Editorial page

Friday, June 11, 1999

Dealer's Choice

In the big stakes game of marketing Giant mine, DIAND just tipped their hand.

Last week DIAND's assistant deputy minister, Jim Moore, said the feds would be willing to reduce the liability on the arsenic cleanup for a potential buyer of Giant mine.

With any potential revenue arising from the sale of the mine going directly to the receiver, DIAND has been playing their cards close to their chest -- looking for at least part any deal to be allocated for cleanup costs.

As they should, DIAND is looking out for the best interest of the taxpayers.

While the people of Canada should not have to pay for Royal Oaks' crimes against nature and the incompetence of the water board, we have to look at cutting our losses here.

The game is cut-throat poker -- no draw and no wild cards.

If the mine does not sell, the receiver will soon run out of operating money and Giant will close.

Yellowknife will have 250 miners unemployed and DIAND is on the hook for at least a $250,000 sub-surface cleanup.

While the dealer shuffles the deck over and over, 250 miners with families are wondering about holiday pay, compensation pay and next week's pay.

DIAND has to help the receiver make a quick sale of this property before the window of opportunity closes - along with the Giant portal.

A "reduction in liability" upgrades the mine to a fixer-upper at best, but we'd like to see a full-on commitment from the feds to attract a buyer and keep our guys working.

The pot just got sweeter, but so far nobody's playing the game.


Buying red tape

Six million dollars seems like a lot of money to spend to set up yet another government corporation.

Nevertheless, that's what a Vancouver-based consultant recently recommended in order to focus attention on and get a handle on non-renewable resources in the Northwest Territories.

While it is undeniably true that resources like oil, gas and diamonds are bringing more jobs and greater benefits to the North than any other sector, is it really rational to spend money we don't have, to set up another committee (nine members) to 'big brother' it?

Perhaps if the committees, boards and government watchgroups we already have could focus a bit sharper, or work together, we could work just as effectively. Let's save the $6 million for things like health or education.


It's history

Grave sites and the disposal of the dead are two very serious subjects. People are bound to have firmly held opinions and strong sensitivities about the matter.

The Back Bay cemetery, which has been designated a heritage site, is eroding. If something isn't done, we face a scene from a stomach-churning Hollywood horror film. The cost of repair is high.

The alternative is to relocate the bodies buried there, which would entail contacting the families and deciding on a new resting place.That doesn't sound cheap either.

The Back Bay cemetery is as much a part of Yellowknife's heritage as the Woodyard or the Wildcat Cafe. Preserving the cemetery would not only salvage a bit of our history, it would be honouring the pioneers who are buried there.

Either way, we will have to spend the money. Let's spend it on our heritage.


Making a difference
Editorial Comment
Paula White
Inuvik Drum

The fire department, department of highways, bylaw department and the police really outdid themselves last weekend with the bike rodeo.

I couldn't believe my eyes at how many kids and parents showed up for the event. More than 150 were there with their bicycles, rollerblades and skateboards. It was an amazing sight.

But the rodeo was impressive for many reasons. First of all, it was extremely well-organized. There may have been a long wait in the lineup to get in, but I think most people would agree it was worth it. The kids received free helmets, had their bikes inspected to make sure they were safe to ride and then they were tested on balance and other skills.

It was also impressive because of the number of volunteers. According to Julie Miller, one of the organizers, 20 people from the fire department, RCMP and department of highways volunteered to man the stations, cook hotdogs and take registrations. As if that wasn't enough, many also volunteered their Saturday afternoon to build the skateboard ramp that was set up in the arena.

I should mention the prizes too. If there was one kid who went home without one, I'd be very surprised. I couldn't believe how many there were! Bikes (which don't come cheap these days), rollerblades, helmets...you name it.

All of this was for the purpose of increasing awareness about bicycle and road safety among the kids. I most definitely think that was accomplished, just judging by the number of helmets I've seen in the few days since the rodeo.

A few weeks back, I remember making an observation to someone about how there seemed to be very few bicycle helmets used around town. In many places now, helmets are law. Any and all cyclists, young or old, have to wear one. I guess I was just used to seeing people wear them.

It's quite a relief to see more helmets being used. With so many bikes and cars sharing the roads, it only makes sense.

There. I've nagged enough about that. I guess I'll save the sermon about the dangers of shopping carts for another time.

Crime time

This is just an observation, but I see that criminals have been busy, breaking and entering, stealing motorcycles and front-end loaders and whatnot.

I am a bit surprised at this. Not at the fact that somebody would steal a front- end loader, although that is a bit strange. But I would have thought that crime would go down around this time of year, with it being daylight 24 hours and all (it's no secret that most criminals prefer to work under the cover of darkness). From what I've seen, there are still so many people up and about in the midnight hours that it's hard to believe more criminals aren't caught in the act.

Somebody told me that more crimes are committed in summer than in the winter months. I guess the cold puts the criminals off. I was surprised by this at first, but then I haven't spent a winter in Inuvik yet. If it's anything like Yellowknife, I can see why the cold would be more of a deterrent that 24-hour daylight.


The grads of tomorrow
Editorial Comment
Derek Neary
Deh Cho Drum

Thomas Simpson school valedictorian Jonathan Tsetso concluded his address with these three words: "It feels good."

Undoubtedly, it was an incredible sensation the 10 high school grads felt on Saturday (and well into the wee hours of Sunday morning). Technically, it was pointed out, none of the grads were yet officially grads, they had to pass their departmental exams first. It didn't appear that anyone was sweating it out over the weekend. There's a time and place for the nervous energy that's associated with cramming for exams and it had no place in the building on Saturday.

Valedictorian Tsetso's address was indicative of the intimate atmosphere found in a small community high school. He opened by describing each of the other graduates in his own words, something graduates from urban schools couldn't possibly do. Obviously he is well acquainted with his nine peers. The knowing glances each of them exchanged reinforced that. They will undoubtedly share many wonderful memories of their school days and their extracurricular activities in Fort Simpson.

The ceremony was aptly titled Exploring New Horizons. That's exactly what the 10 teenagers from the Deh Cho will be doing next: testing their wings in post-secondary education, travelling or taking on jobs.

There was mention of the numerous opportunities that exist for the graduating class of 1999. No mention was made, however, of the lingering doubt that exists -- at least in the minds of some -- over the quality of education in the North. Whether it's the inclusionary schooling policy or the lack of "cutting edge" academic facilities found in the south, there are those who question the overall preparedness of the graduates from this part of the country.

Those concerns can only be magnified in light of the reduced Department of Education budget. Melaw Daycare is apparently struggling to get by after absorbing a 50 per cent cut in their government funding. Regardless of whether the slashing of funds comes as a result of an oversight or not, the move is contradictory to a recommendation from the Minister's Forum on Education to put greater emphasis on early childhood education. A daycare is not a place where children should be "babysat" while their parents are at work. If the funding isn't adequate, that's a risk we are assuming. As Melaw Childcare Centre Manager Sharon Brown put it, a daycare is supposed to be a place where children are taught life skills and educated for kindergarten. Without money for program supplies and enough to keep qualified and enthusiastic staff, what is the organization to do? Even before the cuts in April, how many employees had come and gone through the revolving door that is the daycare? It's a very demanding job with no benefits.

Those who have children beyond age five who may no longer be in need of its services, they have to wonder what lies ahead in the next school year. The shrinking education budget is bound to have an effect on each level of learning sooner or later.


Budding future for Leaf fans
Editorial Comment
Darrell Greer
Kivalliq News

The good folks who have been making the lives of Leaf fans across the Keewatin just a little less sunnier this past week had better enjoy themselves while they can because the future is, indeed, bright in Bud Land.

Long the nemesis in Toronto, the Maple Leafs finally have a firm upper-management structure in place and a bonafide hockey man pulling the strings in Ken Dryden.

Dryden has taken the Leafs a long way in a short period of time and his cautious approach is going to pay even more dividends in the upcoming seasons.

Many have questioned Dryden's reluctance to grant Mike Smith general manager status in the past year, preferring instead the GM by committee approach he has successfully employed and there is a good reason for that.

The knock on Smith since his days in Winnipeg has always been his over dependence on European players. And, although the Leafs had a great run this year, their inability to match Buffalo on an emotional level may lead to Dryden bringing more of a North American flavour to the team next year and Smith having a change of address.

Mats Sundin is, without a doubt, the most skilled player on the Buds squad. However, Toronto fans can't forget the heart-and-soul performance of Doug Gilmour captaining the Leafs to consecutive conference finals in 1993 and '94.

As skilled as Sundin is, he is not able to raise the level of play of those around him and his laid back approach is not conducive to leading by example. This is not to suggest the Leafs should trade Sundin, rather bring in a more emotional player to wear the "C" and allow Sundin to just play the game.

The Leafs will have to dip into the free agent market again this summer if they are to build upon their existing roster, but they have a trio of blue chip prospects who are only a couple of years away.

Leafs top pick (10th overall) last year, Nikaloi Antropov, is a 19-year-old centre who combines size (6' 5", 200 lbs.) with skill and should be a solid two-way player upon his arrival. Defenceman Peter Svoboda is progressing nicely and is the defenceman only type of player the Leafs desperately need.

Boston College's Jeff Farkas is taking the Mike Johnson route to the NHL, finishing his education before trying to make the jump to the bigs. If Farkas (6' 1" but only 171 lbs.) can handle NHL banging, he may be the sleeper of the Leaf organization.

Above average speed and blossoming play-making skills could make Farkas a 60-80 point centre a few years down the road.

Add to this the improved play of Adam Mair, who may be ready to become a solid two-way centre in the NHL. Ditto Alayn MacAulay, the forgotten man in Toronto lately. If MacAulay rebounds from his injury woes, look for him to continue the marked improvement we witnessed the past half season.

All in all, Leaf fans will have good reason to cheer for the foreseeable future and Lord Stanley's homecoming might not be all that far away.