Politicians are known for breaking campaign promises so when they don't, we feel duty-bound to acknowledge their consistency.

In this instance, Yellowknife city council has adopted a new budget process that takes a three-year picture of city finances rather than focusing on one year.

Seems like a good idea but we believe Councillor Dave McCann, true to his platform of fiscal responsibility, has added an important element. He wants 'performance measures' emphasized and included in the process.

What such measurements mean in actual practice remains to be seen but if the intent is to have council take an objective view of city administration's spending and services, we're all for it.

The recent fire that destroyed the Eggenberger cottage on the Ingraham Trail near Yellowknife has us realizing just how much in the dark these residents are when it comes to emergency services.

Not only do Ed Eggenberger and his family have the chore of rebuilding their waterfront getaway -- the $100,000 fire destroyed everything but a small rhubarb patch -- the family will be facing a hefty bill from the Yellowknife fire department.

Because city limits end at the Yellowknife River, the 408 cottage owners have to pay for fire and ambulance fees.

As we learn in today's Yellowknifer the city charges $500 for the first two hours of fire service and $200 per hour for each additional hour.

Fee for ambulance service outside city limits is $365 plus $1 per kilometre.

The bill also includes overtime paid for staff called in to ensure fire and emergency services are available to city residents during out-of-town responses.

Though Ingraham Trail residents pay property taxes to the GNWT, none of this money is passed on to the city.

Nor should it be.

These taxes, which range from $100 to $300 per household, barely cover the costs of plowing the 69-kilometre road during the winter, let alone the major repairs done on the road year after year.

Based on these costs, residents who choose to live outside of city limits shouldn't balk at the high costs of emergency services.

Unless they want to start paying more taxes -- and the GNWT can work out a deal with the city -- they have little choice but to continue to pay the price for the rural privacy they enjoy.

If Walt Humphries' weekly column in Yellowknifer -- Tales from the Dump -- hasn't convinced you what an exotic experience the dump can be, our story on dump entrepreneurs last Friday lays out the economics.

One frugal collector estimated tens of thousands of dollars can be made each year salvaging used, little used, and sometimes (shockingly!) brand new articles.

This is all not news to long-time Yellowknifers, some of whom built and furnished homes from dump material in the '60s and '70s but it does indicate a long-time tradition still persists and that's a good thing.

And according to people who know, like Yellowknifer Mike Ingram, it's not only the bargains. "You meet the nicest people."

Editorial Comment
Malcolm Gorrill
Inuvik Drum

Best wishes are bestowed upon the 1st Inuvik Scouts, who are in Prince Edward Island for the 10th Canadian Scout Jamboree. The group has been planning for this trip over the past year, and has sold a lot of popcorn and rounded up many bottles to raise funds.

It's good to see their hard work and dedication pay off. Dave Tyler, Alan Fehr and others who have helped make the trip possible -- and the scouts themselves, of course -- should be congratulated.

Certainly the scouts seemed excited enough about their trip when I last saw them. As well they might be, considering they'll be sharing the site with more than 12,000 other people. And having grown up in P.E.I., I can attest to the fact it is beautiful this time of year.

This may also serve as a reminder of the value of the scout program, with its emphasis on teamwork, discipline and self reliance. These are traits that come in handy later in life.

Quite a celebration

The trip by the scouts is actually a timely reminder of just how vast this country is. They are going to a place literally thousands of miles from home, yet they'll still be within Canada. There's not many other countries where such a situation could occur.

Earlier this week Canada turned 134 years old, and people celebrated that fact within the Mackenzie Delta and across this great land. Here in Inuvik the celebrations went well, even if the temperature was a little on the nippy side.

Lots of people took part in or viewed the parade, as well as the games and festivities afterwards.

The cake was good, too, as I can personally attest to.

Quite a journey

Another indication of the vastness of this country, as well as the character shown by its residents, was an event which got under way Tuesday. Arvid Loewen of Winnipeg set off from Inuvik on his 18-day, 7,200-kilometre bicycle trip to Point Pelee, Ont., the most southerly part of Canada.

Loewen is raising funds for charity, but this ultra-marathoner also confesses he loves a challenge and likes having to push himself. The event holds special meaning for Loewen because one of the groups he is benefiting, the Mennonite Central Committee, helped his own parents decades ago. Loewen said it was nice to be able to give something back to MCC. May Loewen have a safe journey.

Editorial Comment
Jorge Barrera
Kivalliq News

Fireworks exploded in the starry nights of southern Canada on Sunday, the whole country united beneath the delirium of nationalistic zeal. But not one firework popped in the Kivalliq, or in all of Nunavut. The summer sky is different here, and Canada Day falls with a certain bit of irony in the land of the Inuit.

Canada Day: a celebration of Canada's existence. What does it mean up here?

Because of Canada, Inuit were forced off the land, forced into communities at the whim of government experiments. Culture and language faced eradication during the middle of the last century. Up until 30 years ago Inuit had dog tags with numbers instead of last names.

The creation of Canada meant the near destruction of Inuit cultures for the sake of the new one, and only now is there a half-hearted attempt by the federal government to help rejuvenate that which they tried to destroy. But it is the year 2001.

True, the creation of Nunavut is a miracle because not an ounce of blood was shed and an indigenous people retained control of lands they lost. That could only happen in Canada.

That is but one bright light against the dark smears of sins this country has committed against Inuit.

The conflict between Inuit culture and Canadian culture is part of history. And history creates the essence of identity.

Many Inuit walked bitter paths to get to Nunavut. Life is better now. Canada conceded to the Inuit the right to self-determination and that now offers a broad blanket of stability to the everyday lives of people in the Kivalliq. Health care is free, school is free, being in Canada is not such a bad thing. Time marches on.

But things are different here, the sky is just the most obvious example. To forget those differences, historically and today, is to lose the diversity that makes Canada so unique. And if that disappears, all that's left is a shell of a country and Canada Day becomes nothing but an empty celebration.

The vast spectrum of colours that make up the Canadian tapestry will disappear and the rest of the country will be left with nothing more than the reds, oranges and blues of their fireworks.

Editorial Comment
Derek Neary
Deh Cho Drum, Fort Simpson

First Nations, other local governments in the Deh Cho and the Fort Simpson Chamber of Commerce should hold North American Tungsten Corporation to its word on providing economic development opportunities. With the mine site located on the NWT side of the border, but the road supplying the mine routed through the Yukon, local leaders must see to it that a sufficient number of jobs and contracts are put on the table, rather than quietly allowing them to waltz down the road to the Yukon. The GNWT should be prepared to step in and asserts its influence as well.

Although the CanTung mine had been in operation from the 1960s through the 1980s, a different political and business dynamic exists today. The Acho Dene Koe group of companies, for example, has plenty more to offer than the Fort Liard band ever could have 20 or 30 years ago. They are seeking catering, heavy equipment and air charter deals with North American Tungsten. They should be given every chance to reach an equitable agreement to provide those services, nothing less.

Shortages hurt us all

It's promising to see that a decision has been made to add another member to the RCMP detachment in Fort Liard, bolstering the staff to four. What Mayor Joanne Deneron says is true, even though it was supposed to have been a three-member detachment it is rarely at full capacity. Someone is usually on a course or taking some time off. That's not just the case in Fort Liard, but with practically every detachment.

We rely greatly on the RCMP's presence. These men and women can be called upon to make life and death decisions at a moment's notice. With such gravity involved, we'd be much better off having someone rested making those decisions rather than someone who has been run ragged for weeks on end.

Dave's filling in

If you've noticed that I'm travelling in tandem this week it's because Northern News Services reporter Dave Sullivan is in town. Dave, who arrived in Yellowknife on Monday, will be taking the reins here at the Drum while Val and I are on vacation.

He had only been here a few hours when he jumped on the details of the lightning strike that occurred in Fort Simpson last week. Mother Nature's power is simply awesome. We can only be grateful that nobody was killed or injured by the intense charge. Please feel free to stop by the office, say hello to Dave, and pass along any story ideas you may have.

We'll see you again in August.