Wednesday, April 11, 2001
When politicians meet behind closed doors, people have a right to be suspicious.
When those closed doors are reinforced by chain link fences and 6,000 police, suspicion should be replaced by indignation.
It doesn't matter what you believe about globalization and massive free trade areas, the assault on democracy that is the Summit of the Americas April 20-22 in Quebec City is offensive.
The way it now stands, a four-square-kilometre area of downtown Quebec City will be fenced off while politicians talk about free trade and, ironically, democracy and the rule of law throughout the hemisphere.
Outside that area, thousands of people will have their right to assemble and express their beliefs carefully controlled.
The massive level of security is a reaction to protests that have occurred at similar gatherings in Vancouver, B.C., Seattle, Wa. and around the world.
Whether there will be violent demonstrations in Quebec City remains to be seen, but given the police presence, a showdown is likely.
That will further marginalize protesters who believe very strongly that what is being discussed in private will have far-reaching effects.
More video footage of protesters pulling down fences and police pepper-spraying demonstrators will give politicians the ammunition they need to dismiss the arguments as those of fringe extremists.
Instead of Canada paying to build security fences that separate the elite from everyone else, we should be playing a real leadership role that brings the two sides together where these concerns can be discussed and addressed.
Until that happens, we're only helping create more tension and mistrust that will lead to higher fences.
What difference does it make if we have a zero, .05 or .08 alcohol standard?
Some drunk drivers don't seem to have any problem getting behind the wheel again and again.
The priority for anti-drunk driving advocates should be pushing the court to have zero tolerance for impaired drivers and repeat offenders. That means penalties that prevent more people from getting behind the wheel drunk even once.
Thirty per cent of NWT drivers charged with impaired driving are repeat offenders and five per cent have at least four convictions.
People make the choice to drink and they make the choice to drive. Territorial legislators and courts should make the choice to put them behind bars.
Northerners owe a debt of gratitude to Transport Minister David Collenette for his commitment to the territorial government's development strategy.
"We're interested in helping," Collenette said last week on a whistle stop in Yellowknife. "We've got to make sure the infrastructure in the North keeps up to scratch."
So far, that has meant $3.7 million of the $330 million the territory said is needed to pave the way to non-renewable resource development.
Of greater concern, Collenette said, is allocation $600 million in federal funds to highway projects across Canada. The territory's share would build about a kilometre of road, according to Premier Stephen Kakfwi.
Perhaps Collenette's priorities will change now that the Prime Minister has decided that sending oil and gas from the Mackenzie Delta to southern markets is a good idea.
But our MP, Ethel Blondin5 5-Andrew, should get on the transport minister's case, just to make sure.
Editorial Comment
Darrell Greer
Kivalliq News
Judging by Iqaluit MLA Hunter Tootoo's spiel against artificial ice for the Kivalliq region (page 18), it appears much easier to take a stance against such a project when your home riding boasts two arenas with artificial ice.
However, we here at Kivalliq News couldn't help but notice this was the same MLA who ran towards every southern media camera he could find when down south watching Rankin's own Jordin Tootoo strut his stuff.
The Iqaluit MLA extolled the virtues of a solid sports development program in Nunavut to anyone carrying a note pad or cassette recorder.
Tootoo is quick to point out he informed the southern media that Jordin developed his talent on the natural ice surface of Rankin Inlet.
However, he knows as well as anyone that is a half truth at best.
Jordin left home
Jordin had barely begun his teenage years when he left home to further develop his hockey skills on the artificial ice of southern arenas.
Many talented Kivalliq players have followed Jordin's path and, with a mere three months (give or take a week) of hockey in our region, we will not have a program in place anytime soon to develop our own players at home a little longer.
We cannot argue with Tootoo's assertions that Nunavut's needs are many.
However, we will argue against the view Nunavummuit are supposed to simply shut-up and be satisfied with nothing more in their lives than bare essentials.
Is that the dream of Nunavut? Do we want our youth to eventually have the wherewithal to pursue their dreams in their own territory?
Or, is the message we want to send simply one of don't worry about having a life, be happy to simply subsist?
Tootoo knows full well the benefits a strong hockey program and a multi-purpose regional facility in Rankin Inlet would bestow on two of his three areas of concern.
Young students in strong extracurricular programs stay in school longer, achieve higher marks and are less likely to be involved with self-destructive or criminal behaviour.
These are documented facts, not merely smoke being blown by the region's puck heads to support artificial ice in Rankin.
CG&T Minister Jack Anawak has come up with a decent program which will allow a number of Nunavut communities add a little extra to their lives. Unfortunately, it's beginning to look like anything above "bare essentials" is only welcome in the capital.
Editorial Comment
Malcolm Gorrill
Inuvik Drum
Some misdeeds can have far reaching effects.
Samuel Hearne secondary school grads have been taking part in various activities to raise funds this school year. They've held at least one car wash and a dance, plus shared the concession for a weekend at the Midnight Sun Recreation Complex.
The grads also have been holding hotdog lunches at the school on Fridays. However, their hotdogs were stolen recently, casting doubt on whether these lunches would continue.
Whether the lunches continue or not, this theft will discourage grads and their hungry customers.
Events like these are more than just a chance for people to get a quick meal, or for the grad committee to collect a few more dollars.
They serve as a chance for people to interact with the future leaders of tomorrow. And students get to interact with the world outside their school during what should be some of the happiest days of their lives.
Events like hotdog lunches don't just happen magically. Supplies have to be bought and stored, and volunteers have to be recruited to serve up dinner.
Not to mention the fact that none of it would take place at all were it not for customers -- be they fellow students or members of the general public.
The theft might also cast a pall for other activities the grads put on. After all, it's hard to volunteer for something after it seems a lot of effort was wasted.
Hopefully, the grads won't let this incident get them down.
Beautifying the town
Efforts continue to make Inuvik a more beautiful and better place to live.
The town's community beautification
committee has hired a firm from Edmonton, Gibbs and Brown Landscape Architects, to come up with a long-term plan to beautify Inuvik.
Members of the community will be invited to have their say in what should be done.
Such a plan could also result in making the town more attractive for tourists, and businesses, so all could derive benefits.
The community beautification committee should also be commended for planning to carry on some of the things that were done last year, such as the placement of flower pots and banners.
A pick up day will again be held to get garbage off the ground and in the bins, where it belongs.
Flight of fancy
Now to switch gears to those just embarking upon their educational journey.
The kids at Inuvik Preschool recently took a trip to the moon as part of their space studies.
Watching them don moon boots (sneakers) and air packs (juice containers), and squeeze into their two rockets (cardboard boxes), serves as a reminder of how unlimited a child's imagination can -- and should -- be.
Editorial Comment
Derek Neary
Deh Cho Drum, Fort Simpson
News of Nahanni Butte's seismic deal with a Calgary-based company has some people jumping for joy while others are scrambling to gather more information.
There's immense pressure on some First Nations' leadership from within their own communities to sign deals with seismic, oil and gas and mining companies, amongst others. That was quite evident at the 1999 Deh Cho Assembly in Kakisa when then Nahanni Butte chief Peter Marcellais broke down and cried under the strain as he revealed to fellow aboriginal leaders that his community had decided to enter into a pre-bid process for oil and gas. As it turns out, that process was supported and later adopted by the Deh Cho First Nations (DCFN), but little in the way of real development came of it.
Current Nahanni Butte chief Leon Konisenta told The Drum he has 10 people waiting for jobs. In a community of fewer than 100, that's a significant number. These are jobs that will keep them relatively close to home, something that potential employment through Tungsten mine, if and when it goes back into production, wouldn't offer. That's an important factor, as witnessed in Fort Liard, where some residents turn down oil and gas positions because they would be isolated hundreds of kilometres from their families for weeks at a time.
There's also a question of what other benefits the Nahanni Butte Dene band has procured from this seismic deal. The DCFN has been working fervently to ensure that impact benefits agreements are made mandatory within the region.
Whatever the terms of Nahanni Butte's contract, it's obviously acceptable to chief and council. Whether anyone else applauds them or criticizes them, as it now stands, they are the ones who have the final say.
Pay the mayor?
Whether Fort Simpson's mayor deserves a half-time salary is debatable. Looking at what the NWT's other cities, towns and villages offer their municipal leaders may help.
The territory's smallest town, Norman Wells, like Fort Simpson, doesn't offer anything more than an honorarium. However, the honorarium totals $12,600 annually as opposed to a total of $4,440 offered in Fort Simpson (assuming the mayor is able to attend every meeting). Fort Smith, which is twice the size of Fort Simpson, pays its mayor a half-time salary of $25,900 each year.
The NWT's chiefs are also paid for their work, although not very much, but that's another issue for another day.
Wilson's request apparently fell on deaf ears. That's understandable because the timing is suspect.
If Wilson has been an advocate of compensating the mayor over the past five years, as he says, then it should have been fresh in his mind during the municipal election campaign six months ago. Not a popular campaign plank, perhaps, but one that should have been addressed.
In a flier issued by his supporters last October, point number four read: "He (Wilson) is prepared to commit his time doing the job now that he is retired from his real job... This is important."
This is indeed important.
Paying the mayor is an issue that needs to be given serious consideration -- during the next election campaign.