Politics and business make uneasy bedfellows.
The legislative assembly is looking at what to do about ordinary MLAs who own businesses. One suggestion is to put the business in a blind trust.
That means someone else, such as a management or accounting company, would take over operating the business while the MLA is in office. Ministers are already obligated to go this route.
Theoretically, the MLA would not know what's going on with the business until he or she leaves the assembly and should be unable to misuse their political power.
MLAs who don't own businesses favour the blind trust while those with businesses think such a rule will discourage business people from running for office.
The most recent example of business and politics becoming entangled involved Yellowknife South MLA Seamus Henry. Henry negotiated a controversial water and sewage installation agreement with the City of Yellowknife for a piece of land upon which now sits the new Dairy Queen and Donut King.
Yellowknife Mayor Dave Lovell admitted the deal had been badly handled and Henry stood to benefit. Henry defended his actions by insisting he was an honest business person conducting business in good faith.
But Yellowknifers had a difficult time figuring out exactly where Henry stopped looking out for their interests and began taking care of his own business. Whatever points Henry scored as a shrewd business person by making the city look stupid, he lost as a politician in public confidence.
The alternative to a blind trust, which may well discourage business people from running for office, is mandatory and frequent disclosure of present and planned business activities.
The above, coupled with common sense and the checks and balances already in place, should prevent MLAs from mixing politics with business rules to the detriment of the public.
Henry showed us how it ought not to be done. MLAs can learn from his mistakes.
Where there's smoke, there's fire, and in Edzo, where there's fire, there are emergency services.
Lightning hit the bush near the town at about 3 p.m. and by 6 p.m. the town was evacuated. That's a pretty good response time.
Prompt reaction from emergency service workers and a turn in weather meant that Edzo residents were back in their homes late the next night.
Highway traffic was also interrupted. No one was hurt. No buildings burned down. There were no ugly incidents on the highway. Forest fires and their attendant risks are a fact of life in the North. Building the infrastructure and training the personnel are a cost of living. Edzo stands as an example of that. It is reassuring to know that when we need them, they are there.
We're all members -- it's just a question of whether we're supporting members.
The Northern Arts and Cultural Centre is looking for new members to help support its goals of not only bringing quality entertainment from the south, but also to encourage local performers to develop and excel.
The artistic and cultural life of a region is a barometer of every other aspect of life and the quality of it. We all benefit from a vibrant and healthy cultural community, by having a happier, more exciting, more interesting place to live. Organizations like NACC encourage this overall atmosphere and they need our help to continue to do so. The only question is whether you'll cough up your $25 to become a supporting member rather than just sitting back and enjoying the benefits.
Editorial Comment
Daniel MacIsaac
Inuvik Drum
Freedom of speech is a powerful right.
This is particularly true where the media is concerned -- when it's in a position of being able to present facts and arguments and, to an extent, shape public perception. When it's handled best in the media, this freedom results in balance and objectivity and being open to the opinions of all parties, regardless of whether one agrees with them.
But of course, this freedom applies across the board, as much to government and public bodies as it does to the media, private business and individuals.
We don't always hear what we want to hear. Such was the case of the British Columbia tourist who helped out at the scene of the Midway Lake car accident and who then turned around and blasted both the RCMP and the emergency-response team for a lack of efficiency.
Possibly, Maureen Loiselle should have got more facts before sounding off against a system she has little knowledge of and that was working in an area that she was visiting as a tourist.
But she did have the right to express her view. At the very least, it gave pause for those involved to consider the events of July 31 and to wonder whether they could have unfolded differently. Ultimately, both the Inuvik Regional Hospital authorities and the RCMP reacted well -- hearing Mrs. Loiselle out, explaining what had happened and placing it in the context of the North. In this case, that context had great bearing on the issue.
Back to school
There's been a lot of talk lately about the importance of post-secondary studies and the necessity of encouraging Northern kids to pursue them.
From what I've heard, the numbers are improving, but there's still a long way to go. The issue seems quite clear to me. Even though I managed to rack up a sizeable student debt in a short period of time, I'm still definitely on the side of going on in school.
First of all, reasonable financial support appears to exist in the North and certainly the jobs do, too. The North still attracts large numbers of southerners looking to start or further their careers. But with the government encouraging the support of Northern development, locals have the edge in securing employment when they're qualified for the positions.
This means there are jobs waiting for Northern teens who go on to college or university -- where a lot of growing can also be done. As one student said this week, these facts cannot be stressed to teens early enough.
Editorial Comment
Derek Neary
Deh Cho Drum
I had the opportunity to attend territorial court this week. Sometimes there are just too many things to tend to on Mondays and Tuesdays so I don't get there. This week was different, so I sat in on the majority of the cases.
Having covered court for the newspaper in Yellowknife, I've been exposed to the process before. It's not something I particularly enjoy and I am thankful I'm not a judge. I admire the work they have to do, don't get me wrong. But it's a sorry state of affairs that they are frequently required to adjudicate and pass sentence on. I guess it's that much worse for the RCMP, who have to intervene right in the midst of the actual incident, regularly dealing with belligerence and misery.
Not surprisingly, alcohol was involved in each case where there was a conviction. Whether it was a first-time offender who submitted to the bottle or a long-time alcoholic with a lengthy record for such things, there was no question that booze played a significant role in the crime. The onerous question was who was truly remorseful and genuinely hopes to clean up his act, and who was simply apologetic in hopes of shortening his sentence? These are only a few of the many factors the judge has to take into account.
Of the three men convicted, two admitted to their problems with alcohol and said they were seeking help to deal with it. All three men committed acts that were supposedly out of character.
After the conviction, but before sentencing, the judge, in this case Robert Halifax, has to look in the eyes of the convicted and try to determine who is being honest and who is not. Chances are he had seen one of the men in court before. If the words of sorrow were the same and the offence was same, what sort of lenience could he be expected to show? What about when the defence attorney leans over and whispers something in the man's ear during his apology? Is he consoling him or reminding him to say he's sorry about something else as well?
Unfortunately, our penal system isn't necessarily as geared towards rehabilitation as it could be. There are alcohol counselling program available in jail, though. But the onus lies with the offender. If he truly wants help he can get it there. If he plans to do his time and take his chances when he gets out, who can stop him? The result is often a longer jail term the next time around and a hope that he'll finally seek the help then.
Alcoholism is a terrible addiction and the price paid can sometimes be as much as a life. Every year the spotlight is placed on the problem during National Addictions Awareness Week. Unfortunately, the cancer that is alcoholism exists every night and the court docket is full of people who are about to pay the consequences - Their victims already have.
Editorial Comment
Dane Gibson
Kivalliq News
When the opportunity popped up to experience an Eastern Arctic community, I jumped at it. Kivalliq news editor, Darrell Greer, is off for some much needed rest and relaxation. Northern News Services needed someone to wear the reporter's hat in Rankin Inlet for the next two weeks.
I arrived Aug. 16 and find the hat, or should I say, toque, fits quite nicely. One of my first assignments was to take pictures of the first day of school festivities. As Rankin's finest filed into Leo Ussak elementary last week, memories flooded back to me. Anxiety, excitement, fear and bravery were all emotions, in varying degrees, etched on each child's face.
I forgot that the first day of school was such a big deal.
Through my camera's eye, I could zoom in and catch a glimpse of each child's unique personality. Those arriving for kindergarten were especially revealing. The schedule, in their little world for the last few years, revolved mainly around them. That was changing -- and they knew it.
The children sat in rows on the gym floor waiting for a teacher to call their names and lead them into the belly of the beast. Some sniffled and tried to keep eye contact with their mom and dads, who waved encouragement from the sidelines. Others seemed in a world of their own. They scratched their heads, toyed with their shoelaces, and were utterly unimpressed with the whole ordeal.
At one point, all the children in the first two rows were called except for one lone boy who was probably only four or five years old. He sat by himself in the middle of the gym, back rigid, bravely looking ahead. It was too much for his mother to take. She crawled up next to him and slung a protective arm across his shoulders. No words passed between them, but a lot was said. When his name was called, he shook off his mother's embrace with a cool gesture. As he took his place in line, mom looked upset, her expression a mixture of pride, love and sadness. The boy was stone-faced. He wasn't sure what was going on, but he was going to weather whatever it was bravely.
One of the first things I've noticed about Rankin Inlet is that there's a whole heck of a lot of kids around. I'm quickly realizing the great potential, and responsibility that these young people represent. When they're gathered together in one place, you can see how hungry they are for direction and guidance. What an opportunity for parents and teachers -- indeed the whole community -- to shape a strong, healthy future for each of them.
There's advantages in a hamlet that a city can't provide. The pace is less hectic, which allows community members more time to spend with the children. It's a great opportunity.
Don't forget to use that time to tell your children that they are loved, and that you are proud of them, and that their future is wide open. They will respond, and grow, and strengthen the community for generations to come.
This area strikes me as unforgiving, beautiful and honest all at the same time. I look forward to learning more about the Kivalliq region and the people who live here. One thing I'm pretty sure of is that the young people are going to be one of this region's greatest strengths in the future.