The group that wants to construct a $46.5 million bridge across the mighty Mackenzie gets an 'A' for initiative.

The Fort Providence Combined Council Alliance, composed of Dene, Metis and hamlet representatives, unveiled its business plan last week.

If the funding measures are accepted by the territorial and federal government, Yellowknifers could have full-time road access to the outside world as early as 2005.

By introducing a $5 per tonne levy for all northbound freight runs -- a toll that would be collected by the GNWT -- the bridge would eliminate the expensive down time for the trucking industry and seasonal air freight charges, lower prices on consumer goods and create hundreds of jobs for Northerners.

This plan has been welcomed by truckers who realize the levy will be a far better price to pay than the six or seven weeks a year they are in limbo when the current crossing is out of commission.

The only sticking point is the government's role. In other words, how should taxpayers be involved, if at all?

Bent on striking an agreement in principle with the GNWT soon, the alliance is proposing the GNWT cough up $3 million, then $1.7 million a year for 35 years for debt payment, which rises with inflation. A corporate entity in Fort Providence will provide $5 million. The alliance will also seek a $38 million loan to pay the balance.

But the taxpayers of the NWT now spend only $1 million a year for the Providence ferry, plus another $100,000 for the ice crossing. The only way a bridge makes sense is if the people's contribution remains the same.

Whether that $1.1 million comes in the form of a toll or taxes is another matter, and there are good arguments in favour of each option. We shouldn't spend more to subsidize a dream.

Sept. 11 terrorist attacks left airline companies throughout the world with empty seats and even emptier cash registers.

The United States was again put on high security alert Feb. 12, after further terrorists threats.

Impending threats mean more empty seats and a further loss of revenue.

The decline in business will lead to the demise of some aviation companies.

Without competition, passengers will get hit where it hurts the most -- in their wallets.

The reality today is that we have to pay more to fly than ever before.

That may never change.

But how much more depends solely on "competition." And that is the word passengers need to remember every time they book a flight.

Last December, First Air and Canadian North hiked airfares by six per cent.

Anyone who has fired off an angry letter of protest to Northern airline companies has wasted their words. It's time to take action using competition. It is the only vehicle available to Northerners to control the rising cost of airfare.

Don't let brand loyalty get in the way of forcing airlines to provide you with the best service and the best airfare. If fares and service decline with one company, book flights elsewhere, and let that company prove it is worthy of your business.

The airline industry is not a thriving market, nor will it be any time soon.

It is competition that breeds seat sales and reduced airfares. So imagine the price for flight with only one airline servicing the region.

Editorial Comment
Darrell Greer
Kivalliq News

Repulse Bay is finally getting its own RCMP detachment. That's good news, indeed.

Everyone appreciates the admirable job members of other detachments have done in the community, often under the most trying of circumstances.

For proof of that, one need look no further than the combined efforts of Coral Harbour and Rankin Inlet officers this past month in making a quick arrest in a case of armed robbery in Repulse.

However, while efforts like that are to be commended, they are still a "B Team" approach to community policing. To be truly effective, officers need to have a "feel" for the communities they patrol.

When tough decisions have to be made, it is invaluable for them to have a complete picture of the people, culture and community they serve.

Just as importantly, if not more so, when officers are stationed in a community full time, residents see other sides of their duties.

Whether it's a Christmas Hamper program, teaching driver or boating safety, helping tend to the injured or even handing out toothbrushes at the local school, they're seen caring about the community they serve. It's all part and parcel of the numerous services the RCMP provide to a community.

And, it shows the youth in our communities that the police officer is a friend.

With the Repulse situation resolved, it's time for the Nunavut government to look at Chester and Whale Cove. Insp. Jim McDougall is bang on when he says those two communities deserve the same level of policing every other hamlet of their size in Nunavut enjoys.

We certainly appreciate the budget constraints the territorial government must work with, but it's never too early to put the plans in place for the 2003 fiscal year.

With the logistical problems the force has to deal with, such as housing and moving costs, the earlier the start of moving an officer or two into these communities, the better for all concerned.

Our Kivalliq communities are growing and our efforts to provide reliable, adequate policing must grow with them. People should have the right to feel they live in a well-policed community.

And that includes much more than the solving of crimes.

Editorial Comment
Malcolm Gorrill
Inuvik Drum

The first seven months have not been easy for Darrin White and Gail Hodder.

Late last July the husband and wife team took over as executive director and artistic director, respectively, of the Great Northern Arts Festival.

Currently they are the only paid employees there, as the GNAF Society copes with a shortfall in anticipated revenue.

Their situation is a reminder of the somewhat precarious position such societies can find themselves in, as they rely upon government grants and corporate donations. Once the current crunch is behind them, White and Hodder hope to chart a smoother course for the festival, and the best of luck is wished to them.

This is also a good reminder for people that organizing this annual event takes all year long, and is by no means a task just assigned to the summer months.

Wiling away the hours

Delta residents find all sorts of ways to pass the time during the long winter months.

One example would be the afternoon course offered last week on painting on silk at the Inuvik campus of Aurora College.

Around 10 people tried their hand at a new art form, and seemed to have a lot of fun while doing so. Even if none ever paint on silk again, they'll have memories to treasure from the weekend.

Sports is another great way to pass the time, and get some exercise along the way. The Inuvik Dart Association playdowns wrapped up and the NWT Fire Fighters Bonspiel was held over the weekend.

People can and do play these sports for years, forming great friendships along the way. Comments were made also about how enjoyable the territorial and national events are.

Name change debate unnecessary

The idea of coming up with a new name for the NWT seems misguided.

The Inuvik and Tuktoyaktuk councils have spoken out against any change, and the word on the street suggests strong support for maintaining the status quo.

It could be a complicated, messy and expensive undertaking to arrive at a new name -- especially one that would please everyone.

On a more practical level, it would cost a lot to change signs and logos, and would take time for people outside the NWT to learn the new name.

There are far more pressing matters to spend time and money on.

Editorial Comment
Derek Neary
Deh Cho Drum, Fort Simpson

It was a pleasure to talk to three long-time Fort Providence couples last week. Did they interrupt each other on occasion? You bet they did. Do they still have arguments? Of course they do. But the couples also support each other and laugh together. A sense of humour is so important.

They exchanged knowing glances from time to time. Living together for 50 years takes a combination of hard work, sacrifice and compromise. Yet when two people love and appreciate each other that much, their devotion outweighs all else.

How humbling

Sometimes you just have to laugh at life. Take last Thursday morning for example. I was at Deh Gah school in Fort Providence when I realized the zipper on my winter coat had split. This had nothing to do with excessive weight gain.

I fought doggedly with the cursed thing, which was still held together at one point by the slider (I have since looked up the parts of the zipper on the Internet). As I made my way down the quiet hallway -- school was in -- I made some progress. Having an appointment to interview a staff member, I entered the classroom. By that point I had wrestled the slider halfway to the bottom, at which point I could slip my coat off, but I was still struggling.

As is customary, several young students raced to greet me, each asking if I remembered the last time I took their picture. They quickly realized my predicament and a few of them offered this advice: pull the zipper all the way to top and then ease it down. At that juncture I was reluctant to give it a try, having spent the past five minutes making headway. Teacher Catherine Mains, standing at a distance, noted that one of the students experienced the very same problem earlier that morning.

"Well," I reasoned with myself. "these kids must know what they're talking about then."

After all, none of them was still trapped in a coat. That was reassuring.

So, with a little effort, I managed to return the zipper to its upper limit. The problem was that it still wouldn't go down.

Classroom instructor Fern Elgar came over to lend a hand. After a few minutes of futility she gave up. Then Catherine gave it a shot. She did her best to even up both sides, but she too was unsuccessful. Thankfully the students had lost interest, turning their attention back to their Valentine's artwork.

There I stood truly ensnared in my coat. I couldn't even pull it over my head now with the zipper enclosing the material snugly around my neck. I had no choice but to yank the loathsome zipper apart, tearing one of the teeth off in the process.

Now my coat is fastened by the snaps I had previously never used. I'm grateful to be able to pull it on and off without trouble, but I'm praying that we've seen the last of the -40 C weather. The gaps between the snaps sure don't compare to the buffer offered by a zipper.