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The Canadian military is at risk of developing an image problem in Yellowknife.

When it's not dropping missiles on our golf course or cutting our power lines, it's telling residents, "Sorry, we're too busy training to let you use our runway for emergency medevac flights."

That was pretty much the gist of its answer last week when Yellowknifer asked a spokesperson with Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Edmonton why the military would not allow medevac flights to land at its Namao airstrip.

"The impact far outweighs the perceived advantages," a CFB Edmonton spokesperson said, before firing off a list of pure bureaucratic bafflegab to attempt to explain why it can't be done.

Allowing medevac flights to land Namao would "adversely affect" the military's ability to conduct "annual continuation training, maintain basic soldier skills proficiencies, summer reserve training and high readiness training for deployment on international operations."

We must ask, what better opportunity for emergency training is there than to assist civilians with medevac flights? Canadian Forces Base Edmonton is five kilometres closer to the University of Alberta Hospital and eight kilometres closer to the Royal Alexandra Hospital - the two nearest hospitals to Edmonton International Airport, where NWT medevac flights will likely have to go once the City of Edmonton decommissions the downtown Edmonton City Centre Airport. That may not seem like much in the grand scheme of things but as Mayor Gord Van Tighem points out, every minute counts.

Yellowknifers did not say "no" to the Canadian Forces when military officers asked residents here to give up their public spaces, as they did during exercise Arctic Ram last February. So why isn't the military backing us up now? We suspect it's the same condition that affects many a bureaucracy in this country - too busy serving its own ends to remember who they work for, the public.

Low voter turnout at the Oct. 15 school board elections indicates more work needs to be done to streamline the new election format introduced last week.

Less than 30 per cent of eligible voters cast a ballot in the school board elections, which represents the lowest participation rate in recent memory.

Officials with both school boards speculate the low turnout was a result of the new process, in which the school board ballots were issued at polls separate from the municipal election.

Some voters were confused by the new format, and those individuals deserve assurance that their next experience at the ballot box will be more straightforward.

Outgoing Mayor Gord Van Tighem heralds the new format as a success because ballots were counted relatively quickly and pollster volunteers, many of them seniors, were not asked to work late into the evening on election night. He said the two-stream process will remain in the future.

If that is to be the case, the city and school boards should work together to troubleshoot, in an effort to encourage greater voter turnout.

Voting should be as simple possible, and communication is the key.

Next year, voters should be made aware of what to expect well ahead of election day, and the public's input on how to improve the process should be considered.

One change to the Yellowknife Education District No. 1 elections that shouldn't be adopted is the suggestion to reserve a trustee seat for an aboriginal candidate, as proposed by outgoing trustee Reanna Erasmus during a board meeting held earlier this month.

While aboriginal representation should be fully encouraged, reserving a spot on that basis is neither necessary nor beneficial. Erasmus garnered a healthy number of votes in earning her position, and that should remain the way seats around the school board table are filled.

The prospect of NHL hockey this season, especially a full 82-game schedule, is looking dim.

The National Hockey League Players' Association (NHLPA) rejected the NHL's latest proposal this past week and countered with three proposals of its own, all variations of the original it submitted a month previously.

Not surprisingly, the NHL threw its hands up in frustration and walked away, yet there is still hope a new collective bargaining agreement (CBA) will be struck to salvage a part of the 2012-13 season.

Those familiar with the way NHLPA head Donald Fehr conducts business weren't surprised by the rejection of the owners' latest proposal, even with a 50-50 split of hockey-related revenues (HRR).

Fehr is an all-or-nothing negotiator, and he's fuelling the players' somewhat misguided belief they "lost" the last round of negotiations when the NHL rolled back salaries and adopted a salary cap.

The fact neither did anything to stem the upward trend of player salaries -- noted by Forbes magazine as the top detriment to franchise values in the NHL -- is immaterial to Fehr's way of thinking.

So, too, is presenting the numbers accurately.

In rejecting the NHL's latest offer, Fehr told the players, taking for granted revenues grow at five per cent a year during the sixyear deal, they would lose $1.65 billion compared to their percentage in the previous CBA.

If league revenues grow to 7.1 per cent, it would grow to $1.776 billion.

What Fehr left out was the fact the players had previously agreed to drop their percentage of HRR from 57 to an average of 53.5 per cent.

Anyone who has ever been involved in negotiations knows once an offer is put on the table, it becomes a given.

So, at the NHLPA's own average number of 53.5 per cent, the difference in what the owners offered them drops to between $110 million to $200 million, depending on growth reaching five or seven per cent, if they grow at all.

And they may not, as fans are getting more and more upset with the money being paid to the players and the constant bickering and mistrust between the two sides.

Fehr is also the man who caused the World Series of baseball to be cancelled for the only time in history, and vehemently opposed drug testing when he was head of the baseball union.

To Mr. Fehr, it's all about the money.

Yet, the two sides are on the top of the same page, at least, in accepting the fact the split of HRR should be near 50-50.

Fehr, of course, is making this look like a huge concession on the part of the players, and wants to ensure their drop from 57 per cent is phased in gradually.

There are other areas of concern, including the NHL's proposed five-year maximum on contract length.

But, if the two sides can figure out how to get to 50-50 in a way that works for both, the rest should be worked out in time to salvage at least part of the season

However, if the Winter Classic at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor between the Leafs and Red Wings on Jan. 1, 2013, is cancelled, much of the NHL's desire to make a deal disappears with it.

Hockey-mad Kivalliq fans can join the rest of the country in keeping a close eye on what evolves during the next 10 days, as NHL hockey for the foreseeable future probably hangs in the balance.

Voters in Norman Wells and Fort Smith surged to the polls on Oct. 15. Voter turnout for those two communities was 75.7 per cent and 66 per cent, respectively, and the strongest of the five municipalities to hold elections in the NWT.

Voter interest in Norman Wells was not surprising considering the community's ongoing energy crisis. The next council will be tasked with solving the pressing issue of how to replace natural gas. Mayor Dudley Johnson, who was ousted by challenger Harold McGregor, had an ambitious, yet costly plan on the table to convert the community to a centralized wood pellet boiler system. It was a campaign point he and McGregor differed on substantially. McGregor also took a cooler approach to development in Norman Wells in advance of an anticipated oil and gas exploration boom in the region, saying the town has time to move slowly and do things properly.

Johnson, on the other hand, expressed a sense of urgency to build more housing and be prepared for an increase in population - something McGregor wasn't convinced is going to happen quickly.

McGregor's message must have resonated with voters, as a commanding majority chose him to take the helm of the next council.

Fort Smith, which dealt with a divisive municipal staff strike prior to the election, seemed to cast its votes in reaction to that incident, ousting Mayor Janie Hobart in favour of challenger Brad Brake. Brake's campaign focused, in part, on smoothing over damaged relations at town hall following the strike.

In Inuvik, former premier Floyd Roland will lead the least-changed council - all but one incumbent was re-elected. Energy is a hot topic in Inuvik as the town seeks solutions to its dwindling natural gas supply. Since the solution will likely involve co-operation from all levels of government, Roland might be the best man for the job. He comes to the table with a host of political contacts in the GNWT and the Government of Canada.

In Hay River, residents have been hit hard over the past term by council infighting and the mayor's resignation, which sparked an investigation into the town's finances and contracting practices. If that wasn't enough, residents have endured three tragic killings this year. This combination created a community yearning for change.

Hay River's election attracted 1,200 voters to the polls and with only one incumbent running - Ken Latour dropped out mid-race and Andrew Cassidy threw his hat in for mayor - the community will have a host of new faces offering leadership at the council table. It will be vital that this new council, under Cassidy, who was elected mayor, demonstrates both co-operation and openness not only among each other but also with the community. That is the only way a positive direction for change can be set.

In Fort Simpson, a mix of new and old politicians will convene around the council table. The community will be looking for its civic politicians to address infrastructure issues and lobby the territorial government for improvements to the highway system leading into the community.

Congratulations to all the new and returning members of council, and a kudos to the residents who exercised their democratic duty to help select the people will lead their communities over the next three years.

Although the election is over, those taking office must work to keep their communities informed and conduct themselves in a manner that best serves community members.

Residents also carry an obligation: they must keep a watchful eye, to hold councillors and mayors to the promises that earned their votes.

Though pricey airfare and accommodations can make Nunavut a tough sell as a tourist destination, it is a part of Canada that inspires much fascination from our southern neighbours, and that interest is bankable.

The GN spent $233,000 to bring CTV's Canada AM to Iqaluit for a two-part special in July. Whether that investment results in a spike in tourist traffic to the Arctic is yet to be seen.

Dramatically increased website traffic on both the Nunavut Tourism and GN websites recently, as cited by Economic Development and Transportation deputy minister Robert Long, is a positive indicator, at least.

The Economic Development department estimates a TV advertisement campaign with exposure similar to the Canada AM show would have cost $1 million. This is a good example of the GN taking advantage of a creative and relatively cheap way to market the territory.

For good or ill, people watch a lot of TV. Newfoundland and Labrador has seen a marked boost to tourism which it credits to its Find Yourself ad campaign over the past few years, which features breathtaking shots of pristine landscapes and rural life. According to that province's Department of Tourism, Culture and Recreation, non-resident visits rose 7.9 per cent in 2010 compared to 2009, with 518,500 visitors - the first time it's broken the half-million mark.

While Nunavut wouldn't realistically be shooting for figures in that range, largely due to the cost of a trip north, the benefits of increased understanding and interest in Nunavut and Inuit culture might be realized outside the territory as well. Inuit arts and crafts are sold in many southern galleries, and piqued interest from smart marketing would surely attract more sales. As well, with more mining in the territory will come more mining executives, board members and shareholders who might want to take advantage of business trips in Nunavut by touring communities and shopping for art.

Though it's unlikely tourism will be a major factor in the territory's economy in the near future, the $233,000 spent on landing Canada AM was a sound risk. Perhaps it will make someone check out the Nunavut art section of a gallery in Montreal, or consider embarking on a cruise through the Northwest Passage, or maybe businesspeople might extend their stay in the territory when they get the chance to fly up on a business trip.

It's also not a bad thing to show off the territory and its culture to Canadians who are all investing in Nunavut with their tax dollars which, through federal transfer payments, pay for most of the territorial budget.

A moment of silence enveloped the room at the seventh annual Sisters in Spirit Vigil held at Northern United Place on Oct. 4.

The crowd of close to 100 people gathered in the auditorium that afternoon bowed their heads as a slideshow displayed the names and faces of some of the Northerners who are among the hundreds of aboriginal women and girls who have been murdered or have gone missing in Canada in recent decades.

The late Mariella Lennie, who at age 17 was found in the water near Con Mine Dock in 1992, and Charlene Catholique, who disappeared after accepting a ride with a stranger from Behchoko to Yellowknife at age 15 in 1990, were two of the lives being remembered.

The Yellowknife vigil, which was held in solidarity with more than 150 similar events across the country, was organized by the Native Women's Association of the NWT as a call for awareness and change. The organization wants all levels of government to work with aboriginal women and their representative organizations to right the circumstances that have allowed so many aboriginal women to be killed or go missing.

Justice Minister Glen Abernethy and several RCMP officers attended the Yellowknife vigil. Nationally, the RCMP has identified the need "to address the fact that aboriginal women face considerably higher risks of violence and homicide," as stated on the force's website. In addition to being over-represented as victims of homicide, the site adds that aboriginal women are three-times more likely to be victims of violence than non-aboriginal women.

The 1996 Report of the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples identifies "the breakdown of healthy family life resulting from residential school upbringing, racism against aboriginal peoples, the impact of colonialism on traditional values and culture, and overcrowded, substandard housing" as issues that need to be considered.

The Oct. 4 vigil reminds governments and police officers in Yellowknife that no matter how deep, complicated and dire the problems are that compromise the safety of aboriginal women and girls, those who hold the responsibility to protect all members of society must heed the demand to bring an as-yet unseen degree of safety and security to the lives of all aboriginal women and girls.

There is more than meets the eye regarding a proposed joint bid by Yellowknife-based aviation company Discovery Air and Spanish aircraft manufacturer Airbus Military to replace Canada's aging fixed-wing search and rescue fleet with the C295 aircraft and establish a search and rescue base in Yk.

In short, it's huge.

First, keep in mind that the whole issue of a new search and rescue fleet has been initiated by Ottawa. Following on the heels of the 2008 Canada First Defence Strategy was a 2009 call to industry for feedback on high-level requirements for the air fleet, with an eye to replace the CC-115 Buffalo and the CC-130 Hercules.

Second, despite the use of volunteer spotters from the Civilian Air Search and Rescue Association, search and rescue operations have been, and are proposed to continue being, an undertaking of the Canadian Forces. The military aircraft are staffed by military pilots and military search and rescue technicians and are serviced in part by the military.

Third, this has the potential to become a 20-year contract worth approximately $3 billion. The federal government is developing its request for proposals and has asked industry to propose the type and quantity of aircraft and where they will be based.

Fourth, the method of search and rescue has changed dramatically. No longer will it be reliant on eyeballs scanning vast tracts of land and sea, trying to find a black spot on the white snow. Instead, the new aircraft will be equipped with infrared sensors and search radar capable of finding lost people quicker and easier.

The twin-engine turboprop C295 has a rear ramp for dropping life-saving equipment and allows SAR technicians to parachute to the scene during a rescue mission.

Because Canada is reviewing the locations of its four search and rescue bases - in Comox, B.C., Winnipeg, Trenton, Ont. and Greenwood, N.S. - and since Prime Minister Stephen Harper has repeatedly spoken of the need for greater sovereignty in the North, we think the Discovery-Airbus proposal to supply the aircraft and establish a search and rescue base in Yellowknife deserves support.

When the request for proposals is made, we encourage Northern politicians to back the bid to benefit Yellowknife.

Up until Oct. 1, the village of Fort Simpson has been working with a rather antiquated dog bylaw which was drafted in the 1980s and amended slightly over the years. Similar to the old NWT Dog Act, the village's bylaw focused more on canines affecting human lives than the other way around.

In the old bylaw, only Section 22(i) referred to dog abuse while a number of other areas referred to dogs causing a nuisance, running at large and attacking persons, animals or personal property.

That said, the penalty for poorly treating a dog was reasonably high with violators facing a fine of not more than $2,000 or imprisonment not exceeding six months or both. The new bylaw, however, goes a step further by introducing fines for not providing dogs with necessary needs, such as fresh drinking water or suitable food, adequate outdoor shelter, a sanitary pen or a sufficient area to move.

This is no doubt a step in the right direction yet there is still room to grow. The bylaw was updated so that it fit with the territory's new dog act but in a study released July 9 the NWT placed near the bottom of the list in a report that analyzed the animal protection laws of each province and territory in Canada. This was the fifth year the territory has taken one of the bottom slots in the Animal Legal Defense Fund's report. One of the biggest criticisms of the Dog Act is it only covers canines and not cats or other domestic animals.

For these reasons, the village should have referred to Dog Acts and bylaws created in other provinces, including Manitoba which took the top spot in the rankings.

Nonetheless, the new bylaw is better than the old and for it to work the bylaw officer will not only need to continue to be diligent in her job but she will also need the support of the community. The village's bylaw officer is responsible for a number of duties and enforcing the dog bylaw is only one of them.

Part of the reason for the revision of the bylaw was the numerous calls the village received regarding ill-treatment of dogs.

Now that the officer has the ability to respond to these situations with more force, reports of abuse are even more important because a greater difference can be made.

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Don't forget to thank our volunteers
Editorial Comment
Danielle Sachs
Inuvik Drum - Thursday, Oct. 18, 2012

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The Inuvik Heritage Festival has been temporarily cancelled.

There's no way to dance around it, that's just bad news.

The festival would have taken place this coming weekend. It would have been a place to experience different cultures without booking an insanely expensive flight out of Inuvik.

Now, I haven't had the chance to experience the Heritage Festival yet, but missing it is not an option, from what I've been told. Food from around the world is apparently one of the highlights, and the thought of a different kind of community feast makes facing the increasingly shorter days a little more bearable.

Let's be clear, the festival isn't cancelled forever. For now, it's just postponed until maybe January or February. Different groups just didn't have enough funds for food and volunteers to prepare for the event.

It's understandable that with all the concerns raised about the economy and the high cost of living, groups have decided it's just not feasible to provide a free meal. However, putting it off until the future doesn't seem fair.

Organizer Tony Devlin said the decision was made because the food is one of the biggest draws and it would have been more like a half-festival without it.

But why not get out there and learn about a different culture? For a town of less than 4,000, Inuvik has a remarkable diversity of residents.

But it wasn't only the lack of food that was an issue. Volunteers, or the lack of them, was another big issue.

I know, we often talk about the importance of volunteers. Does it take the cancellation of a prized event to cement their importance in our minds?

There are so many causes, events and celebrations in Inuvik and you'll often see the same people volunteering at each one.

No one is trying to lay blame on people who can't volunteer. Everyone has commitments that have to take priority. Family, work, sleep and basic hygiene are a few that come to mind. And that's if you don't take any free time for yourself.

I'm confident the Heritage Festival will be back and maybe it will even be bigger than ever. But in the meantime, take the time and nominate someone you know for the volunteer appreciation dinner.

The dinner is Nov. 10 and, while it might not be a few hours of much-needed rest, it's one way to give thanks for the difference they make in the community.

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