We'll be watching closely as NorthwesTel Cable wrestles into place its new mandate for operating the Community Access Television (CAT) Channel.

The company is restructuring how the CAT channel works. In doing so, the position of manager for the channel was eliminated. His responsibilities were distributed among other staff.

The announcement initially alarmed some Yellowknifers who were concerned about the future of community programs.

Well, you'll be happy to learn that there's good news in all of this, after all. Yellowknifer learned this week that while the position held by Bob Ellison is gone, the company is hiring two part-time people to run the programming. Ellison, it turns out, had been offered a position under the new structure, but turned down the offer.

The new plan includes changing how Channel 20 looks. You'll still be able to read Broadcast News, but other community-based items would share the screen.

They call it an "uplink interface" similar to larger news networks like CTV.

Popular shows like Dump Talk, Take Me, I'm Yours and Our Dene Elders will not be cancelled at all.

The channel's travelling editing suite, the CAT Van, owned by NorthwesTel Cable, will be offered for use to the Community Television Society.

This makes sense. The society, made up of professional TV-types who volunteer their time, has the expertise.

Also, a new studio at Sir John Franklin high school will be instrumental in providing live programming which, until now, has been impossible to do without the CAT van.

The bottom line is because the number of subscribers to the Cable company is low due to our population -- there are 4,600 -- the company, which has a Class 3 licence, is under no obligation to provide community television services.

But the company is busy trying to keep its subscribers at a time when satellite dishes are becoming more popular. So it's in NorthwesTel's best interest to keep local programming on the agenda.

We have reached a crossroads for policing development in the North.

But Ottawa shouldn't be confused over which path to take -- the Mackenzie Valley Environmental Impact Review Board needs more money to do its job properly.

Development is driving the Northern economy, but if it costs us our land we don't want it.

The board is our guarantee that when developers come North to set up shop they don't leave behind a toxic dump. We already have a legacy of environmental messes -- Giant mine, Colomac mine, Port Radium and Discovery mine.

So we can no longer feign ignorance when it comes to the consequences of development.

The board has to be one step ahead of big business to ensure everything is done by the book. If the board has the resources to do its job properly, everyone will win.

As part of a trend away from punitive elements of incarceration toward the restorative, the John Howard Society's community justice program here in Yellowknife is another welcome initiative.

The local branch co-ordinates a community justice committee designed to divert offenders from the mainstream criminal justice system. There are 13 volunteers and four members who sit as a committee for each weekly session, dealing with one offender.

The program has been running since 1996 and offenders are referred by the RCMP. Remedies range from letters of apology from offenders to meeting their victims.

It's a worthy undertaking for the society, whose Canadian roots date back to 1867, and takes its name from the 18th Century British reformer John Howard.

Editorial Comment
Darrell Greer
Kivalliq News

You can't help but wonder what Canadian icon Peter Gzowski would have thought listening to some of the comments made this past few weeks following his death.

Indeed, Gzowski championed literacy in Canada for years, from coast to coast to coast, and he had a special place in his heart for Nunavut.

I had the opportunity to break bread and drink a pot of coffee with Gzowski about two years ago when he was visiting Rankin Inlet. During our extended conversation, his love for the North was as evident as his conviction towards literacy.

He knew, and fully understood, how important literacy is to the future development of Nunavut.

I found myself thinking a lot about our time together after his death last month, and the subsequent tributes that filled the airwaves concerning his work on behalf of literacy.

Many of the accolades being heaped upon Gzowski's memory started to ring somewhat hollow amidst the news funding cutbacks were forcing the hamlet of Arviat to step in and try to keep the Bobby Sulik library open in that community -- at least on a part-time basis.

Although everything being said about the man's efforts to improve literacy across the North were true, it was somehow irritating to hear them coming from a government that continues to slash funding from literacy programs.

I remembered how appalled Gzowski was, as I explained to him back then, that the local DEA at the time was still fighting to have the Rankin library open to students during school hours.

A library that was actually housed inside the school.

Believe me when I say the irony was not lost on the man.

Gzowski spoke glowingly during our conversation about the work of Inuit children's author Michael Kusugak. In fact, he actually chastised me for not reading one of Kusugak's books at the time (I believe it had something to do with rocks).

The importance of Inuit youth having role models from their own culture, such as a successful children's book author, was not lost on the man. Far from it.

Gzowski, more than most, fully appreciated the difficulties a fledgling territory such as ours will face.

And, although I'll never know for sure, I can't help but think he'd swap all those accolades in a heartbeat, in exchange for increased funding in our educational system.

Before you can read the books, you have to have access to them. How else will tomorrow's youth be able to read about this cool guy named Peter and how strongly he believed in literacy?

Editorial Comment
Malcolm Gorrill
Inuvik Drum

Seldom in recent times has the Inuvik town council chambers held so many people all at one time.

The occasion was Monday's public meeting on the proposed family centre. More than three dozen people attended, stark contrast to regular meetings of council, where often the only witnesses are media representatives and perhaps one or two town employees.

Staff put in place lots of chairs for the public and even had to rearrange council members' desks to accommodate the crowd.

The turnout was encouraging. That, plus the fact many people spoke up, was also good to see.

The family centre proposal and plebiscite are serious matters impacting upon all the community. Comments and questions from many people can help air the whole issue.

Many good points were raised, whether praising the centre, raising questions about it, or objecting.

Aside from the fact a pool would allow people to take part in a fun activity all year long, it was pointed out that water is good for people to conduct exercises in, especially if they have arthritis or are in rehabilitation.

It was also brought up that the centre would enhance the community and make it more attractive for residents and people thinking about coming to work here.

Those urging caution, and those wanting the centre proposal defeated, have valid points as well. Residents do not want to get stuck with a family centre that costs more to build and operate than projected.

It is to be hoped people consider all their options carefully before casting their votes.

Where there's smoke...

The Town of Inuvik has opened up the possibility of passing a bylaw limiting smoking in public places, at least where children are allowed.

Officials are hoping to get comments from people over the next little while before they proceed further.

Well, now that the word is out, chances are the mayor and councillors will receive an earful.

It's a touchy subject. The rights of smokers wanting to light up in restaurants or other places need to be weighed against non-smokers. Added to this is medical evidence on harm second-hand smoke can cause, and the issue gets touchier still.

Chances are this debate is just beginning.

Editorial Comment
Derek Neary
Deh Cho Drum, Fort Simpson

The Deh Cho Resource Development Conference set to take place next week isn't premature, if it's interpreted properly.

The conference is not a statement or signal that lands are now available for development in the region, or even in the Fort Simpson area, specifically. That highly-anticipated announcement may come later this year with an interim resource development agreement between the federal government and the Deh Cho First Nations.

No, the conference is intended to be a series of informative and, in all probability, promotional presentations on industry and training. The latter is particularly important. If resource development is going to be increasing in the Deh Cho, then a trained workforce must be prepared to benefit from it. Outside of numerous safety courses, which are important in their own right, there are few training opportunities available for industrial workers within the region at present. That must change.

Some Deh Cho residents have already gained experience through seismic and natural gas field work in Fort Liard. Others require orientation. If this conference helps build a greater understanding of industry and makes training initiatives a reality then it will be worthwhile. A frank reminder to industry that the region's environment and social well-being are paramount won't hurt either.

Bridging the Mackenzie

The idea of a bridge across the Mackenzie is inviting. Although ferry service has improved exponentially during freeze-up and break-up over the past few decades, the down time is extremely frustrating for residents and businesses alike.

The promise of building a span for less than $50 million dollars seems too good to be true, however. These mega-projects rarely come in under budget. Usually there are extenuating circumstances that result in bloated and unforeseen costs.

If the bridge can be built at all, non-commercial users should brace themselves for a toll. Even though it's not proposed it may be inevitable. Progress, and convenience, always come at a price.

Song birds

Congratulations to Ekuinox on their first full-length CD. It's a noteworthy achievement for a hard-working local group with more than their fair share of talent.

The fact that the music is all original makes their feat all the more impressive.

Lyricist Richard Wright offered an interesting perspective on song writing. He suggested that it's better than painting. Once the paint dries, an artist is left with what he or she has created, for better or for worse. A song writer, on the other hand, can rearrange a song several years later, he said. Maybe some artists are trading in their paint brushes now.

Due to an editing error in the story "Ice Castle for High Level?" Yellowknifer, Feb. 1, a reference was made to the Yellowknife Chamber of Commerce instead of the High Level and District Chamber of Commerce. Yellowknifer apologizes for any confusion this may have caused.

Clarification

In a news brief published in the Jan. 30 Yellowknifer, Sir John Franklin high school was omitted as one of two high schools hosting students across Canada for the Interchange on Canadian Studies conference, April 6-13.

Yellowknifer apologizes for any embarrassment or inconvenience these errors may have caused.