Terrorists don't have to destroy buildings and kill thousands ... all they have to do is create suspicion.

An unknown powder here, a positive test for anthrax there, and you get cause for worldwide paranoia.

Even here in Yellowknife, white powder in a carrier bag is enough to send Canada Post workers scrambling and put emergency services on alert. Most people would probably agree there are few targets of opportunity in our city for terrorists intent on shaking the foundations of the western world.

Before Sept. 11 white powder on the floor would have been swept up and dumped in the trash.

Today, anthrax fear has gripped Canada and the United States. People are afraid to open their mail.

People are afraid to get back on airplanes following the terrorist hijackings. Yellowknife tourism businesses are already feeling the pinch, as reservations are cancelled, well before the busy winter season.

North Americans are living in fear, waiting for the next attack. Our sense of security is shattered.

Government's answer is to introduce a new anti-terrorism bill that gives security agencies sweeping new powers that come close to endangering civil liberties. Police would be allowed to arrest and hold terror suspects for up to three days without charge. Telephone taps would be made easier.

New laws and beefed up security are important, but that must be accomplished without creating a police state.

"Freedom must not be a victim of terrorism," said Justice Minister Anne McLellan.

Unfortunately, our freedom has already been victimized. Government must be careful its actions don't infringe on our freedoms even more.

It's refreshing to see deputy Fire chief Mike Lowing trade his office organizer for a pair of shiny boots and a hose.

It's not an easy decision to return to the grind as a regular firefighter and take a cut in rank and pay after 10 years as a deputy chief.

This move sends a clear message that will reverberate throughout the department: a firefighter may serve as an administrator but fighting fires is what firefighters live to do.

It's also a lesson to us all that power, prestige and pay are less important than enjoying what you do.

We also hope the new deputy chief is as genuinely open and forthcoming to the media as Lowing was as a spokesperson.

Good luck with the hose, Mike.

Summer is a simple season in Yellowknife. The temperature rises, the ice melts. You launch your boat for yet another season of searching for a good catch. No expert needs to tell you when it's time to put your boat in the water or take it out.

But winter is here, and now you need to heed the advice of experts before you embark upon another season of snowmobiling. They will tell you when it's safe to walk and drive across the ice.

Your life could depend on how well you listen.

Editorial Comment
Darrell Greer
Kivalliq News

With all due respect to the families of those lost at sea, one has to wonder about spending $25,000 to $30,000 to locate the sunken Avataq vessel.

We will give credit to CG&T regional director Shawn Maley for trying his best to put a positive spin on the situation. But $30,000 to check out a piece of equipment the industry already knows works full well is yet another blatant waste of money in this region.

We're sure hamlet councils across the Kivalliq still harbour plenty of sympathy for the families involved. Many council members themselves were directly affected when the four brave souls aboard the Avataq lost their lives.

Still, throwing away $30,000 isn't going to do anything to help ease anyone's extended grief. There's probably a number of council members and senior administrative officers across the region gritting their teeth over this exercise.

One has to question this expenditure at a time when many hamlets are looking towards the federal government to help put infrastructure in place to develop industry.

Since nobody beneath him can come up with a better explanation than testing equipment, we must surmise only that Nunavut Transportation Minister Jack Anawak knows why this kind of money is being spent to locate the Avataq.

Surely in a region with the most unforgiving of climates, we can find a better way for Emergency Management to be spending $30,000.

This is especially true in a region so dependent upon the efforts of local search-and-rescue volunteers to find those in trouble every year.

Role model recruit

One doesn't have to listen to Serena Siksik for very long before being impressed by the young recruit's positive attitude.

Siksik has shown courage and conviction in following her dream of a career in the Canadian Armed Forces.

We wish her all the best as she heads off later this month to begin her basic training and take the next step in her chosen path.

We hope more Kivalliq youth will begin to seriously consider a military career as a healthy alternative to our region's high rate of unemployment.

Editorial Comment
Malcolm Gorrill
Inuvik Drum

Learning takes many forms.

In the case of democracy, young people get to read about it, and maybe watch television newscasts on the subject.

That's a good start, but there's nothing like experiencing it firsthand to drive the lesson home.

Students at Samuel Hearne got a real taste of democracy recently, when they held an election for the student position on the Inuvik District Education Authority.

An assembly was held, and speeches made by the two candidates. Candace Ciboci emerged victorious.

Incidentally, another lesson was provided by a non-election. Dez Loreen won the town council youth position by acclamation.

Rumor has it some other students thought about running for the position, but after conducting rather unofficial polls, decided their chances of victory were too slim.

Thus this provides a good example of what can happen when one candidate jumps out of the starting gate early and emerges as the clear front-runner.

The young often argue, sometimes rightly, that their views go unheard and their concerns ignored. These two positions show an important effort within town to provide a direct voice for youth.

Plus, the fact these positions are open for students to run for provides a worthwhile introduction to the workings of democracy. That's one subject they should get a good handle on before they graduate.

Literacy is the goal we aim for

Events took place recently in Inuvik and surrounding communities to do with NWT Literacy Week.

The occasion serves as a good reminder of the importance of reading and writing, especially in today's technologically driven world.

Besides which, a good book can be a great way to wile away the evening, especially now that the days are getting shorter.

It is said literacy is an ongoing process. A good example of that is Mabel English, winner of the Canada Post individual achievement literacy award.

Some time ago English returned to school after having dropped out early about 40 years before. Now she's the excited recipient of her first computer.

Clarification

Due to a production error some text was omitted in the story, "Household hazardous waste fix," (Inuvik Drum, Oct. 4).

Part of what was omitted included acknowledgement of a partnership reached between WasteCo and IMG Services Ltd.

The Drum apologizes for the error.

Editorial Comment
Derek Neary
Deh Cho Drum, Fort Simpson

Now more than ever, Fort Simpson needs MLA Jim Antoine to go to bat for the community.

With another session of the legislative assembly to begin later this month, it's imperative that Antoine rise from his seat in the House and let his colleagues know that MACA's proportional funding scheme must be reassessed. It's not that the proposal is without merit, but its inherent flaw is in its unrealistic funding cuts of $1 million to Fort Simpson over the next two years. That would assuredly paralyse a community of 1,200 people. The ripple effect would be substantial.

As a minister with two portfolios -- Justice and Aboriginal Affairs -- Antoine undoubtedly feels pressure to toe the government line. Incidently, Antoine was also minister of MACA until a week or two before this proportional funding scheme became public. Was it sheer coincidence that the cabinet post was turned over to Roger Allen when Fort Simpson was about to be levelled by the news of such staggering funding cuts?

Be that as it may, Antoine is not the sabre-rattling type. Soft-spoken by nature, nobody is expecting him to pound his desk for emphasis or to be hostile in his approach. He doesn't need to be a brash, grandstanding politician to be effective.

In his third term representing the Nahendeh riding, Antoine has earned a great deal of respect from his colleagues. Remember, they selected him as premier in 1999 after Don Morin was forced to resign. He served a short term as government leader until a territorial election was held. At that time, he decided not to let his name stand for premier again. He explained that he preferred to concentrate on the needs of his riding. What greater need exists now?

Surely Antoine has enough clout to convince his peers to take another look at funding cuts that will severely harm his home community. Yes, the natural resources in the area make for a promising future, but there are no guarantees when the prosperity from those resources will be realized.

As Mayor Tom Wilson said, even if the reduction in funds can't be eliminated, just to have the $1 million in cuts over 10 years would make the situation more manageable.

The legislature will resume its sittings on Oct. 23. We'll be watching.

Day care woes

The Kids' Corner Daycare is encountering some of the same problems that forced Melaw Child Care Centre to close its doors. Will the new day care persevere? Well, that largely depends whether parents want to see it succeed. Parenting is one of life's greatest commitments. A day care is a vital service in a community, not just a place where children are dropped off and picked up every day. Parents must get involved.