The new task force set up to investigate the potential for boosting organ and tissue donations in the North seems like a waste of taxpayer dollars.

The task force is made up of health care workers and representatives from the departments of Health and Transportation.

Considering we have neither the specialists nor the logistics to recover organs and transport them when people die in the North, what will they be able to accomplish?

Right now, we literally have to die in Edmonton where they have the expertise to determine brain death, which is a requirement for the harvesting of organs.

Signing Northerners up to be donors is a good idea. That doesn't take a task force; it takes adding a line to our driver's licence or health cards.

Spend the money on an education campaign instead.

At first blush it seems unfortunate that city council Monday night couldn't see its way clear to provide tax-exempt status to the Salvation Army's alcohol and drug withdrawal house on 45th Street. But only at first blush.

The Salvation Army gained title to the house Jan. 10 and uses it for short-term residential stays, not usually longer than 14 days. Capt. Al Hoeft wrote to council March 27 seeking tax-exempt status. The 45th Street property has municipal and school taxes totalling $2,124.03 levied against it this year.

While the Salvation Army is delivering a much-needed service at the house, the city adopted a policy in 1992 that consistently refuses tax exemptions for properties that do not deliver municipal-type services.

The history behind the policy dates to the late 1980's when the GNWT, looking for "alternative service delivery mechanisms" for many of its programs and services, contracted with many of the property-owning not-for-profit groups in Yellowknife to deliver them. The federal government did the same.

By the early 1990's, many of those not-for-profit groups were inundating the city with requests for tax grants or property tax-exempt status. Ten years ago, city council decided this as indirect downloading of costs to the municipality by the senior levels of government.

Similar downloading debates have been played out across the country, particularly in Ontario where downloading from the province onto the municipalities was a daily news item for the first term of the Mike Harris Tory government from 1995 to 1999.

We wish the Salvation Army well with its operation of the 45th Street house. It's a valuable service. But it should pay its $2,124.03 property tax bill out of its government contracts or donations. Yellowknife should not have to forego that revenue.

We've been through the sexual revolution and women's lib. Sure, we're still fighting for pay equity, but when it comes to parenting, few do the job better than mom.

Think about Louise Debogorski, profiled in Friday's Yellowknifer. A mom to 11 kids -- eight of whom still live at home -- she's always on the go.

There's cooking, cleaning, shopping, driving kids to school, extracurricular activities and more.

It's a full-time occupation, as demanding as any so-called "real job."

Sure, many dads contribute to home life.

But most would probably admit, at least to themselves, that their contributions pale in comparison to what mom's expected to do.

Editorial Comment
Darrell Greer
Kivalliq News

It would be easy to fill this space about the wonderful patriotism shown by residents of Rankin Inlet this past week during the Governor General's visit. And, make no mistake about it, local residents did their community proud by turning out in droves to meet and pay their respects to Adrienne Clarkson.

However, we can't help but wonder what the Governor General may have thought had she arrived in the hamlet unannounced a few days earlier and viewed the sorry state of the vast majority of flags flying in the community.

Of course, most of the offices around town unravelled brand new flags for Clarkson's visit -- not an uncommon practice for any municipality in this great nation of ours.

However, what is uncommon is the usual horrific condition of Canadian flags in Rankin.

And that's not to mention the almost total absence of the Nunavut territorial flag.

As an ex-Canadian Forces regular myself (mobile support, Maritime command), I find the state of the flags in most Kivalliq communities appalling at best. One gets a heavy heart when they look up at the symbol of our great nation torn, tattered, and, in some cases, literally ripped in half.

In talking with the hamlets, this newshound was equally surprised and angered to learn the Nunavut government does not supply territorial flags to the municipalities.

Granted, the government has a long list of priorities it must address and flags, apparently, don't rank very high on its list.

However, feeling pride in one's territory, their land, is more than simple words -- words often spoken by a number of our leaders every time they're in front of a microphone or a federal representative.

The hamlets take care of their own municipal flags at a substantial cost. To order one hand-sewn flag runs in excess of $125. Silkscreen flags must be ordered in lots of 10, running in the neighbour of $1,000.

Surely the Nunavut government can find the financial resources to supply the hamlets with territorial flags to fly proudly over the communities? Heck, let's even throw in the resources for the extra flag pole. It's a small price to pay for helping to build territorial pride.

We're quite sure, with a phone call or two, the federal government would be willing to supply the Maple Leaf to our Nunavut communities.

On the surface, it may sound like a small issue, but torn, mutilated and missing flags are a sign of total disrespect for what they stand for.

Oh, for the days of Sheila Copps's unbridled enthusiasm once again.

Editorial Comment
Terry Halifax
Inuvik Drum

The nurses of the North sure deserve a big thanks from all of us who count on the work they do.

With staff shortages rampant throughout the profession, our nurses have been doing more with less for far too long.

Some of the new nursing programs through Aurora College will soon start showing some results for the profession and bring some more homegrown help into our hospitals and health centres.

Elegant Inuvik

The Firefighter's Ball sure opened my eyes to what a classy bunch you Inuvikites are!

Just before the ball, I was talking to a friend in Ontario who asked what I was wearing to the soiree.

When I answered a sweater, canvas pants and my best hat, she suggested since it was a ball, I might consider a suit.

"This is the North," I said. "Things are a little more casual here than in the Big Smoke." But when I got to the event, I saw the gowns, suits, ties and even tuxes and tails, I quickly did an about face to dust off the old suit.

Not that I would have felt out of place in my usual work clothes, but it's a rare occasion I get to use those fancy duds. It was indeed a classy affair and a real treat to see everyone dressed-up.

For most of us, it's not something we'd like to do everyday, but it is fun once in a while.

Trade wars

It was refreshing to see someone from the federal government finally taking a stand for Canada against our largest trading partner.

Our federal natural resources minister made his thoughts very clear last Thursday at the meeting with his G-8 counterparts and his tough talk brought about a quick and hasty retreat from the Americans. Herb Dhaliwal threatened to fight subsidy with subsidy over the Alaskan gas tax credit proposed by U.S. Alaskan Republican Senator Frank Murkowski.

Likely fearing reprisals from the World Trade Organization rather than the Canadian threat, the American energy boss announced the next day that the Bush administration would not support the amendment.

The Americans have been stomping Canada hard lately over softwood lumber and now a farmer's subsidy and it's about time a Canadian politician stood up to the big bully.

This is just the kind of tough talk we'd love to hear from our Prime Minister, but he's too concerned over losing some votes for his Liberal buddies in the Yukon.

The Alaskan pipeline means a few jobs for a few years in the Yukon, but in the grander scheme, what's best for Canada is the Mackenzie Valley route.

Despite pleading, prodding and poking from our ministers and premier's recent visit to Capital City, the Prime Minister has remained quiet on the whole pipeline issue.

Granted, trying to trade Twinkies for Ding-Dongs with the biggest bully in school doesn't come easy when you're a little guy from Shawinigan, but what's at stake here is worth the risk of a black eye or a few lost votes for the Yukon's Pat Duncan.

Editorial Comment
Mike W. Bryant
Deh Cho Drum, Fort Simpson

Growing up in the North means never being surprised with the richness it has to offer.

I stepped off the plane last week, leaving the hustle and bustle of "big city" Yellowknife behind, where diamond dreams and government schemes abound, into the heart of the Deh Cho. A world, despite my aforementioned upbringing, I'm scarcely familiar with.

It only goes to show how vast this territory really is.

Attending last Monday's village council meeting, where Mayor Tom Wilson and council pointed out to Nahendeh MLA Jim Antoine the disparity between Fort Simpson and that gilded castle built on bedrock on the shores of Great Slave Lake -- that little Camelot we call Yellowknife -- brings a now popular cinema quote to mind. Although, I must say, I'm loathe to give Hollywood credit for anything.

"Show me the money," Cuba Gooding Jr.'s character, Rod Tidwell, tells his agent in the film Jerry Maguire.

Earlier this year the territorial cabinet was in the throes of one big, happy love-in. And why not? The purse was full. The NWT thumped the rest of Canada last year with a 20 per cent GDP growth rate.

In Yellowknife, one school board is clamouring for a new school to be built. The chamber of commerce wants to see 600 new homes built to accommodate all the mining personnel expecting to arrive on the crest of good fortune the diamond industry promises to offer.

To top it off, a new twin pad arena -- to go along the other two already there -- is being constructed as we speak.

Yellowknife's a biiger town, of course, but from what I gather, Fort Simpson council would be happy to simply have some of their capital funding revamped -- after taking a $500,000 hit last year -- so they can fix the roads.

And of course, a few more government jobs in the area wouldn't hurt either.

Christmas may have past, but I am told it didn't come here this year. One has to wonder if Santa Claus is still licking his wounds after the mugging he suffered upon climbing down the chimney at Yellowknife City Hall.

Anyway, I am here for the rest of the month, and I am looking forward to meeting as many of you as I can while I am here. I am anxious to learn as much as I can about the Deh Cho, so drop me a line any time.

One more thing. My birthday was last Friday, and while goodwill may be in short supply in the territorial capital, it certainly wasn't here.

Thank you Randy, Stephanie, Glen, Sue, Janis, Tim, John, Arthur, Karen, Vera, Crystal and the kids for the party and your most gracious welcome.

I love moose steaks.