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The inability of hospital security guards to physically restrain violent patients means only one thing: this dangerous responsibility will fall onto the shoulders of health-care workers.

This is neither hypothetical, nor a worst-case-scenario situation - it's a fact most recently highlighted just one week ago when it took up to 10 hospital staff - mostly nurses - to restrain a violent, kicking, scratching patient. At least three hospital staff members were injured in just the latest incident of violence at Stanton Territorial Hospital.

A document obtained by Yellowknifer late last year tells a grim tale of incident-upon-incident of spitting, biting, pulling hair and more against hospital staff by patients.

The very morning of the latest violent rampage last Friday, Health Minister Glen Abernethy's comments were published in Yellowknifer stating that steps have been taken to avoid a repeat of an incident that occurred Nov. 20, where a patient in the emergency room went ballistic, chasing around staff and destroying expensive medical equipment.

These so-called steps are clearly not working, and change must be swift before nurses end up in body bags for simply showing up to work.

Both hospital staff and security guards are trained to flee a situation should they not be able to control it with words, but Friday's incident illustrates that's not always possible. Somebody should be able to immediately stop a violent patient who - while staff and security are hiding away - could hurt themselves, other patients or seriously damage equipment.

Reaction from hospital administration has been vague. "We're meeting with staff," was the initial answer and they've been mum to Yellowknifer ever since.

There's a bit of a confusing haze surrounding what exactly prevents security guards from touching a violent patient.

Stanton's medical director Dr. Anna Reid initially told Yellowknifer territorial legislation prevented security guards from physically intervening before correcting herself later to say it was the "lack" of legislation that is the problem. In his Jan. 20 e-mail to Weledeh MLA Bob Bromley, Abernethy blames the media for the confusion before muddying the water further by insisting there is neither "legislation prohibiting" guards from intervening nor is there legislation "allowing" them to intervene. He later told Yellowknifer that the barrier to intervention is a "philosophical" policy at the hospital.

Frankly, this all just bureaucratic squid ink.

Clearly, staff will intervene and risk injury if there is an immediate crisis as last Friday's incident illustrates. The reality of the situation is that without security on hand who are capable of acting immediately, the responsibility will fall onto the doctors and nurses attending to the patient.

Following a stabbing incident at the hospital where a patient plunged a knife into his heart, the minister, as a regular MLA, supported special constables in the hospital when it was recommended in 2011.

Instead of going around in a great big circle to nowhere that seems to begin and end with a "working group," immediate action is required -- before somebody gets killed.

Last year's drought is a gift that keeps on giving.

It lowered water levels, raised NWT Power Corporation's reliance on diesel for energy and resulted in a territorial government announcement that it was diverting $20 million to cover the 40,000 litres of fuel per day the Jackfish Power Plant now requires to keep Yellowknife's lights on. This commitment comes with a $45,000 daily price tag.

It's an exponential jump from power corp.'s average diesel consumption in the North Slave of roughly 958 litres - or $1,164 -- per day.

Now, there may not be a city with less in common with Yellowknife than Dehli, the sweltering, bustling, ancient capital of India with a population of 16.7 million people, but it seems we have now matched it on a rather dubious milestone - commuters in Dehli guzzle the same amount of fuel per day as Jackfish.

Looking up "unsustainable" in the dictionary, Merriam Webster ought to inscribe a photo of Jackfish below it.

The idea behind the GNWT's decision was to get NTPC through last year's drought, but Finance Minister Michael Miltenberger admitted to Yellowknifer last week the GNWT might have to consider doubling down on its $20-million commitment because it's likely the drought will continue. Our finance minister has another idea - namely a higher credit limit.

He added "we're going to be going ahead with a maintenance approach (to energy) as opposed to an approach with some vision to it" if the federal government doesn't raise the NWT's debt ceiling.

So, according to the minister, either the GNWT uses credit to invest in energy infrastructure or it prays for rain while subsidizing the NTPC.

Miltenberger has created a false dilemma. To be visionary is to think outside the box and we pay our leaders generously to do this. With or without a higher debt ceiling, the GNWT needs to figure out a way to build a sustainable energy infrastructure.

A project that is expected to save homeowners and the GNWT money by switching from electric water heaters to fuel-fired water heaters in homes saw the last tanks installed in this region recently.

The pilot project run by the Arctic Energy Alliance and funded by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources is a good way to help reduce the cost of living and overall fuel consumption in the North.

Two years ago, homeowners in the Deh Cho and Sahtu regions were recruited to complete an energy audit of their homes followed by the installation of the water tanks.

There was a minimal cost for the homeowner, considering the potential to save between $225 and $400 per year on their power bill.

While the savings for the homeowner are less than originally envisioned by the alliance when crafting the program, it's still a worthy project.

According to the alliance, an electric water heater can be responsible for up to half of a home's power usage.

Across the territory, there will be 47 electric water heaters swapped out for oil or propane fired water heaters by March 2015.

The swaps were completed in the Deh Cho last year.

The new heater is expected to reduce electrical bills by $225 to $400.

While that will mean users will see their fuel bill increase, it's expected to not be more than they save on their power bill.

As well, it's more efficient to heat the water using fuel than by power generated at a station by the power corporation and then transmitted to a home.

As power represents a major contributor to the cost of living in the North, both through residential utility bills and to the cost of doing business later shouldered by those who purchase local goods, this appears to be a good pilot project.

Reducing power bills will make living in the North easier. It will help keep money in the pockets of consumers.

The money saved can be put to use in grocery stores or other shops, helping boost the local economy.

Or people could invest in further energy efficiency projects around their home, further cutting their bills.

At this point, it isn't clear if the government will extend the program. That depends on whether more funding is included in the next territorial budget.

Given the potential long-term savings this project could have for the users and the government through reduced spending on fuel for power plants, we believe this should become more than a pilot project.

A community's ability to progress in a positive direction hinges greatly on the connectivity of its population. If residents go through their days living separate lives, only knowing the world inside the walls of their homes and offices, the thin fabric that holds a town together will begin to quickly unravel.

The women's group recently started by Inuvik's Justice Committee is a thread in that fabric that will help strengthen a segment of the community with limited opportunities.

Outside of working hours, there are few options for women to come together and be in a space with other women. The group isn't shaped around a specific program philosophy other than a safe space for women to be together.

Organizers are leaving it up to group members to decide what they would like to do with their two hours together each week. As one organizer told me, it's important the women be taking part in activities and learning useful skills that they want to learn, not what someone else tells them they should.

It's crucial to the success of a town like Inuvik that all its members find a place where they can learn, cultivate friendships, nurture self-growth and rediscover self-confidence. We have these opportunities for youth and for men. The chance for women in Inuvik to construct a solid foundation of growth and happiness - in a space for women, by women - will not only have an impact on individuals, but their home and work lives as well.

Let's be honest. It's easier for men to connect with other men in their communities. The opportunity for male residents to construct a social world is a far less daunting task than it is for women living here. It's always been that way, not just here, but all over Canada and the world.

But it doesn't have to be.

The desire of Ali McConnell and Kat Scarf to fill the gap in after-hours programming for women should be applauded. Inspired by successful women's groups in other communities in the territory, McConnell and Scarf saw the need for such programming.

Providing a place for women of all ages to convene on and connect, helps bridge the gap between generations.

It allows for younger women to learn from their elders, and vice versa. It allows for women to weave new friendships and build on their knowledge of the world around them. This is crucial to individual and community success.

The positive impacts this group will have on bettering Inuvik as a town, its people and its families, makes this venture an important one to support.

The outcome of a recent court case involving a public housing tenant who challenged her eviction after she refused to give up her cats exemplifies how the justice system ought to work.

NWT Supreme Court Justice Louise Charbonneau rightly upheld the Yellowknife Housing Authority's decision to evict her, yet declined to saddle the woman with impossible-to-pay legal bills - deciding instead to award a more modest sum of $500.

Anne-Marie Giroux, who represented herself, argued the housing authority's prohibition on pets discriminated against low-income families. This may be true but landlords shouldn't have to pay for the mess left behind by irresponsible pets owners. Destroyed furnishings caused by pets means higher costs for public housing providers, which likely means more money that ought to go toward public housing is going toward clean-up bills instead.

Nonetheless, people must be allowed to challenge the system if they feel they have been wronged.

Equality before the law is a cornerstone of our democracy. It doesn't work if people rich enough to hire Edmonton-based lawyers like the housing authority did are the only ones who can afford to seek justice.

After ruling the housing authority had the right to evict tenants for keeping pets, Charbonneau asked the authority to present legal costs - a normal outcome in any civil case. These are usually paid by the losing party. The bill presented by the housing authority was $9,569.

Charbonneau's decision on court costs was both legally sound and fair. The $500 award won't break Giroux's bank but ought to be large enough to warn others against filing frivolous court cases.

Many people hear these days about a broken court system. This case, at least, provides some evidence to the contrary.

With so many city councillors undecided about running again in this fall's municipal election, the time for those who think they have something to offer is now.

Only two councillors -- first-timers Linda Bussey and Rebecca Alty -- have confirmed they're throwing their names in the ring for another round. Seven-term Coun. Bob Brooks has said he won't be running again, ditto for two-term Coun. Cory Vanthuyne. The frontrunner in 2012, Coun. Dan Wong, is undecided which puts him in a position shared by half of council.

This suggests there's plenty of opportunity for those who want to try their hand at municipal politics.

While the Sept. 21 deadline for nominations may seem a long ways off, election day is only a few weeks later, on Oct. 15. Candidates have until then to convince voters to mark their names on the ballot. But doing so can be costly and would-be candidates should start to consider how they will get the necessary resources to run -- namely, money and people.

At the start of the last municipal election, council candidates reported campaign budgets ranging from less than $1,000 to a high of $8,000 to pay for campaign items, including signs and website registration.

But elections are not only about the candidate.

In the run up to the 2012 election, candidates reported having teams of supporters ranging from one - Vanthuyne reported his campaign team included just himself - to between 20 and 30 for Bussey. Those who do not wish to run themselves but believe the city would be well-served with a particular man or woman may want to be one of those supporters. And they should take the time to consider who they would like to support.

It's a little less than nine months off, but for those considering the challenge, it may be just enough time to form a realistic plan that will work with their budgets and manpower.

It could be Trudeau's time
Editorial Comment by Darell Greer
Kivalliq News - Wednesday, January 21, 2015

Federal Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau made better use of his 30 minutes on the ground in Rankin Inlet than anyone had the right to hope for earlier this month.

The youthful Trudeau was charismatic, charming, totally engaging and thoughtful while mixing effortlessly with those who came to the terminal to catch a glimpse of the man who could be Canada's prime minister.

Too much time, in all honesty, is spent on the Liberal leader's family name, and trying to draw impossible comparisons between him and his father, Pierre Elliott Trudeau, at the same age.

Yet, it's impossible to resist.

Many people assume having such a famous father opens doors for Justin which, otherwise, would remain locked at this stage of his career.

Justin, however, while noting his appreciation for those who support him due to fond memories of his father, is quick to point out there are many with not-so-fond memories of Pierre Elliott, and, rightly so, because it's going to take a hard uphill climb to win their support. Pierre Elliott was this nation's prime minister during some highly incendiary times.

Although he was this country's last truly charismatic leader, Pierre Elliott was forced into making some very tough decisions that affected a lot of Canadians and their beliefs.

Modern patriarchs of the families whose dreams or ambitions he severely damaged with those decisions continue to loathe the Trudeau name.

And more than a few of those families can be found deeply embedded within the corporate world that has become so friendly with Prime Minister Stephen Harper.

A tough path to our nation's top seat, indeed.

But, one does not have to spend much time in Justin's presence before finding oneself wanting to believe. Justin has what Hollywood so clearly defines as "it!"

While having "it" won't be found on the list of criteria needed to successfully govern our nation, it certainly doesn't hurt one's chances of obtaining such a lofty position.

More Canadians are sick of political rhetoric and government speak than at any other time in our history.

The decline in voter turnout -- especially among first-time voters, where only about one-third cast their ballots -- speaks volumes to the voter apathy that grips Canada.

With voters tuning out the issues and seeing little difference between parties, "it" becomes a commodity.

Memorable baseball manager Billy Martin once said in every clubhouse one-third of the players despise you, one-third love you and one-third aren't sure.

The key to survival, to him, was keeping the unsure away from the despisers.

The analogy closely parallels the situation Justin finds himself in, with a significant portion of the population signalling for change if, for no other reason, than for change's sake.

Should that remain constant until election day, "it" only increases its magnetism.

Justin is a relatively young man to be put in control of a nation, and that, of course, comes with inherent risks.

But, judging the performance of our current majority government, we just might be better off with "it."

Surrounded by good people should he become prime minister, Justin may show a whole lot of substance beneath that flash, and that's a gamble a majority of Canadians may be willing to take!

In government, the reality is often not as simple as common sense would dictate.

Take Sahtu MLA Norman Yakeleya's point made in News/North last week, that if the GNWT can afford a $300,000 trade mission to China and Japan, it should not be able to cry poor when asked to provide nurses in Tulita with decent furniture, level floors and vermin-free living quarters.

Unfortunately, government doesn't quite work that way. Even if the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment had decided $300,000 really is too much money to be spending on a junket, there would be many bureaucratic headaches involved in transferring those dollars to the Department of Health and Social Services, allocating it to the Sahtu health authority, and ensuring the housing complex is brought up to standard.

Even if all that was possible, Tulita nurses are unfortunately not the only government workers - and certainly not the only NWT residents - living in sub-par housing.

However, none of this means that common sense should not prevail. Nursing in a small community is a tough job in the best of conditions. The fact that the department has looked into the issue in Tulita and determined it just doesn't have the money to do anything about it right now is shameful, period.

Money didn't seem to be an issue when the GNWT burned $125,000 celebrating the 20th birthday of the legislative assembly in 2013. Probably not much of a mouse problem in that building.

Once again, the big bureaucracy that runs our territory has gotten in the way of doing the right thing, and kudos to Yakeleya for holding their feet to the fire over it.

Cost of the China trip aside though, looking for new business is a good thing and ITI Minister David Ramsay was right to point out that giving face is very important in Chinese and Japanese culture.

The goal of attracting people to immigrate to the Northwest Territories is also worth the trip.

However, as was pointed out in other media earlier this month, if the goal is to attract new residents, the GNWT would be wise to accept the applications of those who already want to move here.

An employee of the Yellowknife English Academy in Zhaoyuan, China, said he tried to help several entrepreneurs apply who wanted to move to the NWT to start up new businesses. However, no one could be found within the GNWT who knew anything about the Entrepreneur Business program that was launched in 2009.

Perhaps this is why the NWT doesn't has its 2,000 new residents yet.

In short, there is nothing wrong with sending a delegation overseas to promote the North. Promoting NWT fur is an excellent endeavor because it could potentially benefit trappers throughout the territory, not just businesspeople from the capital.

However, whether the trip really needed to cost $300,000 in taxpayer money should be thoroughly examined. Also, the government needs to be held accountable and pushed to show measurable results from these ventures.

Without them, it's just another junket.

Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau impressed the audience at Iqaluit's Nakasuk School Jan. 12, especially one-on-one as he worked the room, speaking individually with many of the 200 or so people in attendance.

People were clearly thrilled to meet him, shake his hand, pose for a photograph and chat briefly before he moved on to the next person.

Trudeau came to Nunavut after spending a few days in the NWT. He makes quite an impression on people personally. He spoke about how he learned to love the North as a young boy on a trip to the NWT with his father, then prime minister Pierre Trudeau, and thought it fitting to bring his son, Xavier, so the youngster could learn about the people of the North, too.

There were crowds of admirers wherever Trudeau went. For many, it was enough that he spoke in generalities about topics impacting Nunavut, that he mentioned in a short speech that the federal government's Nutrition North food subsidy program needs to be rebuilt. We continually hear talk about the problems related to the high cost of food and the inadequacies of the Nutrition North program. The Conservatives have announced some tightening of regulations, but we would love to hear some real solutions to the problem of food insecurity from the Liberal party.

Those who scrutinized Trudeau's visit would be hard pressed to find anything of substance that was said by him in Iqaluit. Oh, there was plenty of criticism levelled at the Conservative government, saying it has completely failed First Nations and Inuit. But he didn't say anything about what he brings to the table.

Most people accepted that the main purpose of his visit was to meet as many people as possible and to learn about the issues affecting Nunavummiut. However, to intelligent voters, his charm and good looks shouldn't be enough for his party's candidate to win in Nunavut. Consider that the candidate in the other corner is an Inuk cabinet minister who has announced literally hundreds of millions of dollars worth of spending on programs, services and assistance in the territory.

Trudeau has to demonstrate that he is knowledgeable enough on issues related to Nunavut to offer solutions, a platform, policies specific to the North and ideas for a Nunavut Liberal candidate to advance.

For the Liberal party to make any progress in Nunavut, it should have to come up with some real policies that surpass that of the Conservative government. Trudeau's plan should be better than the alternative before voters are swayed. Some will vote for style. We hope more will vote for style and substance.

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