It's funny to put on a phoney German accent and say "papers please..." Anyone who's stayed up late to watch old war movies has probably heard it said many times.

Anyone who has crossed an international border has been asked for their citizenship -- especially since Sept. 11, 2001.

To hear it said at an RCMP traffic safety roadblock in Yellowknife is neither funny nor appropriate.

To refresh memories, police conducted a blitz during recent days, handing out hundreds of tickets for failure to wear seatbelts and speeding.

Calling it inter-departmental "co-operation," RCMP invited Yellowknife's lone immigration officer to join in. She asked 10 drivers, including three cabbies, for proof of legal status in Canada.

In doing so, she stirred a controversy that spun all the way up to federal Immigration Minister Denis Coderre. He called it a "mistake."

Both he and new city RCMP Insp. Paul Richards said it wouldn't happen again.

It should never have happened in the first place.

Canada is not a police state. We don't single individuals out based on the colour of their skin.

This is not an innocent mistake. Police and Immigration and Citizenship Canada abused their authority and owe each one of the 10 people who were singled out an apology.

Uneasy friendship

It's easy to dislike Americans. They can be pushy, mean-spirited, ignorant, and abusive.

They can also be generous, friendly, fair and keenly competitive, from hockey to politics over grain, softwood lumber, fruit and other trade goods.

American ambassador Paul Cellucci was very friendly when he was here last week. Why? Because Americans want the NWT's natural gas. We were real friendly back because we want to sell it to them.

Although we chose not to fight in their war, there's no doubt America would come to our aid in the event of emergency, just as Canada and Yellowknife came to America's aid on Sept. 11, 2001.

It's also safe to say Canada-U.S. relations have deteriorated and need mending. Outgoing PM Jean Chretien won't do it.

Let's hope the next prime minister puts a meeting with President George W. Bush at the top of the agenda.

Editorial Comment
Darrell Greer
Kivalliq News

You can't blame some folks in Baker Lake for thinking the Department of Health has them placed slightly above scurvy vaccinations on its list of priorities.

Baker residents are still awaiting the results of the so called "investigation" into the state of health care in their community.

In early March, deputy health minister Dr. Keith Best ordered an independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death of a five-month-old infant. The baby died after suffering from flu-like symptoms. Six other people who suffered from the same symptoms were medevaced out. The infant's death came a month after another child had to be rushed south for treatment after initial calls to the nursing station were rebuffed.

Did anyone really expect Dr. Best's crack investigation team (the names of whom were never released) to find any problems or malcontent in Baker?

The healthy well being of people in the community takes a distant back seat to potential lawsuits through any self-admission of weak areas of treatment.

Some are curious as to why Baker's head nurse was sent to Arviat for two-weeks training in that community.

She may have been there to perform brain surgery for all we know, or, should we say, for all Dr. Best has been willing to tell us, despite repeated calls to his office.

Maybe Dr. Best is afraid we're going to ask why a top Kivalliq health official had to be whisked into Baker to quell an uprising when the majority of health centre staff were threatening to quit.

Sounds like our idea of a wonderful place to work.

It would appear Dr. Best has forgotten his bedside manner since moving to the political side of health care.

Apparently, there is no longer much regard for the mental state of those seeking care in Baker, at least when it comes to reassuring them of the quality of care they're receiving.

In fact, the Baker "investigation" is strangely familiar to one Dr. Best conducted into allegations of staff misconduct at a Rankin facility a few years back.

The allegations were brought forward by a former caregiver at the facility.

Dr. Best found no evidence of wrongdoing concerning the case.

However, those named by the caregiver did not remain in the employ of the facility for very long, despite the clean bill of health given by Dr. Best.

Through his silence, Dr. Best is telling worried citizens in Baker Lake to take their concerns elsewhere.

Dr. Best is probably comfortable with the fact he's adopted an age old Northern method of conciliation -- ignore it long enough and it will go away.

Good for Dr. Best. Bad for the people of Baker Lake.

Editorial Comment
Terry Halifax
Inuvik Drum

On my trip to Dawson City last week, I seemed to arrive as just the city was waking from its winter hibernation.

Unlike my previous visit, two months ago, the boardwalks were now bouncing with tourists, miners and hundreds of seasonal workers.

Locked out of the mine ministers meeting, I ambled around eateries and watering holes to talk with locals about the state of the Yukon economy.

At this time of year, it's obvious the city booms on tourism, but the dollars are scant for most whose jobs barely pay the rent. Any money saved over the summer only flies south for the winter.

The people who live there all year long, however, rely on the industries that can sustain life through the long winters.

As one miner put it, the DFO, the Sierra Club and the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society will argue that the tourist industry will replace any jobs lost through stringent environmental guidelines, but it's just not so. A family can't survive on even two wages from a retail shop or restaurant.

He said they're tired of having outsiders run their show and who can blame them?

Forestry, mining and fossil fuel jobs can provide that, but those jobs have environmental risks and that doesn't sit well with environmental groups who don't live there.

Based on no new science, the DFO pulled the rug out from under the placer mining industry in a territory that has been struggling to get back to work for years.

I'm sure the irony isn't lost on the Yukon's government or the residents. They fought with one federal department for 10 years to get devolution, only to have the guts ripped out of the economy by another department.

It's one thing to have resource revenue sharing, but what good is it if there's no resource?

The NWT and Nunavut can take a lesson from what's happened in the Yukon. Devolution does not mean you've won the war; only the battle.

Temperature and temperament

In this line of work, you notice the change in people that comes with the change in seasons. I spent much of Sunday afternoon in the park and had many laughs making pictures and talking with people enjoying the warm sun.

Walking down main street Tuesday afternoon, I was met with smiles and laughs. Six months ago, I would have found more muffled grumbles and groans through the fur of a parka hood.

We're all glad that the sunshine's back, but I think I'm a little happier than most, because that sunshine makes your faces look a lot better in pictures and makes getting a cheerful response so much easier. Get out and enjoy it now, Inuvik, because it won't be long and we'll be fending off the bugs!

Editorial Comment
Derek Neary
Deh Cho Drum

What if all elected leaders answered all questions, hypothetical or otherwise?

That would come as a relief to journalists and probably to most readers, viewers, listeners and constituents in general. There seems to be a trend developing that any reporter who dares utter the words, "What if ..." receives this response from an elected official: "I'm not answering hypothetical questions."

Granted, interviews with a politicians should not be riddled with speculative queries, but sometimes there are germane issues that could arise. Do elected officials honestly believe that people aren't wondering about those possible scenarios?

By simply dismissing all hypothetical questions, politicians are managing to stay out of hot water but they are doing a disservice to the public, who deserve to know where the politician stands.

We're on the cusp of a very busy election period. So here are a couple of questions, one of them hypothetical, that every eligible voter should feel free to ask candidates: "Would you be willing to answer a hypothetical question? What if you don't get my vote in the next election?"

Caution needed

With a multitude of grass fires cropping up and forest fires making an early appearance in the Deh Cho, it would be wise for all residents to limit burning, particularly on windy days.

With the Victoria Day long weekend having passed, camping season is now upon us. As we approach campground exits, we see signs questioning whether we checked to be sure our campfires are completely extinguished. With things already being so dry, double checking those fires is doubly impoPlanning for firesrtant.

It's been several years since the Deh Cho region has had a severe forest fire season. It's next to impossible to predict what is in store for this summer but early indications are that it could be an above-average one.

At the Fort Simpson Village Council meeting on Tuesday, Coun. Andrew Gaule raised a valid point in regards to fires. While the discussion revolved around updating the village's emergency plan for flooding, Gaule urged that priority be given to scrutinizing emergency measures in case the community is threatened by a forest fire.

With only one road in and out of the community, there could be dire consequences if a raging fire blocked the route. There may only be so much that could be done in such a grave situation, but it would be best if the emergency fire plan is dealt with pronto.