconceptions and ignorance that exist.
It's staggering to think that there are 28.5 times as many cases of Hep C than there cases of HIV (stats from the Hepatitis C Society of Canada). According to their literature, at least 300,000 people in Canada have been infected with Hep C and another four million in the United States. Hepatitis C is the leading reason for liver transplants in Canada.
Those at risk for Hep C include those who share needles, filters or spoons for drug use. Even sharing a straw for snorting drugs brings an element of risk (not to mention the risks involved with snorting drugs in the first place). The sharing of tattoo equipment and ink is also a dangerous practice. The pamphlet further states that the risk of sexual transmission with an infected partner is estimated at around four per cent, in cases of prolonged exposure.
As Malescu pointed out, anyone who takes proper measures to protect themselves against HIV is basically protected against Hep C. Both diseases exist in the blood, but that's one of their few similarities.
The other example of courage comes from the person who volunteered to tell of his experience with alcoholism. Granted, that person wished to remain anonymous, but is there any real need to identify him? His story is one of many. Some are more tragic, others less so. The important thing is that some people will be able to identify with what he has said. Alcoholism is a disease. National Addictions Awareness Week is a time to reflect upon that, upon the help that is available, and a time to recognize those who have attained sobriety.
Ideas in motion
The justice workshop in Fort Simpson was a reminder of how effective and empowering a workshop can be. There are good points put forward and then excellent counter-points made. There are also times when things seem to get bogged down with divergent opinions, but also times when many exciting ideas begin to flow from the collective. I'm sure the same held true of the Integrated Resource Management Workshop in Fort Providence last week.
Now that the workshops have been concluded, it's time to put the ideas to work. There are dedicated individuals out there who have taken it upon themselves to prove that workshops aren't all talk and no action.
Common sense in the snow
There really is a tragedy in the making with so many under-aged snowmobile operators zooming around out there. I've seen a number of youth recklessly manoeuvring at break-neck speeds. There are some adults who haven't proven responsible either. I've talked to individuals who have almost been run down by snowmobilers and someone else who almost obliterated one as he carelessly crossed the icy highway without any regard for traffic. The season's only started! Let's use some common sense before a life is lost.
There were a couple of fine examples of courage reported in the Deh Cho Drum in the past week.
Editorial Comment
Darrell Greer
Kivalliq News
The mission was no different from his previous 35. Objective: locate enemy submarines wrecking havoc on Allied shipping lanes.
A remark was made what a beautiful day for flying as the metal bird lumbered objectingly down the runway, crew members mentally running through their routines as its white nose began to arch gracefully towards the heavens.
About two hours into their mission, the crew's spotters first started having difficulty with the conditions.
The day's sunlight was reflecting off the ocean's calm waters with blinding results.
A crew member jokingly quipped they could fly over the leader of their aggressor, casually sunbathing himself on the deck of the Bismark itself, and not notice a thing.
A few moments later, Capt. Greer informed his flight crew he was lowering altitude in hopes of cutting the glare and improving their visibility.
The plane's navigator barely had time to ponder such riveting thunder on a cloudless day, when the shell ripped through the belly of the plane, turning his beautiful day into the blackest of nights.
About 12 hours later, that same navigator was the only survivor plucked from the Atlantic by a British convoy ship.
Although my uncle, the man in the faded picture proudly attired in his RCAF issue, will always remain a stranger to me.
I know him only through the stories of others and he continues to exist only through my own manufactured memories.
For 11 months of the year, I'm as guilty as most for not giving very much thought to the man in my faded picture -- and what he did for me, 14 years before my birth.
But tomorrow, Remembrance Day, I'll join millions across this great nation thanking him for making the ultimate sacrifice on our behalf.
I will renew my vow to never forget the price he and so many of his brothers and sisters in arms paid for us to be able to enjoy the greatest gift of all -- freedom.
As tomorrow ends, I will put this year's poppy in my little box containing 40 others -- one for every year I've lived a free man.
And, as I close the lid and softly slide it back into the darkness, I will have but one thought...Lest We Forget...
It was a sunny June morning in 1944 the last time Capt. William Greer climbed into the cockpit of his RCAF Hunter, Killer, on a search and destroy mission over the North Atlantic.