Being a politician means understanding where personal beliefs, what constituents want and legal obligations come into play.

The debate over whether gay couples should be allowed to adopt children has shown some MLAs are unable to make those critical distinctions.

The reason behind allowing gay adoptions is simple.

The Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms forbids discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.

Courts and the Human Rights Tribunal have repeatedly upheld that.

The NWT's Adoption and Family Law acts don't live up to the law of the land when it comes to homosexuals.

There is no legal reason to stand against the principle. Because of that, legislators must listen to the law.

The six MLAs who voted against amending the acts didn't. Hay River MLA Jane Groenewegen's insistence of voting according to her own beliefs, even if it meant going against what her constituents want, is a breach of her commitment to serve the people.

Leon Lafferty (North Slave) showed he didn't understand the issue when he claimed "sexual orientation can be changed."

At least Delta MLAs David Krutko and Floyd Roland said they were speaking on behalf of constituents when they spoke against the bill.

However, their arguments that Aboriginal self-government negotiations should stop the GNWT from changing the laws are inappropriate.

Even First Nations are not exempt from the Charter of Rights.

The amendment did pass second reading and now goes before the standing committee on social issues. It is expected to return to the legislature in June. Then, if MLAs are unable to support the law, they must abstain from voting.

When a Winnipeg doctor said he would no longer treat smokers, he had a much greater influence on the conscience of the nation than the entire collective of Canadian doctors speaking out against programs sponsored by big tobacco companies.

Dr. Fredrick Ross' refusal to see patients who will not quit smoking, or even try to quit, ignited the opinions of both non-smokers and smokers.

Ross' directive has both moral and legal implications. But aside from opinion, Northern communities and entrepreneurs -- especially those in the business of promoting health products -- could learn by his example.

Direct action is an effective way of getting people's attention, when words have continually failed.

And limiting access to tobacco products is a good place to start.

There are many examples of storeowners across the country refusing to sell tobacco.

Sutherland's Drugs in Yellowknife has taken such a stance.

So it may be time for Northern businessowners who sell tobacco to pull cigarettes from the shelves and agree to have only one licensed vendor in each community who sells tobacco and tobacco-related products.

Nunavut should certainly consider such a change as it has the highest rate of smoking in the country, and 75 per cent its youth are puffing.

Imagine going to the convenience store and not being tempted by rows of tobacco, while you stand in line to pay for milk.

Out of sight, out of mind may help more people stop smoking. And the only ones who will suffer then will be tobacco companies and its shareholders.

Editorial Comment
Darrell Greer
Kivalliq News

Listening to Alex McClelland talk about being HIV positive (please see story page 11), there were a number of emotions tugging at my heart as he spoke.

Surprisingly to me, as the articulate young man spoke candidly about his situation, pity was not among them.

In fact, the further along the interview went, the stronger the feeling of hope built up inside of me.

McClelland has the ability to get his message across to a large number of young people.

With that message comes understanding. And, with that understanding comes the hope the vast majority of our youth won't find themselves in his situation.

Hopefully, his point of not all people infected with HIV are gay men, drug users and prostitutes was well taken by local youth.

With McClelland still close to their age, his experiences should have hit close to home in the minds of those who heard him speak.

At the age when hormones and testosterone are running wild within the teenage body, we can only cheer for common sense to prevail over primal urges.

The truth of these modern times, however, is that one solitary lapse in judgement can change a life forever.

As our Kivalliq youth continue to get better informed about HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases, hopefully that knowledge will lead to the majority of them taking precautions when they decide to enter into a sexual relationship.

Better yet, maybe that knowledge will lead to more of them practising abstinence until they finish their educations, find the right person, and ready themselves to raise a family.

Don't change a thing There were more than a few male hockey players overheard bemoaning the fact females are allowed to play in the annual Arviat Cup hockey tournament earlier this month.

We can only hope the tournament's committee members give this complaint the proper attention it deserves -- in one ear and quickly out the other.

The inclusion of female players gives the Arviat Cup a sense of uniqueness and helps develop women's hockey in the hamlet.

The annual tourney is also something for younger female players to look forward to at a local level, regardless of whether they ever reach the point of playing in the Western Shield or Arctic Winter Games.

Rather than get the gals out of the Arviat tournament, this corner would rather see one or two more communities follow Arviat's lead and set up a co-ed tourney in their own hamlets.

It all helps the game grow and throws down the welcome mat for everyone who loves hockey, no matter the gender.

And that's what the game is all about.

Editorial Comment
Terry Halifax
Inuvik Drum

Hello, again!

It feels good to be back in the Delta. I spent three months filling in up here about two years back and I can see lots of changes taking place in Inuvik.

It's an exciting time for a reporter to be here, covering all the important history that's going on with self-government and, of course, the proposed pipeline.

I look forward to helping record the important history that's taking place here, as well as the everyday moments that make this part of the world such a special place to be.

Unhappy campers

The proposed elders facility that could push the playground and campground out of Inuvik deserves some new consideration.

As towns become cities, they must be careful to ensure there are adequate "green spaces" left within the core; places for children to play and adults to relax. Quiet, happy places where trees and families can grow old together.

Previous mayors and councils have vehemently protected this area from development and well they should -- it's a jewel for the town.

Perhaps a compromise is in order. Rather than a six-unit elder's facility, perhaps a single building that would house the same number of people, while still making room for children to play and campers to camp.

Tourists would love the opportunity to interact with the rich history housed in an elder's facility and the elders would enjoy watching their grandchildren in the playground.

We all know why they call oil and gas a non-renewable resource, but tourism lasts forever.

Off-road cabs

The new taxi licensing bylaw has put seven drivers out of work and seven families in need.

It's sad to see anyone forced out of work, but even sadder to see it's because of government regulating the free market.

A hands-off approach just wasn't working in Inuvik and the drivers have only themselves to blame for that. If they'd taken the initiative years ago to establish their own governing body, this situation could have been avoided.

That's easy to say now, but the solution to getting these people back to work will take time and some reasonable, forward-thinking discussion between the drivers, taxi commission and town council.

Editorial Comment
Derek Neary
Deh Cho Drum, Fort Simpson

The issue of loose dogs, which is never-ending in Fort Simpson, arose at a village council meeting yet again.

The latest uproar was spurred by a dog that killed a cat and bit a resident who tried to separate the two. Fortunately the resident was wearing a thick coat and wasn't injured, but the severity of the incident cannot be disregarded.

Council has decided to hire a bounty hunter of sorts, a person who will shoot loose dogs on sight. The gravity of the situation warrants some sort of redress. Regrettably, if a dog that isn't normally on the run happens to be loose at the time it might be shot indiscriminately.

That's the predicament the village is in at the moment. What is needed is a long-term solution.

It would be naive to think the problem will ever fade away all together. It won't.

Former senior administrative officer Bruce Leclaire used to argue that the responsibility ultimately lies with dog owners. They are the true culprits.

He's absolutely right. Yet assigning blame doesn't address the problem. Ideally, all citizens would abide by all laws, but that's not reality. That's why police exist, to enforce the law when unruly citizens decide to be disobedient.

The same applies to bylaw officers. Part of the bylaw job description -- a major part -- is to dispose of problem dogs. It's an unenviable task.

Who would want to have to shoot a mistreated animal, an animal that was never really given a fair chance? Pulling the trigger would surely be heart-rending.

But it has to be done.

The vast majority of Fort Simpson's residents know which dogs are constant nuisances and which dog owners are irresponsible.

There are some canines forever running loose, some are good natured but others are menacing. Regardless, all loose dogs should be rounded up on a regular basis.

The village has a fine system in place for owners who care enough to recover their pets in a timely fashion. Caring owners would willingly pay the $25 -- most would pay much more -- to save their pooch. They should be given that option because there are times when dogs break free of restraints, or youth, without permission, unchain dogs or open gates, allowing dogs to roam.

Repeat offenders or those who scoff at the prospect of paying fines should not have the privilege of owning a pet, but that cannot be enforced.

In an ideal world, people would not give puppies to other people who are known to be irresponsible or mistreat dogs.

But it's not an ideal world. We need an effective bylaw and effective enforcement.