Have MLAs been caught with their hands in the cookie jar?

It seems that way after they dipped into a pension fund surplus to enrich their retirement pay and revelations that former senior cabinet staffers will share more than $500,000 in severance pay.

It's easy to get angry at this apparent money grab.

However, there's more to the story than just big bucks going to politicians and their friends.

Paying a decent pension to MLAs who put their private lives on hold for at least four years is small reward. Under the plan, a one-term MLA would receive $960 a month at age 60. That's not much money to live on in the North.

Longer-serving MLAs would receive more, but that's the way pensions are -- the longer you work, the more you put in, the more you receive.

Severance pay to former chief of staff Lynda Sorensen and cabinet principal secretary John Bayly can be justified. They will divide the lion's share of the $500,000 -- the rest going to two secretaries.

Bayly put an established law practice on hold.

Sorensen, too, put her private life aside to help her friend, who's now the premier.

Both committed errors in judgment in the Jane Groenewegen conflict case. It was political pressure that led to them losing their jobs. For that, there's a price.

Now that MLAs have given careful consideration to their own needs and those of their friends, they must review income support payments with the same degree of urgency.

The real scandal would be for MLAs to pay themselves decent pensions, then still expect a mother of three to feed her family for only $535. Especially when a 1998 study by Indian and Northern Affairs shows a family of four needs $900 a month to eat healthy.

From Cambridge Bay to Panniqtuuq, Hay River to Inuvik and beyond, something special is going on.

Games fever is spreading around the Northern hemisphere, as young athletes and officials pack their bags, sharpen their skates and limber up for the high kick.

Starting March 17, the eyes of three Canadian territories, Alberta, Greenland and Russia will be focused on Iqaluit and Nuuk, Greenland. And for eight days, thousands of athletes will celebrate all that is special about the North during the Arctic Winter Games.

Years of planning, thousands of hours of preparation, the efforts of hundreds of staff and volunteers and all of Iqaluit will be put to the test. Hosting a world-class event like the AWG is a challenge for any community. These 2002 Games will be even more so.

For the first time, the events are split between two cities. Iqaluit is the smallest city to host the event. Many wonder if the split will mean double trouble. Others quietly question whether Iqaluit is big enough to do the job.

But like the athletes who will compete for gold and glory, we're sure Iqaluit, Nuuk and Games organizers are ready to go.

They have been in training for two years. Their race starts when the first planeloads of athletes and officials touch down Saturday. And, like any athlete, they're going to do their best.

There may be problems, but there will be successes. Most important, the athletes will compete. They will make new friends and celebrate the diversity of Northern cultures.

When it's all over, we're sure the staff and volunteers in Nuuk and Iqaluit will be worthy of wearing gold ulus, too.

Let the games begin!

When a Winnipeg doctor said he would no longer treat smokers, he had a much greater influence on the conscience of the nation than the entire collective of Canadian doctors speaking out against programs sponsored by big tobacco companies.

Dr. Fredrick Ross' refusal to see patients who will not quit smoking, or even try to quit, ignited the opinions of both non-smokers and smokers.

Ross' directive has both moral and legal implications. But aside from opinion, Northern communities and entrepreneurs -- especially those in the business of promoting health products -- could learn by his example.

Direct action is an effective way of getting people's attention, when words have continually failed.

And limiting access to tobacco products is a good place to start.

There are many examples of storeowners across the country refusing to sell tobacco.

Sutherland's Drugs in Yellowknife has taken such a stance.

So it may be time for Northern businessowners who sell tobacco to pull cigarettes from the shelves and agree to have only one licensed vendor in each community who sells tobacco and tobacco-related products.

Nunavut should certainly consider such a change as it has the highest rate of smoking in the country, and 75 per cent its youth are puffing.

Imagine going to the convenience store and not being tempted by rows of tobacco, while you stand in line to pay for milk.

Out of sight, out of mind may help more people stop smoking. And the only ones who will suffer then will be tobacco companies and its shareholders.

Editorial Comment
Darrell Greer
Kivalliq News

News from Community Government and Transportation Minister Manitok Thompson that the artificial ice project for Rankin Inlet will proceed is being welcomed with enthusiasm in the community.

Rankin has been fighting for artificial ice to serve the entire Kivalliq region for years.

The community has an unbridled passion for hockey, as can be witnessed by the sold-out houses during tournaments and the crowds who gather to witness local mens recreational play -- even when games don't begin until after 10 p.m.

Rankin senior administrator Ron Roach is bang on when he says the hamlet's commitment of labour and heavy equipment to the project is a significant one. Still, the hamlet should make every effort to provide some capital towards the project if, as Roach says, finances warrant it this summer.

There was, at one time, a slush fund of sorts put aside by the hamlet to be used towards the installation of artificial ice. That money is no longer available.

The hamlet received an insurance settlement in 1997 when one of its older garages burned down.

The insurance money was put into a special fund that was supposed to be used for the creation of artificial ice.

There was nothing inappropriate concerning the evaporation of that money long before it could be used for artificial ice.

The "slush fund" had to be used for other purposes when poor management from previous administrations left the hamlet hurting for cash. Council was forced to use whatever available cash it could access to maintain its operations and, unfortunately, that meant no artificial ice.

The past and present council has done an admirable job turning the hamlet's financial situation into a respectable one. In fact, land development debenture aside, the turnaround has been nothing short of impressive.

That being said, there will be, no doubt, naysayers to the artificial ice project.

And, although the hamlet's contribution to the project is already considerable, council can go a long way towards silencing the naysayers once and for all with some form of capital investment into the project.

In view of the fact the original slush fund had to be used to right a listing financial ship instead of the purpose for which it was originally intended -- a token financial contribution to the project would not only be a wise move by council, it would be the right thing to do.

Editorial Comment
Terry Halifax
Inuvik Drum

Hello, again!

It feels good to be back in the Delta. I spent three months filling in up here about two years back and I can see lots of changes taking place in Inuvik.

It's an exciting time for a reporter to be here, covering all the important history that's going on with self-government and, of course, the proposed pipeline.

I look forward to helping record the important history that's taking place here, as well as the everyday moments that make this part of the world such a special place to be.

Unhappy campers

The proposed elders facility that could push the playground and campground out of Inuvik deserves some new consideration.

As towns become cities, they must be careful to ensure there are adequate "green spaces" left within the core; places for children to play and adults to relax. Quiet, happy places where trees and families can grow old together.

Previous mayors and councils have vehemently protected this area from development and well they should -- it's a jewel for the town.

Perhaps a compromise is in order. Rather than a six-unit elder's facility, perhaps a single building that would house the same number of people, while still making room for children to play and campers to camp.

Tourists would love the opportunity to interact with the rich history housed in an elder's facility and the elders would enjoy watching their grandchildren in the playground.

We all know why they call oil and gas a non-renewable resource, but tourism lasts forever.

Off-road cabs

The new taxi licensing bylaw has put seven drivers out of work and seven families in need.

It's sad to see anyone forced out of work, but even sadder to see it's because of government regulating the free market.

A hands-off approach just wasn't working in Inuvik and the drivers have only themselves to blame for that. If they'd taken the initiative years ago to establish their own governing body, this situation could have been avoided.

That's easy to say now, but the solution to getting these people back to work will take time and some reasonable, forward-thinking discussion between the drivers, taxi commission and town council.

Editorial Comment
Derek Neary
Deh Cho Drum, Fort Simpson

The issue of loose dogs, which is never-ending in Fort Simpson, arose at a village council meeting yet again.

The latest uproar was spurred by a dog that killed a cat and bit a resident who tried to separate the two. Fortunately the resident was wearing a thick coat and wasn't injured, but the severity of the incident cannot be disregarded.

Council has decided to hire a bounty hunter of sorts, a person who will shoot loose dogs on sight. The gravity of the situation warrants some sort of redress. Regrettably, if a dog that isn't normally on the run happens to be loose at the time it might be shot indiscriminately.

That's the predicament the village is in at the moment. What is needed is a long-term solution.

It would be naive to think the problem will ever fade away all together. It won't.

Former senior administrative officer Bruce Leclaire used to argue that the responsibility ultimately lies with dog owners. They are the true culprits.

He's absolutely right. Yet assigning blame doesn't address the problem. Ideally, all citizens would abide by all laws, but that's not reality. That's why police exist, to enforce the law when unruly citizens decide to be disobedient.

The same applies to bylaw officers. Part of the bylaw job description -- a major part -- is to dispose of problem dogs. It's an unenviable task.

Who would want to have to shoot a mistreated animal, an animal that was never really given a fair chance? Pulling the trigger would surely be heart-rending.

But it has to be done.

The vast majority of Fort Simpson's residents know which dogs are constant nuisances and which dog owners are irresponsible.

There are some canines forever running loose, some are good natured but others are menacing. Regardless, all loose dogs should be rounded up on a regular basis.

The village has a fine system in place for owners who care enough to recover their pets in a timely fashion. Caring owners would willingly pay the $25 -- most would pay much more -- to save their pooch. They should be given that option because there are times when dogs break free of restraints, or youth, without permission, unchain dogs or open gates, allowing dogs to roam.

Repeat offenders or those who scoff at the prospect of paying fines should not have the privilege of owning a pet, but that cannot be enforced.

In an ideal world, people would not give puppies to other people who are known to be irresponsible or mistreat dogs.

But it's not an ideal world. We need an effective bylaw and effective enforcement.