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"We are looking at court rulings and watching what the federal government is doing," says Miltenberger, while solemnly noting that the NWT Marriage Act pertains only to the "traditional sense, man and woman."
In other words, when they do something, we'll do something too -- eventually.
We really have to wonder if Miltenberger has even read the NWT Marriage Act. From what we can tell, there is nothing in it that bars same-sex couples from marrying.
There are a couple references to the term "husband and wife" but to grouse on about that would only lead to a futile court fight over semantics, which three provinces -- Ontario, Quebec, and this week British Columbia -- have lost.
The definition of marriage is quickly changing in this country.
Regardless, the NWT Marriage Act is very specific about who can and who cannot get married. For example, a man cannot marry his grandfather's wife. Nor can a woman marry her brother's daughter's husband. The act says so.
But nowhere does the act say a man cannot marry a man or a woman cannot marry a woman.
There is no need in this territory to set up expensive committees to study the issue or make various amendments to the act in the legislative assembly.
We can also be spared the moronic debate, such as that heard from some MLAs last year prior to changes that allowed gays and lesbians to adopt children.
All Miltenberger has to do is issue a departmental directive ordering marriage licence issuers to process requests from same-sex couples.
It's that easy. We can hold onto the status quo like the provinces of Ontario, Quebec and British Columbia did and lose if a court challenge were to arise. Or we can realize the future is at our door and accept it gracefully.
Of course, it's an election year. If Miltenberger shows some mettle and changes NWT policy on same-sex marriage, perhaps he deserves to keep his job after all.
He has four months left to show that he's got the guts to do what's right.
Editorial Comment
Chris Puglia
Kivalliq News
You may have seen it -- a new commercial designed to instill national pride in Canadians.
Similar to the 'I Am Canadian' beer commercial (my personal favourite) it has supposedly normal Canadians stating what they love about their country.
This commercial looks at the freedoms Canadians enjoy. But are all Canadians afforded the same rights and freedoms regardless of race, colour and gender?
In theory, perhaps they are, but in practice I would say no.
Northern Canadians for years have struggled because they are not treated equally by the federal government compared to the rest of Canada.
On paper it may seem the North is treated the same way as the rest of the country, but in reality the truth is much the opposite.
Northerners struggle with access to health care, education, affordable housing and food. Those struggles can be attributed to poor government funding and isolation.
The results are horrendous social issues that are devastating not only to Inuit culture, but Canada's reputation.
It's outrageous that anywhere in what is supposedly one of the wealthiest and most prosperous countries world-wide that there are regions which, by definition, could be classified as third world.
Two bedroom homes are bursting at the seams trying to accommodate, at times, more than 10 people. Unemployment, suicide and alcohol and drug abuse rates are double and triple those of national averages.
Yet, still the Canadian government is hesitant to invest in the people of the North and every new federal dollar obtained is fought for. Meanwhile larger provinces, where the voting majorities live, are flourishing.
The question is: Why are the feds so reluctant to invest in the North, aside from a sparse population?
The population argument is an effective one for the Canadian government. How can they justify spending billions of dollars to not only improve, but create a Northern transportation system, improve health care, advance education and increase social programs?
The wealth of natural resources here that feed federal government coffers should be enough justification. If not, then the desire to ensure a quality, equal and healthy lifestyle for all Canadians should be.
Northerners deserve the luxuries Southern Canadians take for granted. I am proud to be Canadian and I love this country. Lets hope the feds help ensure we can all say that.
- Note: Darrell Greer is on holidays and will return when the birds fly south.
Editorial Comment
Terry Halifax
Inuvik Drum
The new food bank is a nice idea and the people behind it worked hard to get it established so quick, but I really wonder about the good that will come from it.
With zero unemployment in Inuvik, I know that people who want to work can find it here -- that's not the issue.
There are hungry people here and we have to ask "why?" Soup kitchens are busy and kids are going to school without breakfast and lunch.
The source of hunger is not coming from a lack of work, but coming from an abundance of addiction.
Instead of feeding their bodies, people are feeding their addictions. Booze and bingo and everything else in between takes a priority to addicts.
A food bank is a Band-Aid solution heaped on the backs of the town's people because the territorial government has failed miserably at attacking the problem at the source.
There are one and sometimes two addictions treatment centres in the NWT and they are taxed to their limits, but we keep on building new jails.
Yellowknife has just built the Hilton of hoosegows and Inuvik has a brand new young offender's centre sitting empty.
Most of the inmates in Yellowknife are there because of booze, not because they are evil people. The young offenders that were in the centre here were most likely there because their problems with alcohol or a home environment brought them down because of it.
We dance around the addiction problem with nice words and so much rhetoric; we step over the drunks, and the puddles they leave behind in our streets each day, but nothing changes.
A food bank is a great idea to help single parents make it to the end of the month, but I'd hate to see it used to subsidize another round of drinks.
If a drunk is down to their last $20 and faced with buying another round or putting food on the table, they might chose the latter, but if a food bank is going to back them up, you know as well as I do that the bartender will soon have that $20 in his till.
Homeless shelters and food banks are great ideas when times are tough -- I don't have a problem with that. There is more opportunity here than anywhere else in the country right now and there is no reason why anyone should be going hungry.
The people who are hungry and homeless are the ones on the fringe -- the alcoholics and addicts who couldn't meet their minimum payments or couldn't keep the party out of the government's house.
Their stomachs crave booze more than burgers and a free bag of groceries will only perpetuate the problem.
I think it's time for some tough love here. We need a facility for people who fall through the cracks -- the ones that housing won't have and the ones that really want help.
This youth offenders centre here would make a top notch treatment centre and I'd like to see it put to work in a proactive, rather than reactive way.
There is little we can do for the habitually hungry in this town who don't want to be helped. But to the ones who do, we should have a place for them to go other than YCC.
A clean, secure building with trained staff could go a long way to a healthy appetite and a healthier future.
Editorial Comment
Derek Neary
Deh Cho Drum
It looks like the race for Nahendeh MLA will be wide open.
There's already been rumours circulating as to who's going to enter the fray. Notwithstanding, some prospective candidates were waiting to see what incumbent Jim Antoine would do before taking the plunge. Antoine has been a juggernaut since stepping onto the political scene, first as chief of the Liidlii Kue First Nations, then as MLA.
During the last territorial election in 1999, I won't soon forget sitting in a room with electoral officer Rita Cazon and candidate Paul Gammon as the results began to come in from the communities. Gammon, who had 20-plus years of administrative and contractual experience around the region, was visibly disappointed in the outcome. He admitted that he thought he had solid support from the voters in Trout Lake, Fort Liard and Wrigley. The vote count, particularly in those communities, indicated that he was a distant second choice.
As Antoine has acknowledged, he has not been very vocal in the legislative assembly during his career. Rarely did he stand up and demand change. He contends that he effected change quietly, behind the scenes. Some people question the validity of that claim, but a majority of his voters clearly put stock in his abilities when he sought a third term. Doesn't that speak for itself?
Being MLA, as with most positions of political leadership, is surely not an easy job. There are constituents approaching you with polar opposite expectations. For example, some are pro-development while others are anti-development. Then there are the basic demands to improve local education, health care and roads -- and create more jobs while you're at it. Who doesn't want those things?
As well, there are numerous individuals who, although deserving of sympathy, present personal problems that no politician could resolve.
Let's not forget an MLA's hectic travel schedule, let alone that of a minister (or a minister holding two portfolios).
Antoine also had the unenviable position of representing territorial government policies in the face of the Deh Cho Process. The Deh Cho First Nations have essentially held the territorial government in contempt. By extension, it often made for an adversarial relationship when Antoine answered to DCFN leaders at political assemblies. He says he doesn't take any of it personally. It's something his successor will have to deal with, perhaps in a different manner all together.
On the upside, the job offers a handsome salary. That can't be hard to take. The satisfaction in seeing things get done, in seeing projects benefit local people, must be very gratifying.
So who's next in line for the job? That's up to us as voters. A healthy list of candidates would be welcome. Bring on the contenders.