The city should venture very cautiously down the road toward a so-called 'bag-tag' garbage collection system. In a bag-tag system, householders are allowed a set number of bags of garbage for pick-up at a flat rate. For any extra bags of garbage, they have to purchase tags.

Currently, there is a charge of $10 per month per home for garbage disposal, and you can put out as many bags as you want.

Originally, the $10 levy was designated to cover the cost of the current baling facility. When the baling facility was paid off in 1993, the city kept the levy to help pay for garbage collection and operating the dump. It costs about $1.5 million annually to have a private contractor pick up the garbage and the city to operate the dump.

Now, the city wants to move from a flat-rate to a user-pay system with 'full cost recovery' from all residents and businesses, perhaps through a bag-tag system. The plan is to also encourage the environmental 3-R's -- reduce, reuse, recycle.

We would be loathe to shout down almost any proposal aimed at addressing Yellowknife's poor record on recycling.

In 2002, we put 30,000 cubic metres of garbage into the dump, while diverting a dismal two per cent of our waste into recycling.

Ideally, selling truckloads of recyclables to Edmonton would at least be a break-even proposition; in reality, it has been a money-loser because of low prices for the raw materials that are recycled. That doesn't mean we should throw in the towel on recycling. A territorial bottle deposit system is one place to start.

There are several potential problems with bag tag; fairness and getting people to go along with it top the list.

The owner of a single-family detached home is going to want to know that condo owners, businesses and apartment dwellers are paying their fair share.

Otherwise, the spectre of Yellowknifers dumping their excess trash in commercial dumpsters or in the bush is not that far-fetched.

The city says in places like Kelowna, B.C., Red Deer and St. Albert, Alta., which have the bag tag system, there was some resistance and illegal dumping but people soon got with the program.

Perhaps. But only if it is fairly implemented with a real option for recycling.

Editorial Comment
Darrell Greer
Kivalliq News

It was interesting to hear Kivalliq Inuit Association (KIA) president Tongola Sandy say the KIA will intensify its lobbying efforts to have the Nunavut government hire more Inuit.

The resolution is either an attempt to prop up the KIA's sagging public image, or, is yet another example of an organization hopelessly out of touch with the socio-political climate of the day.

Sandy should be more than a little aware of the tremendous competition in Nunavut for skilled Inuit workers, especially when it comes to the filling of mid- and upper-level management positions.

Head-hunting has been rampant among the GN, the various regional Inuit organizations, Nunavut Tunngavik Inc., etc. during the past few years.

In short, highly skilled and educated Inuit employees are in great demand and their services aggressively sought after in every professional field.

We applaud the government's efforts to step up specialized training in an effort to fill positions with homegrown talent.

However, lawyers, accountants and business specialists, just to name a few, take years of training.

As such, we are still a few years removed from reaping the benefits of these training programs.

On the surface, it would appear the KIA has still not received Premier Paul Okalik's message that the vast majority of government jobs still vacant require highly-skilled workers.

It is not in anybody's best interest to hire people for these positions simply to fill a self-imposed quota.

The KIA, itself, went out and brought in a non-Inuit to get its financial house in order, along with that of the Sakku Development Corp.

We can only surmise the organization tried, and failed, to find a qualified Inuit business professional before making its hire.

There are few who call Nunavut home who don't want to see the Nunavut government increase its number of Inuit employees as it approaches its second term.

That being said, one would like to think the vast majority of Nunavummiut also want to see their territory grow and prosper.

That's not going to happen if our government and top-ranking organizations hire workers based solely on their cultural background, rather than their qualifications.

We're confident the GN will reach the point where 80 per cent or higher of its workforce are Inuit.

We're also confident the GN will stay the course and continue training programs to ensure when that day comes, the workforce will be highly-trained and qualified to perform the tasks its members were hired to perform.

Ultimately, that is the only course of action which will lead us down the road of prosperity.

Editorial Comment
Tara Kearsey
Inuvik Drum

It's outrageous that town council wants to waste $200,000 on luxury accommodations for stray dogs.

The public opposition shown at last week's council meeting should ring loud and clear to town administrators and councillors -- the public wants to see their hard-earned tax dollars put towards something everyone can benefit from.

Following are a few suggestions as to where council should spend our money.

Young people are bored, especially during the winter. Some of that money can go towards renovations at the youth centre or replacing the age-old exercise equipment at the Midnight Sun recreation complex.

Some less fortunate people in this town are homeless and do not have a warm bed to sleep in every night. If council wants to spend all that money on a new building, why can't they build a shelter for human beings instead of dogs?

How about buying new uniforms for the town's bylaw officers? At the Jan. 6 council meeting one councillor mentioned that a municipal enforcement officer is sporting an RCMP crest on his jacket.

RCMP? Bylaw officers are not trained as police officers and should not, in any way, be portrayed as such. We should be able to differentiate between apples and oranges. Shouldn't bylaw officers have their own identities?

These are just a few suggestions for councillors to ponder before their next meeting. Everyone in this town agrees that stray dogs are a problem. But it's been an ongoing problem for many years. Why flush $200,000 down the toilet now?

The town has more money now than it ever has, thanks to the oil and gas boom, population growth and a thriving tourism industry.

But just because there are more dollars in the town's account doesn't mean administrative staff should sit around dreaming up ridiculous ways to spend it all.

I only hope each and every councillor takes a good look at the big picture before supporting construction of a $200,000 dog pound. Take a stand and do what's right for everyone. The people of Inuvik deserve to be heard.

Editorial Comment
Derek Neary
Deh Cho Drum

Passport photos have long been a hassle for those in the Deh Cho.

There was once a businessman who offered the service in Fort Simpson, but no longer. For the past year there has been a void. Travellers from Deh Cho communities are forced to travel prior to their international vacation -- they must go to Yellowknife, Hay River, Edmonton or elsewhere to have their passport photos taken.

Ever since the terrorist attacks on the United States, we have been bearing hardships caused by tighter security measures.

The waiting periods at airports are much longer. Even harder to swallow, we've had to shell out a $24 security surcharge on airline tickets any time we fly south.

Not surprisingly, media reports have revealed that the airfare surcharge has resulted in a surplus, suggesting the government has overcharged travellers. Critics have called for a major reduction from $24.

Regardless, we must consider that these stringent standards have been implemented in our best interest. The government is looking out for the welfare of its citizens, trying to nab terrorists before they wreak havoc. Because of Sept. 11, 2001, we live in a world of heightened awareness.

When it comes to passports, the citizen's responsibility is not to leave the task until the last minute. Expecting to have a passport processed in a week or two isn't realistic.

But even for those who take action well in advance, the situation has gone from bad to worse.

Now passport photos are periodically being rejected by the Department of Foreign Affairs due to new security criteria. Among other things, regulations now prevent any shadow from appearing in the pictures.

The government, in its zeal to protect Canadians, must exercise some discretion. If one looks at the pictures of the two girls on page 3, there is minimal shadow. These pictures pose a breach of security?

Federal officials sitting in Ottawa clearly don't understand the burden some Northern residents face to obtain passport photos. To add exacting standards that may result in needless rejections is ludicrous.

Let's have some high-ranking federal bureaucrat fly to Yellowknife and then drive to Deh Cho communities to explain why regulations must be so rigid.

If local residents reject what they hear, they can invite that bureaucrat to drive back again for a second round of debate.

After experiencing the distance and road conditions involved, the picture will surely be a little clearer for those in Ottawa.

In a Jan. 13 interview with Nunavut Premier Paul Okalik, News/North published the wrong name of the premier's brother, whose correct name is Norman. The newspaper apologizes for this error.