Law-abiding citizens have a right be out and about, not threatened with a trip to the drunk tank. Even at midnight.
While we don't envision swastikas on the uniforms of our Mounties -- indeed we applaud their intentions during Operation Hydra -- we hope the word is going 'round police headquarters that some discretion is needed in the execution of their duties.
Worthwhile police efforts performed badly are not worth doing in the first place.
Mayor Gord Van Tighem likely hoped last month's official launch of the Multiplex would buy the city some time before everyone in town who owns skates started breathing down his neck for the second pad to be built, but it doesn't appear he's going to get a break any time soon.
User groups still face an ice time crunch, having gained one new ice surface, but lost another with the closure of the Gerry Murphy arena last year.
They say an expected opening date of 2007 for the second pad will not come soon enough and the city isn't doing enough to secure additional funds.
True, the city underestimated how much building the first pad will cost, but as Van Tighem says, there will be no new money to build until 2006.
This leaves two options: either user groups stick it out until then, or find a way to raise the $2.4 million cost of completing the second pad themselves.
Van Tighem pointed out that the gymnastics club is raising $1 million for its gym. Club president Elaine Keenan-Bengts even mortgaged her house to keep the effort afloat during the dark days waiting for the gym to be built.
While we do not suggest people mortgage their homes to build the second arena pad, there are a whole host of user groups -- minor hockey, figure skating, broomball, speed skating, etc. -- who must work together.
If membership dues have to be raised then raise them. Car washes, raffles, bake sales: they all have their part in this, too.
So far, less than $100,000 in donations has been raised. As minor hockey co-ordinator Kevin Stapleton notes, more will have to be done soon.
Right now, the ball -- or should we say hockey puck -- is in the user groups' court.
Editorial Comment
Darrell Greer
Kivalliq News
While Mayor Lorne Kusugak may say people will vote how they want on the upcoming liquor plebiscite, there is little doubt hamlet council adopting a public no stance will sway a number of voters at the polls.
Liquor is a sensitive subject in the Kivalliq. However, no matter where you stand on the issue, you do get to democratically cast your vote on the issue.The same can not be said for smokers. While council can only adopt a stance on the liquor issue, it is about to unilaterally impose a smoking bylaw.
The bylaw is slated for first and second readings during the Nov. 3 meeting. But, hey, the rest of Canada is doing it, so it must be the right thing to do, right? Maybe. Maybe not.
Just the facts please
Let me state up front both my wife and I smoke, and neither of us would downplay the dangers to your health of doing so -- but, second-hand smoke is a different story.
As a journalist, showing both sides of the story (read balance) is quite important to me.
We won't bother with the fact media outlets are paid large amounts of money to advertise the findings of government-funded studies on second-hand smoke.
However, rarely do we hear studies showing the opposite to be true.
Manipulating numbers
It is scary to hear exposure to second-hand smoke may increase your risk of coronary heart disease by 30 per cent.
However, that impact diminishes when you consider statistical risks smaller than 200 per cent are rarely considered by serious science (second-hand smoke seems to be the exception).
That, coupled with the fact toxicity (poison) is based on the level of dosage, not the length of exposure, casts more shadows on some of the "information" we've been bombarded with.
Two recent studies conspicuous by their absence in the realm of public information are: Environmental tobacco smoke and tobacco related mortality in a prospective study of Californians, 1960-98 (May 19, 2003) and Revisiting the association between environmental tobacco smoke exposure and lung cancer risk (May 28, 2002).
Be informed
Again, this opinion is not intended to downplay the risks associated with smoking.
That being said, take the time to read studies on both sides of the fence concerning second-hand smoke.
You may not be politically correct, but you will possess an informed opinion, which, the last time we checked, you are totally within your rights to express.
Both sides on the subject will present the numbers in a manner that suits their purpose.
Editorial Comment
Terry Halifax
Inuvik Drum
A junk food ban at the schools might not stop the tide of obesity or diabetes that is plaguing the young people of the country, but it sure is a good start and a great way to get people thinking about what goes in their bodies.
Seeing the tide of youngsters flood into the healthy breakfast program at SAMs school really opened my eyes to something I always took for granted as a kid.
I came from a Beaver Cleaver house, where my mom had oatmeal in the pot and a stack of toasted homemade bread waiting for us on the table each morning, but that has become the exception rather than the norm now.
Many kids are rushed out the door or left to their own devices, which usually means a breakfast of Smarties and Coke. A bellyful of sugar and empty calories is likely the worst thing for children to try to learn on.
With 40 to 50 kids taking part in the breakfast program each day, it's obvious that it's certainly something that is needed. ICC and the Brighter Futures Program deserve a huge thanks for funding this.
I don't think it should be left to one group or one government though. This program is important enough to be cost-shared by any number of agencies.
With the way the world works, healthy meals could easily be part of a healthy education program anywhere.
Busy parents would love to be able to buy books of meal tickets to ensure that their kids were getting a good meal, rather than handing them ten bucks that will end up spent on fries and gravy.
Success of such a program is hard to measure, but watching grade point averages is a good start.
Slow wheels
Two years have slipped away since Keith Blair was killed and finally the trial is about to start.
Legal wrangling, fired and hired lawyers and court time stretched to the limit have prevented this trial from being anything but speedy and that is a travesty for the friends and family who are forced to live this nightmare all over again.
This court case won't bring back their friend and loved one though. Having to deal with this all again will break open those old wounds and cause undue pain to those who've already suffered more than anyone should.
Last beat on the Drum
As many of you have already heard, this will be my last edition of the Drum.
It has been a real and sincere pleasure to work for you folks over the past two years.
I first came to this town to fill in for the summer of 2000 and I liked it then, but I love it now.
So much has changed here in a short period of time and it's been amazing watching this transformation.
Even just the look of Inuvik has improved vastly, but on every other front, this town is poised for great change.
The political, cultural and economic landscape is evolving at a huge pace and it's a thrill to watch success come to a place that had so many lean years. That's part of the reason I've chosen to stick around.
This is easily one of the most exciting places in Canada to be for a journalist and I have to hang around to see how this story goes.
I leave you in the capable hands of Jason Unrau, who's been in the territory for a year and knows the ropes.
Best of luck Jason and thank you all for sharing your lives with me and the readers and, most of all, making me feel welcome here.
Editorial Comment
Derek Neary
Deh Cho Drum
Teens wandering the streets at night is an issue in Fort Liard and Fort Simpson.
There's an interesting contrast between the two communities, however.
Fort Liard doesn't have a recreation director. There hasn't been one in the community for several months even though the position has been advertised.
Fort Simpson does have a rec director and there are ample activities for adolescents. In addition, there are plans for a new outdoor soccer pitch and the Fort Simpson Parks and Playground Society is raising funds for a multi-purpose park. The latter would give teens a place to practice their skateboarding and BMX tricks.
In Fort Liard there is no longer a functioning youth centre. Some bad apples have repeatedly broken into the facility and it has been damaged extensively. That resulted in its closure, twice.
Fort Simpson has had a youth centre up and running for the past year, even though there have been occasional concerns over inappropriate behaviour, especially littering.
Despite the differences between the two communities, they are dealing with the same dilemma: How do you keep the kids off the streets? Fort Simpson goes through its spates of property crime. Village Council is now turning to enforcement of a curfew as a solution. Fort Liard tried a curfew in the past but it didn't work due to a lack of community support.
While some kids in Fort Liard have blown it by destroying their own youth centre, it's not every adolescent who's so pernicious.
Picking out the bad apples
There are people in Fort Liard who seem certain that it's a few youths who are responsible for the recent spate of break and enters and vandalism. In a community of fewer than 600 people, it shouldn't be too difficult to figure out who's behind the crime.
Residents, including teens, must take it upon themselves to report the culprits to the police. Whether the offenders are fined, jailed or brought before the justice circle, some sort of justice must be served. Ideally the guilty party should be forced to make reparations.
The culprits may come from broken homes -- perhaps there are extensive social issues within their families. Ideally that could be turned around, but it's not always possible, or it may take a long time. Although that's regrettable, these individuals still have to understand that their actions are unacceptable and won't be tolerated.
Without consequences, what will cause the wanton vandalism to cease? There must be a renewed effort to find outlets and activities for youths in Fort Liard. It's true, the Fort Simpson example shows that there will still be some aimless individuals even if options and alternatives exist. But you can't stop trying. You can't fail the kids who deserve something more than walking the streets.