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When phase two of the city's smoking bylaw came into effect Jan. 1, a woman from The Diner was asked how the mandatory 75 percent of non-smoking seating in city restaurants would affect clientele.
"It's taking our freedom away," she said.
That statement is what makes smokers almost as dangerous as the carcinogenic byproduct they blow out, poisoning themselves and those around them.
But smokers need to remember they have no rights, only choices.
And National Non-Smoking Week, Jan. 20-26, gives us yet another chance to remind them what a bad choice NWT smokers continue to make.
Forty-two percent of NWT adults over the age of 17 smoke, and over 60 percent of aboriginal adults between the ages of 25 and 44.
Compared to the national average, we send off smoke alarms.
In 1999, 25.2 percent of Canadians over the age of 15 smoked. That figured dropped to 24 percent in 2000.
And 60 percent of NWT youth ages 12-14 have tried smoking, compared to the national average of 22 percent.
Even more alarming is the fact that 61 per cent of women in the NWT continue to smoke during their pregnancy.
Annual health costs attributed to tobacco in the NWT are estimated at $31 million. And at 23 percent, or about $203 million, the Department of Health and Social Services takes up the largest portion of the NWT budget.
Taxpayers and non-smokers have to pay for the bad choice made by smokers.
To be fair, non-smokers, whether they are at home or in public, should have the right to demand tobacco lovers butt out.
Yellowknifers should applaud city council for its 2002 budget.
The $43.5-million plan has left Yellowknifers with no increase in taxes, a dive rescue program intact, and a few increases for services.
All in all, it appears to be a fair budget with a lot of give and take.
Yellowknifers will suffer by seeing an increase in parking meter fees, building permits and garbage disposal services. The city will lose out by cutting its contingency fund from $200,000 to $176,000, killing its "Skyline" publication and making five per cent cuts across the board to the mayor and council budget.
One of the budget surprises came with the resuscitation of the dive rescue program, which council was earlier planning to cut completely.
This is thanks to the persistence of Chief Coroner Percy Kinney, who came up with the $14,000 needed to keep the program alive for a year.
Councillors also gave their OK for the city to hire a solid waste co-ordinator, who will certainly be a key player as the city develops a much-needed plan to deal with garbage.
Overall, councillors proved with the unanimous passing of Monday's budget that while they can dish it out, they can take it too.
Council's open-door approach and the public forums to review the budget ensured everyone was able to have their say. Last year bitter debates split council and upset the budgeting process. While these ideological lines were still prominent this year, council worked with a greater spirit of compromise and teamwork.
It was a job well done.
Editorial Comment
Darrell Greer
Kivalliq News
The committee members for the Rankin Inlet Men's Recreational Hockey League are to be commended for their decision to dedicate February's 16-and-older tournament to the four brave souls who perished aboard the Avataq.
The members are also to be commended for following the book and seeking permission from family members before announcing the dedication.
Hockey tournaments dedicated to the memories of loved ones, popular community figures or sports heroes from a particular town are popular right across this great nation of ours. A tournament bearing the name, or preserving the memory, of those who were highly thought of by their peers often rises in stature above similar gatherings.
But the biggest point being made by dedicating February's tourney to those four brave men is this: it lets them know they may be gone, but they'll never be forgotten.
Ringing up sales
While we're on the topic of a job well done, congratulations to Brian Schindel and the rest of the staff at Kivalliq Arctic Foods for topping the $1-million mark in gross sales this past year.
One of the best stories surrounding Schindel and Nunavut Development Corp. president John Hickes' trip to L.A. can't be told due to security constraints.
However, we can say it was a good move on the company's part to only send two representatives to L.A. because, as we all know, too many cooks can often spoil the broth, even the most well-connected ones.
Chester needs facility
It will be interesting to see how the meetings (negotiations) play out in Chesterfield Inlet this week concerning the St. Theresa long-term care facility.
Chester cannot afford to lose St. Theresa and, hopefully, the major players will be able to work out a deal to keep everyone involved happy. That includes the good bishop, who extended his contract last year and is looking forward to moving on to different challenges after April 1, 2002.
That being said, we do hope the bishop is sincere in listening to any pleas the developers may pitch to have the diocese stay on through a short transitional period.
Such a transitional phase would go a long way toward ensuring the quality of care to which the residents have grown accustomed receiving does, in fact, remain the same.
Editorial Comment
Malcolm Gorrill
Inuvik Drum
The Beaufort Delta Education Council's decision to try to hire up to 15 teachers early this year is a good move.
In the past the board has not made any offers before March 15, the deadline for teachers within the region to forward transfer and promotion requests.
The problem with this approach is that by March 15 many potential candidates, especially university students polishing off their teaching certificates, have already been approached by other school boards and may even have job offers.
BDEC is competing with school boards across the country and has problems enough luring teachers up to the Delta, what with its high cost of living and other factors which candidates might consider drawbacks.
Making some offers early will make it a little easier for BDEC to cope with its high teacher turnover rate, which last year was about 50 per cent.
Starting hiring earlier might also make a difference as summer approaches. When the idea of the recruitment drive was brought up last October, one issue mentioned was that a lot of hiring takes place in the summer.
It was pointed out this is inconvenient for district education authorities to form interview teams, plus not filling key positions until early or even late summer makes it hard on officials and candidates alike.
Starting early could well save a lot of time and aggravation down the road. This time saved can be better used in ways that fulfill the board's mandate, namely providing quality education to its students.
Curling up a storm
The Dave McLeod rink out of Aklavik swept to success over the weekend, winning the "A" qualifier in the NWT Curling Association's Men's Playdowns. Now they'll see if they can advance to the national championships.
Curling can provide plenty of exercise and enjoyment. This is true whether it's a low-key game between friends or a truly competitive match.
Congratulations are extended to the McLeod rink, as well as the best of luck as they seek to advance further.
Editorial Comment
Derek Neary
Deh Cho Drum, Fort Simpson
Revitalizing the Dene language is of utmost importance to some Deh Cho residents.
There will come a day when it's evident how many or how few people are willing to send their young children to an isolated location to learn the Dene language and aboriginal traditions and customs.
In forging ahead with seasonal Dene language camps and a Dene immersion school, we must be careful not to create a cultural divide. Some would argue it already exists, but it could be exacerbated by separating students, sending some to camps while others remain in a classroom setting.
This is, obviously, a very delicate issue.
Tolerance of others' culture and traditions is vital if we are to go on living together. The school system has been trying to integrate Dene programming over the years, through cultural camps and Slavey language classes. While the existing approach may be lacking in the eyes of some, it is attempting to bridge the gaps.
If a more concerted effort is to be taken on, it must also involve a commitment to speak Slavey in the home and in public.
A real challenge lies ahead in trying to reinforce the Dene language. It's a question of whether the will truly exists to turn things around.
A balanced view
Fort Liard's oil and gas review, after repeated delay, is expected to be released next month. That study will help piece together all of the good, the bad and the ugly that has come with industry. Of course, it will be more comprehensive than any single article about Fort Liard, such as the one that has angered Chief Judy Kotchea and honorary chief Harry Deneron.
It seems development has given rise to some insidious problems, but to what extent it's really unknown.
In last week's Deh Cho Drum, Shane Parrish and Al Harris, both managers with Beaver Enterprises, reflected on some of the drug and alcohol problems that exist in the oil and gas camps and in the community. The same problems are occurring in the Beaufort Delta, where oil and gas is also flourishing. However, cocaine has also made its way to Fort Simpson, where development has not yet been welcomed.
In some communities, home brew is the drink of choice. In extreme cases, such as the remote Newfoundland communities of David Inlet and Sheshatsheits, gas and glue sniffing is rampant.
Social problems are deep-rooted. We must examine them carefully, offer support and work together to stave them off.