Yellowknife's city administration would be wise to remember the horrendous traffic jam between Wal-Mart, Petro-Canada, Tim Hortons, Mark's Work Wearhouse and, once upon a time, Extra Foods.

Due to an abysmal lack of planning and exercise of control, roads merged invisibly with parking lots and back alleys to create a major traffic hazard a few years ago.

The city took a back seat in the matter, claiming the area was private property, although former mayor Dave Lovell said the city could "mitigate" the bad situation.

The city should have prevented the problem in the first place.

Failing that, it should have taken responsibility for the ensuing mess and implemented recommendations to fix it.

Instead, business owners erected concrete barriers and dropped large boulders between establishments to control traffic.

In the years since, the traffic volume on Old Airport Road has increased.

New businesses to the area include diamond sorting operations, a mini-mall and Canadian Tire.

A liquor store may also be built near the corner of Old Airport Road and Borden Drive in the new year.

More and more people are using Old Airport Road to get to work and shop.

Drivers trying to gain access via Borden Drive or make a left-hand turn onto Old Airport Road during peak traffic times should bring a book. It will be a long wait.

City administrator Max Hall said a previous traffic study found no stop light was needed at the corner of Borden Drive and Old Airport Road. The study came from a southern firm hired by Canadian Tire.

The city needs to study and resolve its own traffic problems in the interest of public safety.

Shifting responsibility again will only create another dangerous hazard.

The popular Northern saying, "There's no such thing as a miner who makes too much money" is certainly ringing true for Derek Roberts.

The 43-year-old father of four has been hospitalized since an accident underground at Giant Mine Oct. 16.

Roberts, who has worked at Giant since 1981, was scaling when rock loosened by a blasting operation fell on him. It left him with a broken leg, a severed thumb and serious injuries to his vertebrae.

After he disentangled himself from the battery cable that pinned him to the ground, he located the scoop he used to transport himself to the 335-metre level and hauled his broken body into it for the long, painful ride to the top.

Roberts is proof of just how alone one is when working underground and how dangerous the job is. Now, because of the seriousness of his injuries, he will remain disabled for the rest of his life.

It is also unlikely he will ever work underground again.

While Roberts is likely entitled to compensation from the Workers' Compensation Board, the daily rate he'll end up with will come nowhere close to the earnings he had.

Let's hope his claim doesn't get bogged down in the bureaucracy of the WCB, and that they can accomplish for him what they're paid to do: help him recover enough to re-enter the workforce.

In the meantime, we wish Roberts all the best in his recovery, and his future.

Editorial Comment
Darrell Greer
Kivalliq News

OK. We know it's tough, but try to shake off the shock of a Rankin Inlet MLA actually lobbying publicly to bring something to the community.

And, we have to give credit where credit is due. Rankin South-Whale Cove MLA Manitok Thompson's argument is well researched, accurate and compelling. In short, the boisterous housing minister's contention that Rankin is the ideal spot for an Inuit Heritage Centre is right on the mark.

And that's without Rankin having to stoop to playing the decentralization card.

Even without mentioning how much this community has lost to decentralization while gaining precious little in return -- Rankin is the best choice for a new heritage centre.

Now, if Culture, Language, Elders and Youth Minister Peter Kattuk would just show the fortitude to make the proper decision without consulting every single person in Nunavut with an opinion -- we'd already be $300,000 along the way to a new centre.

Furthermore, taking for granted Thompson's peeking over Sustainable Development's financial fence is correct, we already have half a million reasons why we should combine a heritage and visitors centre in Rankin.

But that's just the tip of the iceberg, as are Thompson's valid assertions of Rankin being the geographical and cultural centre of Nunavut.

The bigger picture is that Thompson's plan would set a standard that up to now has been unspeakable, if not unthinkable, in these parts. Imagine, were Sustainable Development and CLEY actually to get together and work something out to make the Rankin project doable. We'd actually have a group of Nunavut ministers getting together and coming up with a workable plan to benefit Rankin Inlet. We can almost hear the Rankin North MLA pounding on the door of inclusion.

Or was that the door of acceptance at Repulse Bay?

No matter, Thompson is absolutely right on this one. Rankin Inlet is the best location for an Inuit Heritage Centre.

And, we shouldn't have to spend $300,000 for no other reason than to, once again, give the bray of opinion the chance to topple the voice of reason. Unfortunately, that seems to be the Nunavut way. At least, whenever the Kivalliq is involved.

Editorial Comment
Malcolm Gorrill
Inuvik Drum

Exactly 83 years ago this past Sunday, at 11 a.m. on the 11th day of the 11th month, the guns fell silent as the First World War came to an end.

That date and time came to mark an annual occasion for people to gather together and remember those who risked their lives for the freedom of this and other countries. The bravery and sacrifices made by soldiers in the Second World War, the Korean conflict, a UN police action, the Gulf War, and in various UN peacekeeping missions are also honoured.

Many people gathered in Inuvik on Sunday to honour those who fought to keep Canadians free. Poppies were worn, wreaths laid, words spoken, and silence observed.

Probably for many people, this Remembrance Day holds special meaning, falling as it did on the two-month anniversary of the September 11 terrorist acts in the United States.

If the assassination which started the First World War was the shot heard around the world, then Sept. 11 was the day the world stood still.

The effects of that day are still being felt, both in terms of people's sense of security, and the war raging in Afghanistan.

Though this country has taken part in wars and UN enforcement actions in recent years, the Gulf War in 1991 and Kosovo in 1999, this war on terrorism is affecting people on a far more personal level. This is true even in the Delta, which is a long ways from New York or Afghanistan.

So thoughts now are not just on the bravery and sacrifices of the past, but also the present and near future.

To bring it home even more, a former Inuvik resident -- Cmdr. James Heath -- is captain of the HMCS Vancouver, which is heading for the Persian Gulf as part of the war on terrorism. Our thoughts are with him and his crew and family.

Whether the year is 1914, 1939 or 2001, serving in a war zone is not an easy thing. Thoughts of their friends and family back home mingle with their duty and orders to be vigilant, or to prepare for a coming battle -- a battle which might be their last.

Though those who have made sacrifices on our behalf, and those who do so today, can not be fully thanked, at least Remembrance Day allows us to show we do remember, and that we are prepared to carry the torch, as Canadian poet-soldier-doctor Lieut.-Col. John McCrae beseeched us In Flanders Fields.

Editorial Comment
Derek Neary
Deh Cho Drum, Fort Simpson

Forgive Fort Simpson residents for being cynical.

Judging by the low turnouts at the Fort Simpson community development plan workshops, not too many people were putting stock in the initiative. Even among those who did show up there were skeptics.

Maybe some people didn't get involved because they are already satisfied with their life in Fort Simpson. Others may not be planning to live here long enough to worry about the community's future. The majority, however, seem to be tired of talking about what they would like to see take place. They know from experience that little has come from all the talk.

As Tom Wilson said at Thursday evening's workshop, it's been a long time since there has been any real growth or excitement over development in Fort Simpson.

Wilson, who wasn't ostensibly wearing his mayor's hat at the time, suggested that 20 action plans need to be completed and a succession of favourable outcomes must occur in order to build momentum. Then, and only then, will people begin to believe that something is really happening.

If there's a small collection of post-workshop volunteers who are willing to work towards some initial goals, so much the better. One would hope for at least that much after spending $50,000 on the entire consultation process. That money, it should be noted, was provided by two territorial government departments and a federal government department.

One of the obstacles identified through the second workshop is an over-reliance on government, which weakens personal responsibility. That's a fair enough statement as long as it's also acknowledged that the political climate in this region is still largely hampering development. While we shouldn't expect government to do everything for us, we do need clear parameters in which to foster business and industry. Those parameters don't exist because the Deh Cho Process hasn't yet advanced to that stage. Whether we like it or not, much hinges on self-government progress.

That's not to say nothing can be done in the interim. The Deh Cho First Nations recently formed an economic development corporation. Planning and training for future development could begin presently. There may also be some smaller ventures that could be taken on at the community level that don't interfere with the Deh Cho Process.

Whatever it might be, it just needs to get done. Communication is important, but endless talk is empty.