With Yellowknife's municipal byelection in the offing for Oct. 20 and with candidates about to hit the campaign trail, now is an excellent time to ask some pointed questions and, hopefully, receive some pointed answers.
When a campaigner knocks on your door and begins to explain why you should vote for him or her, ask them if they feel the City of Yellowknife, as a corporate entity, is living beyond its means and income.
If he or she agrees it is, ask how they plan to bring it back into line.
If they say it isn't, worry. Most municipal entities spend beyond their means in some area or another and even if they don't, elected officials should believe it does. It keeps them (and their pencils) sharp.
Ask them if taxes in Yellowknife are too high and what can be done to trim things without sacrificing vital services.
Ask them how they would attract new industry, new businesses and new prosperity to Yellowknife.
Quiz them on what they see as being the social, cultural and economic weaknesses of Yellowknife and what can be done to correct them.
Make sure the candidate actually understands what's going on in town and has some sort of plan in mind to improve and preserve.
We are living in interesting times here in Yellowknife. The leadership and planning that occurs within the next few months could determine the future of the city for a long time to come.
That said, it is vital that we make the right choices and loan our votes to people who have the ability and desire to make Yellowknife realize its potential.
On the same note, it is also vital that each of us takes an interest and casts a vote. If you don't take part now, you have no right to complain later.
We weren't very surprised when Hay River MLA Jane Groenewegen came out clean as a whistle in the recent conflict of interest complaint against her.
Groenewegen was accused by Tu Nedhe MLA Don Morin of not disclosing the names of those who donated more than $100 to her defence fund. Acting conflict of interest commissioner Robert Clark found Morin's complaint baseless. Groenewegen had met every deadline imposed on her by the commissioner.
The process was quick, inexpensive and no one is contesting the result.
We can take this as evidence that the conflict of interest complaint process works. We don't fault either Morin or Groenewgen for using the process. That's what it is there for.
We appreciate Yellowknife city councillor Blake Lyons' caution about sending a councillor to yet another conference down south.
With the exception of Dave Ramsay, the rest of council rejected the argument of bad timing with the massive layoffs at Giant looming.
It's not a lot money ($3,502), and the trip may be worthwhile. Yet by sending six councillors to Halifax in June for a conference, which was also used by some for vacation purposes, council shook public confidence. Even Mayor Dave Lovell called the delegation "weighty."
All people really want is some indication council recognizes the city is in trouble. Instead councillors scorn public perception and maintain current spending.
Coun. Lyons acted because he has correctly sensed the public's legitimate concerns. We hope others follow before it is really too late.
Editorial Comment
Daniel MacIsaac
Inuvik Drum
I'm all for democracy, but I have to question the need for the on-going minister's health and social services forum that recently passed through Inuvik. I have great respect for the current government's willingness to go to the people and seek opinions and ask for direction. Many politicians have explained that this year's series of open forums represents an attempt by the government to be more transparent and accountable. These are worthy aspirations.
But when I attended the forum I couldn't help but be struck to the similarity of the debate and issues to those raised during the territorial budget discussions last spring. Moreover, I heard participants question the need for more forums at that time -- when the population's viewpoints had already been made clear many times over in published reports and polls.
Education, health and social services were intensely debated last spring, and have been for a number of years. Some politicians questioned the cost-effectiveness of conducting further forums when opinions were already well-known and when the government was arguing it is cash-strapped, faces a potential deficit and can barely afford to fund existing programs.
The Bill 15 electoral riding debate has been a particularly sensitive matter but, again, many of the communities' positions were documented long before the Government Operations Committee set out on its tour of the communities this summer. Certain MLAs chose to forego the tour and simply attend the hearings in their own ridings. I have to agree with that position -- particulary as the government ultimately opted for a temporary solution.
There were some strong arguments presented at Inuvik's health forum meeting last week, some intriguing proposals and even words of encouragement. But they could just as easily been delivered to the government by way of the town council or through our MLA.
Certainly the community appreciates being consulted, but I believe that what it craves even more is action -- to make long-known wishes reality.
Last week also witnessed the government's announcement it would provide nurses with a temporary salary bonus -- but far from coming as a direct result of the forum, that budget allocation was made four months ago. Furthermore, that move upset both the Union of Northern Workers and the territory's social workers, who were both represented at the Inuvik meeting.
I suspect that once the Department of Education had held its forum, Health and Social Services felt obligated to do the same. If good comes from this, so much the better -- with a new mandate after the December election the minister may be able to act on the public's recommendations (if the budget allows it). But in future there should be more discretion about the use of public forums and more action by our elected representatives.
Editorial Comment
Derek Neary
Deh Cho Drum
The Chevron open house in Fort Simpson was an example of how the agenda in the community remains divergent -- at least for the time being.
There were a number of people in attendance at last week's open house with business interests. Others were troubled by the thought of possible environmental contamination and questioned the gas industry's true concern for local people and their long-term welfare. Needless to say, the representatives of the gas industry are very convincing in their presentation. They can tell you about the dozen-and-a-half safety mechanisms in place to prevent a "blow out" or explosion like that one that occurred in Calgary last month. Of course, it's in their best interest, as well as our own, to avoid environmental catastrophes. There are reputations, dollars and, most importantly, lives at stake.
As for the pollutants, apparently, there are next to none. Waste products such as empty chemical drums, maintenance materials, used filters, etc. are transported to approved waste facilities, according to Chevron engineer Brent Naherny.
Gas wells and pipelines don't come anywhere near the level of destruction caused by mines, Naherny said. Even better, after the wells run dry, everything is stripped out and the land is re-contoured to allow it to return to its original state, he explained.
It all sounds ideal, but the bottom line is that there is, of course, an element of risk to it. Andrew Gaule, president of the Fort Simpson Chamber of Commerce, said it best during the open house -- every community is forced at times to weigh the comparative benefits of economic impact versus the environmental impact. Then a decision has to be made.
However, as it stands in Fort Simpson, another variable is in place, that being the Deh Cho First Nation's (DCFN) moratorium on land development. It is too serious a factor to overlook (it's obvious the gas companies haven't, other than in Fort Liard where they have been invited).
The good news for those who are anxious to get the ball rolling is that representatives of the DCFN have gone on the record as stating that they are not opposed to development as a whole. However, they are determined to get an interim resource agreement in place with the federal government as part of their self-government negotiations. That could be next year or five years from now. Could something happen in the meantime that allows gas development to occur? It's not impossible. It has in Fort Liard. Exploration is set to take place in Nahanni Butte. Fort Providence is preparing for activity in the future. Oil and gas companies, let's not forget, are powerful entities with some stringent business guidelines to follow.
For example, the idea of phasing-in portions of their projects simply won't cut it. Naherny described the industry as "very schedule driven." Tampering with timelines affects economics and whether business will remain viable. Time is money.
Gas development, unquestionably, brings with it an appealing economic boost, whatever the duration. It seems that it's just a matter of time until it exists in a number of areas around the Deh Cho. For now, those in Fort Simpson can watch and learn from Fort Liard's experience. From forming joint-venture partnerships in the gas services sector to consultation with First Nations' members regarding traditional landmarks, there is a lot to learn.