The parties' success in achieving first a polar bear and now a beluga whale management plan reflects the trend whereby aboriginal groups are taking an increasingly active position in managing the North's resources -- in an organized, responsible and inclusive way. Both the Inuvialuit and the Inupiat say the health of the stocks is a major reason why conflict has been avoided and why negotiations have progressed relatively smoothly, but that shouldn't take away from the value of agreements, which can serve as models for the future.

Taking the initiative

The town of Inuvik should be commended for its recent efforts at organizing a cleanup and beautification strategy and calling for public input. Judging by public opinion and the turnout at last week's meeting, something needed to be done and now that the process has begun people are responding.

Of course, the town is only doing its job. It should be congratulated for going to the people but must also continue to take the lead in co-ordinating efforts. The mayor and council are elected officials and part of their mandate involves creating a more attractive environment for residents, business and tourists alike.

Fuelling the fire

A planned national protest whereby citizens will be asked to refrain from purchasing gasoline for a two-day period has recently received media attention on the radio and generated some discussion at Inuvik town council this week. Council has already expressed concern over rising fuel costs and truckers across the country have been crying foul for the past several weeks.

A two-day boycott is unlikely, however, to deliver the proper message to oil companies like Imperial Oil, which supplies Inuvik. Even Canadians who go along with the protest will simply fill up at the pump before or after the scheduled boycott while they go about their daily business as usual. At most, suppliers will suffer limited inconvenience and be forced to adjust their statistics.

A more appropriate form of protest would be a two-day boycott on fuel consumption and the decision to make use of public transportation where possible, to cut down on fuel sales in general. Of course, such a protest method is hardly applicable to commercial truckers or to Northerners coping in -20 C, but it should be possible for the majority of Canadians to cut back if they really want to send a message. The country's love for the automobile and convenience is, however, likely to render such an idea a non-starter.

At the same time, accidents do happen, so it's advisable to have experts ready to address them should they occur. As well, it's promising that local people can be trained to fulfil such a role in the future. The important thing will be that the environmental officials be given teeth to deal with issues properly and their suggestions be heeded -- not just meaningless positions, expected to stay out of the way and not make waves.

Shane Parrish mentioned that there are other business opportunities out there that the Acho Dene Koe would love to tackle, but simply don't have the manpower to handle everything. For example, there's a void in industrial first aid, he said.

Then there's the case of Richard Duntra, a Fort Liard resident who saw outsiders making plenty of money from the local natural gas boom. He decided to get into the action instead of watching from the sidelines. Mind you, a small business isn't for everybody, but it's admirable for someone who senses an opportunity to jump in with both feet, so long as he or she has a background in business or a knowledgable advisor.

Parrish said the water truck was one such avenue, but others exist for local entrepreneurs. Vacuum trucks and loaders or D-6 Cats are also in short supply in Fort Liard. For those who are industrious in the community, many an opportunity seemingly awaits.

A good experience

Admittedly, I haven't lived in Fort Simpson for a long time. I wasn't here when the health centre was "downgraded" from a hospital to its present status. Nevertheless, I have heard plenty of grumbling about it and have read coverage of the matter in back issues of the Drum.

My personal experiences with the Fort Simpson Health Centre have been few. However, this past weekend Val, my common-law spouse, broke her wrist after slipping and falling. Within minutes I had contacted the nurse-on-call and arranged for us to meet her at the Health Centre. We arrived five minutes later and she was waiting there for us. An x-ray was taken and the break was confirmed. A splint was put in place until the swelling went down. Val was told the doctor would put her wrist and forearm in a cast the next day, and sure enough it was done.

Everything was extremely efficient and professional. The doctors and nurses were reassuring and most helpful.

As a friend pointed out, the same injury may easily have resulted in a three- or four-hour wait in the emergency waiting room in a hospital down south. The medical system here may have its flaws and may be overwhelmed periodically, but it sure was there for us when we needed it last weekend.

Sometimes this can be a lot easier said than done.

So it was on at least two occasions during the legislative assembly's visit to Rankin Inlet.

Both Finance Minister Kelvin Ng and Minister Responsible for the Power Corp., Ed Picco, went to great lengths to point out their good news announcements had nothing to do with political strategy. They were simply responding openly and honestly to questions asked during their stay.

Those who believe that also believe the government's unofficial stance (translation: whispering just loud enough for people to hear) that the Rankin session cost little more to stage than it would have in Iqaluit.

In Ng's case, the minister was frothing at the balance sheet to release some good news after the community consultation process -- as predicted in this space -- delayed delivery of his annual budget.

Because talk of the projected $30- to $40-million surplus had been confined to the supposed confidentiality of caucus meetings, he couldn't have one of our well-meaning MLAs pose the question during an assembly session.

However, once asked a fairly generic question by the media as to Nunavut's financial situation, the bag was open and the cat roamed free in Rankin.

You can't really blame Ng for seizing the opportunity to release the information. Nor can you really fault his assembly grand-standing against the way the media originally reported the story.

Diversionary tactics are an accepted weapon in the political world.

Although doing an admiral job, Ng is suffering the growing pains of a first-year finance minister and seized the chance to draw attention away from the difficulties his department is dealing with.

And, on that note, it was a job well done.

Picco, on the other hand, was more the instrument than the instigator.

Premier Paul Okalik realized, for the most part, the Rankin session held all the political importance of a pre-season game when it came to our most pressing issues (that annual budget thing again).

A little proper timing with a letter to Baker Lake, ensuring, of course, that Baker MLA Glenn McLean was kept up to speed and the duck bills were properly aligned.

An informed query to Picco (we're being polite here) from the aforementioned MLA during the final question period and, presto, major announcement for the Kivalliq Region and instant credibility to the Rankin session.

We're not knocking the results. In fact, as much as we've lamented the cost of this whole venture -- let us extend a warm Kivalliq welcome to the legislative assembly the next time Ng delays his budget.

Heck, with results like these, let's make it an annual event!