Friday, September 25, 1998
It was a definite eye-opener for some to learn just how dilapidated our city's government wharf is.
The last documented repairs to the dock date back to 1976, and the last federal inspection was 13 years ago. The Canadian Coast Guard, which recently assumed ownership of the dock from Transport Canada, has been scrambling to come up with a management plan for the popular wharf.
This summer, the coast guard ordered a 70-page report on the state of the wharf. It found that not only have several abandoned vehicles piled up over the years, but a lot of junk is interfering with day to day functions.
The coast guard went even further last week by holding a public meeting inviting the dock's users and interested parties to offer suggestions on what should be done.
Users, such as Greg Whitlock who owns the Norweta and moors yearly at the dock, and neighbouring lot owner John Alexander, agree the mess has to be dealt with.
Now, as reported in today's issue of xxxYellowknifer, the Canadian Coast Guard has ordered all debris and vehicles off the property as soon as possible. Non-commercial vessels have been given until October 15 to vacate.
Coast guard officials have also promised that new guidelines, taking into account the public input, will be in place by Spring 1999.
The eviction notice may not be good news for all the canoeists and boaters who utilize the dock on a first-come-first serve basis. It puts more pressure on the what little waterfront is available for public access which is something the city must address immediately. Commercial dock users may also have to make some adjustments.
But at least the coast guard is consulting the public and users and takes their needs into account. The end result should be a better organized and more functional government dock.
Another Prospects North has come and gone. By all accounts, this year's conference was a success, bringing together the various components of Northern business to share ideas, generate sales and promote products.
A couple of visionaries from the south delivered keynote speeches outlining their strategies for the North's future.
Perhaps the biggest benefit for Northerners is the opportunity to learn from each other. Prospects North is an occasion to see what the market responds to and where unfulfilled needs lie. If we can profit from these lessons, then we can truly count this year's Prospects North a success.
Often overlooked and underestimated, the Salvation Army quietly carries on, offering services to this community. Its contribution fills a big need in Yellowknife.
There is the emergency shelter, a free place to stay for the homeless and the desperate, and the kitchen, which offers two meals a day to those who need it.
As government agencies shift social responsibilities to the city in the name of empowerment, we will increasingly rely on the experience and the generosity of organizations such as the Sally Ann. We should all keep that in mind next time the men and women in uniform come asking for support.
Editorial comment
Glen Korstrom
Inuvik Drum
The Gwich'in Tribal Council election tomorrow and the Inuvik town council election on Oct. 19, both count on the smooth running of democracy.
Democracy enables all people through their votes to influence their own destiny. It gives people the chance to vent grievances while helping the political ambitions of those with similar minds.
It may also be an unregulated process whereby voters trade their votes for promises from candidates to, for example, help pay down town debt, lower taxes or to provide funding to help those in need get back on their feet.
In the Gwich'in election, beneficiaries can air concerns about the land claim or internal business dealings.
That is why it is important to vote and why it is everyone's responsibility to take measures to ensure its longevity.
At a committee of the whole meeting of town councillors Sept. 21, Coun. Vince Sharpe moved to open a second polling station for election day Oct. 19.
In 1996, there was only one polling station and limited parking.
Derek Lindsay assured council that Ingamo Hall could be available as an in-kind donation, so the only extra costs would be for election officials to man the station.
But the key question was asked by Coun. Donna Allen.
"How can we be sure people do not vote at one polling station and then go to the other one and vote there?" she asked.
Indeed.
Several councillors rejected Allen's suggestion, which I agree with, to divide the voters' list and have people vote at the polling station closer to where they live.
Those councillors argued people should be able to vote closer to where they work if they so choose.
Returning officer Don Howden said the safeguard against voting irregularities, which would taint the election result, is that "People are on their honour."
Legal comfort comes because voting twice contravenes the Election Act and carries the possibility of prosecution.
But with the NWT Election Act not requiring voters to provide photo identification or any proof that they have lived in Inuvik for the past 12 consecutive months, the process is open to abuse.
I am not advocating a rural-India-style indelible ink on fingers to ensure people only vote once -- nor the hefty expense of enumerating people door-to-door.
Freedom entails responsibility and a social contract depends on honesty.
And this is an opportunity for the people of Inuvik to demonstrate how highly held that value is in town.
Editorial comment
Derek Neary
Deh Cho Drum
I've been on this job for roughly 10 weeks now. As you might expect, I meet many people every week. That's a pleasure for me.
But there are a few things you ought to know.
First of all, I'm terrible with names (and I'm not alone). I honestly don't know where my mind is when people are introducing themselves, but I can assure you it's not concentrating on committing their names to memory.
I've heard about that technique of repeating a person's name several times in order to make it stick. I've been meaning to try that. So, please, if you meet me in the near future, don't hesitate to make a production out of introducing yourself. Shout out your name, say it really slowly, or say it 10 times. I promise I'll get the hint.
Second, I'd like you to know some of my feelings about my job. This is only place in the paper I have to talk about such a thing -- the opinion column. Sometimes, you will find it full of rambling thoughts, such as this week. Other times, there will be a heart-felt attempt to bring out two sides of an issue. The articles that fill the rest of the paper are meant to tell your stories -- the way you related them to me. My opinion is irrelevant there.
A minority of people I meet tell me they distrust the media because they have been misquoted in the past or taken entirely out of context. They say they were portrayed as the bad guys. Well, I don't doubt that has occurred. However, I personally make a concerted effort to ensure that doesn't happen. It's not that I don't make mistakes. I do. But if you tell me, "This means x to me," then that is exactly what you can expect to see in the paper.
Some people I have met tell me about their favourite editors of years past and what those editors did to make the paper special. I hope not to disappoint any reader of the Drum. If there is something that is not receiving the coverage that it used to, let me know. Perhaps I can do something more. Maybe you would be willing to submit something. Time and space only allow for a finite amount of material. We'll see what we can do.
Finally, back on the topic of meeting people. Most of my experiences on this job are as fascinating as the people I meet. There are some who instantaneously make an impression, as Cathy Pope did last week. What a humorous and candid lady. You can find her comments in this week's Coffee Break. Her merry manner made her seem more like an old friend by day's end than someone with whom I had just become acquainted.
Not everybody is that way. I don't think I could honestly claim that I could be so comfortable talking with a "stranger." Regardless, my job is to ask questions. By and large, they aren't difficult to answer.
I do want to tell your story.