What to do with Twin Pine Hill?

The question has plagued City Hall and residents alike for the past 10 years with nary a consensus to be found.

Environmentalists and some Old Town residents would argue that it should be left alone. As one person at the Sept. 9 council meeting stated, "it's an energy centre." A majestic hill of rock and green that offers solace in the face of urban encroachment. It's also a refuge for wildlife.

City Hall and Yellowknife River Resorts propose a luxury hotel and convention centre, surrounded by a nature preserve and limited residential and commercial development.

The last time city council tried to develop the area -- an ill-planned twin-pad arena four years ago -- they were left eating humble pie.

And now we are about to cross that road again, except this time private developers from an aboriginal company have come up with a plan with little economic risk to the city.

The result would be a state-of-the-art $25 million resort with 160 rooms, and space for groups of up to 750 people.

A study unveiled last spring suggested the complex could bring $25 million in additional revenue to the NWT annually.

There is a lot of sentimental attachment to Twin Pine Hill. People living in the area like the fact that there is green space in their midst. The simple fact is, however, that this town needs a convention centre, especially if tourism is to grow.

And where else can a convention centre be developed? It would need an attractive, central locale. It cannot be built on a swamp near Range Lake or on the outskirts of town.

Not enough public consultation? The city held an open house last May, had a public debate last week, and judging by our own newspaper record, the convention centre idea has been tossed around for at least two years.

And looking at the city's zoning plans, there will be plenty of the green stuff left: Seven hectares of it compared to five for the resort. Furthermore, the city risks losing control of the land through a land claim with the Yellowknives Dene if the resort doesn't get the green light.

Finally, other than a quick glance towards the hill going to and from work, how much do people actually use it to find peace and solitude? A recent walk along the hill found it to be more dangerous than peaceful. Broken beer bottles and garbage litter throughout.

A nature trail alongside tasteful architecture might actually bring people out to enjoy it. And let's not forget, this is Yellowknife not New York.

You want wilderness? It's only a drive, boat, bicycle ride away.

Editorial Comment
Darrell Greer
Kivalliq News

We cannot understand why the government of Nunavut does not throw more financial support behind the Nunavut Youth Abroad Program. NYAP has been highly successful during its five years of existence, to the point where two former participants hold positions on its nine-member board of directors.

While we appreciate the Department of Culture, Language, Elders and Youth is doing what it can to support the NYAP -- based on the youth allotment of its funding structure -- we can't help but wonder why the Department of Education isn't kicking in some much-needed support for this program.

The reluctance to increase financial aid is even more puzzling when one looks back at the government's contributions to the ill-fated Nunascotia program, a poorly conceived project that sent Nunavut students to a Nova Scotia university to hang out on campus and monitor classes. We can only surmise the government believed some form of osmosis would occur within these students, fuelling their desire to attend post-secondary classes.

Of course, without any work or commitment on their part, a number of the students seized the opportunity to do little more than party. The experience may have left a bad taste in the government's mouth towards supporting what it perceives as a similar program.

If that's the case, it's time to wake up and smell the textbooks. Competition for positions in the NYAP is intense among Nunavut youth. And a place in the program is not given simply because one wants it. The students must endure a comprehensive screening process in their communities to prove their desire to participate.

Once selected for the Canadian and international phases of the NYAP, they are exposed to different cultures, increase their awareness and self-esteem, get used to being away from home, develop work skills and learn how to function as part of a team. In short, the NYAP is doing its part in helping to develop our territory's leaders of tomorrow.

Government funding has ranged from $50,000 to $15,000 annually. The lower of which has been the norm during the past three years.

Increased internal funding would make it easier for NYAP organizers to raise the external funding it requires each year to run the $230,000 program -- a fair chunk (minimum $750 each) of which the participants raise themselves.

It would amount to an investment in Nunavut's future, an investment in an educational youth broker with a solid track record of providing high returns to its clients.

Editorial Comment
Terry Halifax
Inuvik Drum

The 25th anniversary of the Inuvialuit Development Corporation underlines just how much has been achieved in a short period of time.

From transportation to oil field services, the Inuvialuit have secured a foothold in the development of the North.

It's no accident the Inuvialuit have achieved such success here. It's taken strong leadership and some smart business planning to get where they are today.

The beneficiaries support in the leadership and key personnel have brought the Inuvialuit unparalleled success in business.

Much more than today's success, the group of companies have secured a legacy for future beneficiaries that will go far beyond the reserves of oil and gas in the ground.

The diversification of the corporation will ensure a long-lasting future for the Inuvialuit and their initiatives have served as a shining example to other original peoples in the North and in Canada.

The Dogribs have followed the lead of the Inuvialuit and are reaping the benefits in very successful partnerships in hydro-electricity and in the mining industry.

Congratulations on the first 25 years in business, I'm sure the next 25 will be even better.

Vicious dogs, vicious owners

Monday's dog attack here punctuates the badly needed dog control legislation required in this town.

In July, a girl was attacked by a pit bull and nothing was done. Now it's dog bites dog, but it's obvious their needs to be some rules in place.

One has to question the motivation of someone requiring one of these short-haired killers in the Arctic.

If a guard dog is needed, a husky is more than adequate. If a pet is needed again a husky makes a great pet.

For the owners of these attack dogs, it's not a question of having a pet or a guardian, it's more of a power trip.

Of course, there are cases of other breeds attacking unprovoked, but the pit bull has sparked more legislation and controversy across the country than any other breed.

It really makes one wonder about the people who witnesses say sicced their pit bulls on the Lindsays' chained dog.

Something needs to be done about this type of behaviour, and a start is putting the dogs down.

Having a killer dog is equivalent to having a lethal weapon and we have all kinds of laws, licenses and restrictions surrounding them. Why should it be any different for killer dogs?

I think it would be very easy to legislate a dangerous dog bylaw here that bans pit bulls outright and places heavy liability on the owners of Rottweilers and Dobermans too.

I know if I was sitting on council, I'd sleep a lot better knowing I did all I could to prevent another dog attack in town.

Editorial Comment
Derek Neary
Deh Cho Drum

Does Fort Simpson Coun. Pat Rowe, now a former councillor after resigning on Monday night, deserve a formal letter of apology from village council?

The councillors couldn't come to agreement on that issue. (Rowe, it should be noted, has not requested an apology). Whether they decide to send a letter expressing regret or not, there are a couple of lessons to be learned from his incident (see Fort Simpson Village Council briefs in this issue for background).

A conflict of interest arises when council is dealing with a matter that represents potential personal gain for a councillor.

Legislation guiding councillors makes it clear that each councillor is responsible to declare conflict of interest for himself or herself. Rowe exercised his judgement on Sept. 3 when he left the room while council briefly discussed and basically expressed no interest in a garbage truck he could make available for rental.

Things took a turn for the worse from there. Rowe felt he would not be in conflict by subsequently debating and voting on the purchase of a 1990 garbage truck from Toronto. Council effectively took that choice away from him by never inviting him back into the room. In retrospect, most councillors concur that a mistake was made.

On a related note, the NWT's legislation fails to spell out how a councillor should proceed when excused. Village councillors have made a practice of leaving the room, and the door has remained open. Coun. Jim Villeneuve pointed out on Monday that there's nothing preventing an excused councillor from simply taking a seat in the gallery.

He's right, but to avoid any possibility of influence, councillors should continue the practice of exiting the room. If there's potential for lengthy debate, all the better if the councillor ascends the nearby flight of stairs and waits until his or her name is called to return. Simply for the sake of propriety, that's better than standing just outside the door.

Any councillor who chooses to sit in the gallery could be accused of staring at or intimidating a colleague or two. Let's face it, councillors sometimes have to make difficult decisions. Hopefully, they set friendships aside when voting. There's no need for added pressure by having the councillor in conflict present in the very room.

Another issue is whether the council chambers door should be closed when an excused councillor steps out of the room. By doing so, any member of the public who happens to come along at that time could easily get the impression that it's an

in camera meeting -- door is closed therefore public is not welcome.

So keep the door open, and excused councillors keep your distance.