Remorse from overspending seems to have skipped a term of office among the leaders in Nunavut.

Beneficiaries of the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement had to wait until former Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. president Paul Quassa was ousted before any regret was expressed over the price of a board table and desk -- about $12,000 for each item. It was left to current president Cathy Towtongie to say such frivolous expenditures would stop.

After that announcement, Nunavut cabinet ministers purchased a $26,000 table for their boardroom. Premier Paul Okalik defended the luxury, calling it a way to market a product -- the table was made using local stone -- the territory has to offer.

We question Okalik's sincerity on this one, because no tour group has never crossed into the hallowed space used by cabinet in two years. But the deal is done. Nunavummiut will have to wait until the next election and new leadership before we hear an apology for more reckless spending of our dollars.

We could even call the decision stupid given the economic hardships facing us down the road. Until we have financially astute leadership, we strongly urge residents to demand an explanation from cabinet ministers.

The next time you run into the premier, don't hesitate to ask him how he justified spending that kind of money on a piece of furniture. He owes you that much as the leader of Nunavut.

And don't think twice about confronting Health Minister Ed Picco or Finance Minister Kelvin Ng in the grocery store to demand answers. It is your right.

Feel absolutely free to contact Manitok Thompson, Olayuk Akesuk, Jack Anawak, Peter Kilabuk or Peter Kattuk at home to ask them about the table.

It may seem rude but, as elected officials, they are mandated to act in our best interests.

Purchasing a $26,000 table is definitely not in the best interests of Nunavut.

A recent federal survey informs us that too many Canadians are overweight or obese. Tell us something we don't know.

We won't bore you with the statistics again, but it's sad to see Northerners leading the way.

For starters, all one has to do is take a look around any public space to know the warnings about our dismal dietary habits and uninspired exercise programs are right on the money.

Perhaps it is time society offered some motivational incentives.

Educational programs are a fine starter, but governments can do more.

One of the biggest concerns in the North is the high cost of bringing fresh fruit and vegetables to the communities.

Ask Mike Doucette. He's in charge of the grocery department at Fort Good Hope's Northern store.

People turn to chips and pop because they're cheaper.

Across North American, support is building for heavy taxation on foods that contribute to obesity, diabetes, strokes and other health risks that end up costing taxpayers millions.

Maybe if we treated pop and chips like cigarettes, it might convince at least a few Northerners to eat properly.

If fresh fruit were less expensive than preservative-laden, sugar-based, cholesterol-packed treats, it might be possible to bring about a minor revolution in the manner in which shelves are stocked in Northern stores, co-ops and corner stores across the NWT.

It has worked, to an extent, to bring down smoking rates.

Why not give junk food the same treatment?

Then someone might reach for an apple before a bag of chips and a pop.

If we told you she's a dancer who tours with stars like Madonna, would you think she was cool?

If we told you she was a principal ballerina with the national ballet, would you dream your child could one day follow in her slippers?

If we told you she was an exotic dancer, would you look the other way?

Exotic dancing is not illegal.

We hope the morality squad in Inuvik, who want dancers banned, also persecute drinkers, smokers, adulterers - you get the picture.

Editorial Comment
Darrell Greer
Kivalliq News

We applaud Community Government and Transportation Minister Manitok Thompson for finally bringing closure to a tragic event.

Hopefully, with Thompson's announcement that CG&T will no longer pursue a search for the sunken Avataq, the family members of the four crew members who perished on the vessel will feel a sense of closure to this tragic accident.

Thompson's decision was not made lightly.

The minister inherited a very difficult situation from her predecessor.

Promises were made during a very emotional time after the Avataq sank -- an event which shocked and saddened the entire territory.

However, the harsh reality of the matter is that these types of accidents happen frequently in Canada.

Many a crew member has been lost at sea, many a miner laid to rest underground -- the list goes on.

All families find it difficult when the bodies of their loved ones cannot be brought home to rest.

That being said, there was nothing to be gained by prolonging the agony of the families with further talk of future searches for the vessel.

As sensitive to cultural aspects as our Nunavut government is, Thompson realized the time had come to put the matter to rest.

Although she knew it wouldn't be a popular announcement and she would face her share of heat from the decision, she had the fortitude to make a decision that was the right one for her department and, in many ways, the family members themselves.

With the announcement, people across the Kivalliq should pause and pay their silent final respects to the four brave men one last time.

Their memory will live on forever in our hearts and minds.

On the right course

The alternate learning course being taught through the industrial arts program at Qitiqliq High in Arviat should be incorporated by more schools in our region.

The program's success rate to date speaks volumes as to the potential many students across our region have, even if they're not leading the way academically in their particular school.

The fact the entire business community is backing the Arviat program also speaks volumes as to the spirit of co-operation within our Kivalliq business community when it comes to developing skilled local employees.

It's a win-win situation for everyone involved.

Businesses get skilled local employees they can count on, and bright futures are created for students who otherwise are in danger of falling through the cracks in our educational system.

Hopefully, the Department of Education will help our other Kivalliq schools incorporate the Arviat model into their own curriculum in the near future.

Editorial Comment
Terry Halifax
Inuvik Drum

It's nice to see all the support pushed behind Inuvik's new golf course. It will be a welcome sight to tourists and residents alike, and will certainly be a beautiful welcome to the gateway of town.

About 42 people signed up, volunteering their time to build the new golf course and the recent greenhouse AGM was also very well attended.

At the Inuvik Recycling Society's annual general meeting last Wednesday, not one person outside the board members showed up.

While the literal greening of Inuvik is booming with volunteer support, the figurative greening support seems to be sliding along the wayside.

Certainly separating bottles and cans isn't as glamorous as a nine-hole golf course or growing your own tomatoes, but there needs to be some support in this area too.

With the golf course, new leisure centre, greenhouse and countless other boards and committees here in town, the Inuvik Recycling Society is finding very little support for their program.

Volunteer support is strained in every town, but it's further magnified here because of three main groups: the Inuvialuit, Gwich'in and others.

Each group is representing themselves with boards and committees that require representation from each group, but there is much duplication. Hopefully, as self-government comes on stream more hands will be freed-up to tackle some of the programs that need a solid foundation of local representation.

I was here two years ago after the melt and I'm very impressed in the progress made by the recycling society and the town's beautification committee.

There is far less garbage around town now than there was two years ago. I do believe that attitudes are changing, but it hasn't come without the hard work of town employees and volunteer support to these programs.

Sure the greenhouse, leisure centre and golf course are wonderful additions to the community and will most certainly enhance the town's image to travellers, but if they have to step over mounds of litter on their way to these sights, they won't be impressed.

Healing hopes

Thanks to Alfred Moses for his submission this week to remind us of the upcoming Health and Wellness Fair.

The repercussions of the economic boom here are already sending shockwaves into our social safety net and we need to brace for much more of the same.

Inuvik sits on the brink of enormous economic prosperity, but at the same time, we're vulnerable to great loss and we have to be prepared for that.

The Health and Wellness Fair may not provide all we'll need to battle these issues, but will certainly open some eyes and lead us in the right direction.

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

How many MLAs does it take to bring the public out to meet them? If last week's two special committee consultation meetings in Fort Simpson were any indication, apparently not enough.

It has long been a Canadian pastime to take pot shots at our elected leaders, and the situation last week warrants nothing different here.

Barely a handful of people attended the special committee on the review of the official Languages Act meeting May 15 or the special committee on the implementation of self-government and sunset clause the following night.

With lengthy titles like these, who would want to show up?

Granted, it was a busy week in Fort Simpson, but it's likely people were more interested in watching the ice drift by after a long day at work than attend meetings that bear little relevance on their day-to-day lives.

But wait, isn't this motley group of legislators making important decisions that will affect our lives for generations to come?

You be the judge.

The sunset committee has a mandate to investigate how self-government will change government structures, programs and services, and financing arrangements.

They are also looking at a tricky little problem that may occur if the sunset clause is allowed to carry through to the end of the government's term next year.

If that were to happen, the legislative assembly would be dissolved and power would return to the NWT Commissioner.

At the meeting, special committee co-chair Sandy Lee reported that the committee is satisfied with the progress of self-government negotiations, and since they're First Nations and the federal government hold all the power, the GNWT is all but out of the loop anyway.

As for the sunset clause, as long as self-government negotiations continue, there is no point monkeying with that either, so it's best to repeal it and start from scratch next term.

So where does that leave this committee? Apparently with nothing to do but recommend the government scrap legislation created by the previous government, who at the time had hoped the current government would settle the issue, particularly as it pertains to redesignating electoral boundaries.

After visiting 23 communities, charging taxpayers with airplane tickets and hotel rooms wherever they went, is that all they have to say?

The official languages review meeting appeared a little more worthwhile, if only because several chiefs, in town for the Deh Cho spring leadership meeting, and a few others attended and spoke passionately about their desire to make Slavey more predominant in schools and the communities.

Nonetheless, from what was heard, the committee had already heard from many of the same people during public hearings held last March.

It just goes to show, putting "special" before one's title really doesn't mean that much at all.