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It's difficult to convey how revolting the alley between a section of 49 and 50 Street has been this year.

Last week the area was filled with human feces and littered with toilet paper. It smelled horrid. It was truly an eyesore.

But, perhaps worst of all, it's the only place some homeless people in Yellowknife can find to relieve themselves with a hint of privacy.

In the legislative assembly last week, Yellowknife Centre MLA Robert Hawkins spoke of the harm caused by homeless people tending to "bodily functions" behind dumpsters and buildings and in parking lots. It means city dwellers and shoppers are "fleeing" downtown for more sanitary environs elsewhere in the city, Hawkins said.

The city has thus far overlooked the lack of washroom facilities in the downtown area for the homeless, creating an unhealthy and inhumane situation.

Men have the option of using the washroom at the Salvation Army between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. five days a week and women can make use of the Centre For Northern Families. But for those who haven't checked in for the night at closing time, there is essentially nowhere else to go.

Restaurants and businesses either lock their bathrooms or deny access to homeless people. With the regular incidents of vandalism and occasional assaults, businesses cannot be faulted for being cautious about who is allowed to use their facilities.

But this is not an issue that can be swept under the rug and forgotten about. Along with being a health issue - salmonella and E. coli are associated with feces - it is a situation for which Yellowknifers should be ashamed.

In a city of such wealth, it is absurd that human beings can be left out in the cold like this.

In recent weeks, territorial politicians and the municipal government have been talking about ways to resolve this problem. Mayor Gord Van Tighem suggested opening a staffed washroom facility. A public toilet is a necessary start to resolving this disgustingly messy issue. It would allow the homeless a modicum of decency.

But why don't we take a step further and act on what Sandra Stirling, co-owner of Overlander Sports has to say? She suggests opening a homeless drop-in centre which would be more than just a toilet.

When discussing homelessness in 2001, several months after being elected, Van Tighem said, "The city has to support people that are here ... you can't work to the exclusion of one group."

Bailey House, soon to open, is proof that progress is being made. The alley between 49 and 50 Street is evidence that much remains to be done.

Unless you've been living in a cave or spending a lot of time on the land during the past eight days, you know another Canadian election has come and gone and not much has changed in this country.

The Conservatives won another minority government, capturing more seats this time out, but well shy of the 155 necessary for a majority government.

Stephen Harper is still our prime minister, and he quickly unveiled his six-point plan for how Canada is going to survive these uncertain economic times.

And, in true Canadian style, the plan calls for little else other than the government to meet with just about everyone in the free world.

And, if that doesn't produce the required results, they'll all just meet again.

As I wrote in this space after our last national election, minority governments don't have a history of longevity in Canada and this one will be no different.

So, after the lowest voter turnout ever recorded in this nation, the election malaise will continue to spread across Canada until the next time we head to the polls for a national election in, say, 18 months.

And that will only be after a Liberal leadership convention to amuse us, a territorial election and a possible Senate election if the prime minister gets his way.

In Nunavut, our new Conservative MP, Leona Aglukkaq, found herself deflecting questions on the number of voters turned away at the polls due lack of or improper identification shortly after her election win.

Here in the Kivalliq it was chin-scratching time as to why the Iqaluit-based media were so concerned over such a low number of people turned away at the polls, when Nunavut had the third lowest voter turnout in the country.

Only our neighbours in the NWT and voters in Newfoundland and Labrador had a more dismal turnout.

Maybe the thousands of voter-information cards littering post office floors across Nunavut without being read in any language had a little to do with the relative handful of people turned away for lack of identification.

But I digress.

Aglukkaq won the Nunavut seat for two reasons: Nancy Karetak-Lindell didn't run and Liberal Leader Stephane Dion scared the heck out of anyone paying attention with his plans for a carbon tax.

When you live in an area with the highest cost of living and biggest carbon footprint in the country, a few tax credits weren't going to balance Dion's tax scales.

Aglukkaq heads to Ottawa with a solid resume at the territorial level to sit with the party in power, which is never a bad thing.

However, money spent by minority governments garners intense scrutiny from the entire country and that may not bode well for Nunavut.

On the plus side, however, one look at Harper's six-point plan to avoid economic devastation in this country shows our prime minister is still big on forming committees and holding meetings.

And if there's one thing we're exceptional at in the North, it's forming committees and holding meetings.

That, in itself, should give Aglukkaq the edge when it comes time to seek the prime minister's ear.

My dad always told me it was a big mistake for the provincial government in New Brunswick to remove technical and trade classes from the school system. They'll pay for it in the future when we don't have enough people to fix our cars, build our houses and fix our plumbing he would say. As much as I hate admitting my father is right - he is.

There is a serious national concern about the lack of tradespeople and in the North it's an issue multiplied by 10. It's obvious in Yellowknife there is a shortage when you can't make an appointment to get your plumbing fixed until a week after you call. It has to be much worse in the smaller communities.

The baby boom generation is getting older and there is a mass exodus towards retirement. If the territorial government starts to think ahead, they can prepare the youth in the North to take advantage of career opportunities available in the trades industry and rebuild the dwindling workforce.

Youth in the Deh Cho would benefit from early exposure to trades. It opens the door to more opportunities after high school. Instead of working low-paying jobs or being dependent on the system or on their parents, trades work will give them discipline and a desire to contribute to their community.

It's important for kids to have every opportunity available when they choose a career path. Not all students learn the same way. Not everyone is meant to go to university. Some people are intellectually savvy and some are technically savvy. Students deserve to have access to every career opportunity so they can make an informed decision on the best option for their future.

By investing money into trades and technology education at a younger age, everyone wins. The territory wins because it trains a whole new workforce and keeps its residents from leaving for better jobs.

Communities of the North benefit because they get the tradespeople they need to keep their community functioning. Northern businesses will save money because they won't have to fly in a tradesperson to do a specific job for them.

If the government doesn't take action soon, it could take a long time for them to get their toilet fixed.

Andrew Livingstone is the interim editor of Deh Cho Drum. Roxanna Thompson will return in November.

When are we going to see some real enforcement on our streets and maybe a bylaw officer to take down some of the stupid people who hog our roads with their tired antics?

As soon as the first big snowfall of the year came down, I knew we were in for another season of showboaters.

The only problem is, the show-offs aren't limited to staying on their beefed up Ski-Doos.

Just this afternoon at around 4:30 I took a drive for a photo opportunity at Ingamo Hall.

As I approached Samuel Hearne on Kingmingya road, a white pickup truck slid into the road from Berger Street.

This clown thought it would be cool to slide his back end across the street and try to straighten himself out before the next turn.

Right there, in front of the high school, in the middle of the day. I remember looking to the left of the driver and seeing a young boy who could have been 10 years old.

He was walking by and looked like he approved of his actions.

I couldn't believe it, this man slides a corner, almost loses control and passes by a kid while doing it? What are we teaching the young people of this community?

Is stunting going to get you anywhere except a hospital bed? I'm not one to wish bad things on people, but that person needs to be stopped.

I've been behind the wheel since I was fifteen, learning to drive from my grandfather. The week I turned sixteen, I had my license. On my first attempt.

I'm not trying to brag, but I'm a confident and safe driver who knows the rules of the road.

I wish we had some serious driving lessons being taught in this community, because without a strong education, how are the idiots who are out spinning their tires going to learn?

Call me angry, but I really got upset when I saw this person skid past the school with no regard for the safety of others.

But, with all the open-water skipping with snow machines and racing that happens in this town, I don't think anyone really cares about the safety of those daredevils.

How is it justified?

"Oh, I could have died, but at least that girl will drink with me tonight?"

In a town that is suffering a supposed syphilis outbreak, I wouldn't be so hot to get dirty if I was that guy.

This town does not need another death on its hands due to the irresponsibility of people who are dumb and crazy enough to put their lives at risk.

If all our kids have to look up to are a bunch of gas-guzzling idiots who risk it all for a good show, we need to start looking for new role models.

If you're out on the streets and you see some clown sliding around with his back end out, call the cops before they hit someone.

I'm confident that we can get past this season without any unnecessary deaths or collisions.