That's why the Workers' Compensation Board has recommended new regulations banning smoking in the workplace.

It's the WCB's job to ensure people across the NWT and Nunavut have a safe place to work. Come Jan. 1, 2004, that should include being free of second-hand cigarette smoke.

All that stands in the way is approval of the regulations by governments of the two territories.

But before you rush out and get petitions and questions ready for upcoming territorial elections, remember this: smoking is a health issue.

It's not about personal rights. It doesn't belong in a political debate.

We expect the ministers responsible, Joe Handley in the NWT and Kelvin Ng in Nunavut, to listen to their experts at the WCB and approve the regulations.

Residents of Tulita must be scratching their heads now that Premier Stephen Kakfwi has announced his decision to step down.

The lameduck premier, who is also their MLA, told the community Sept. 19 that the government intends to replace the rundown facility that currently houses the students of Chief Albert Wright school.

While Education, Culture, and Employment Minister Jake Ootes -- also on his way out -- confirmed plans are in the works to build a new school, its actual construction may be years away.

A potentially lengthy approval process is required, he said. He's not even certain there will be enough money in the GNWT's budget next year to begin the work.

Doors that won't shut, poor ventilation, students crammed into classrooms carved out of the staff room and kitchen, and forced to cross town to access their library -- these sorts of problems are non-existent in the territorial capital.

All NWT students deserve proper facilities in which to learn and prosper.

The next territorial cabinet must do a better job providing timetables for urgent capital projects, otherwise a promise to build doesn't mean a thing.

Thirteen government ministers from around the country met for a two-day conference in Iqaluit to discuss science and innovation in the North.

Also last week, the territorial government released its first ever economic development strategy.

The document outlines plans for the government to promote Nunavut's economy.

There's been much talk, and a small forest was destroyed to make all the paper documents to support those talks. But only time will tell if these talks and strategies will have a positive affect on the people of Nunavut.

Ten year plans indicate vision. But what about next year or next week?

The unemployment rate for 2003 in Nunavut is at 25 per cent, one of the highest in Canada.

What's needed right now are the resources for people so they can apply for jobs.

So many Inuit are unemployed, while construction companies fly people from the south to build houses. That has to stop.

In Iqaluit today, the annual Nunavut Mining Symposium is focusing attention on another important area for economic growth.

Nunavut's resource opportunities are virtually untapped. Lupin, Polaris and Nanisivik mines have closed. Many more stand ready to take their place. Meadowbank gold mine near Baker Lake could be producing by 2006. Miramar's Hope Bay gold deposits in the Kitikmeot show great promise. Diamond companies have staked millions of hectares around this territory.

We're training people to be prospectors, but where are the programs to get Nunavummiut ready to work in the mines?

It would be shameful should these operations be staffed by fly-in, fly-out workers who will take their wages and the economic spin-offs they create to the south.

Before the government gets too far ahead in its planning it should start working on programs for better education and training. That way when the jobs start coming, there will be people in Nunavut who can fill them.

While the government looks to the future for development they also can't forget their past. There is strong culture in Nunavut that has to be preserved. But it must be preserved in a way that is conducive to growth.

If the government wants to develop Nunavut it must involve Northerners, the people who live here. It have to do more to support Inuit-based businesses.

It's time for less talk and more action.

Editorial Comment
Darrell Greer
Kivalliq News

Rankin Inlet hamlet council made a smart decision this past week in voting down a motion to open up the local bingo licence lottery.

The next smart move for council is to revisit its bylaw concerning those eligible to enter the lottery.

As it stands, the bylaw determines eligibility by non-profit status.

The problem with that is the number of non-profit organizations that receive considerable funding from other sources.

The spirit of the lottery is intended to provide a vehicle for search and rescue, community radio, recreation, sporting organizations and community outreach providers to raise the funds they need for their operations.

This is particularly important to groups away from the hamlet umbrella.

Most sporting organizations use bingo revenues to host tournaments, develop programs, or cover the registration and travel costs of their players.

To further split the money pool up by adding numerous organizations that, when properly managed, should be on solid financial footing, would erode many of the programs our hamlet youth and athletes depend on.

Thumbs up to hamlet council for this decision.

Missed the mark

It's fine for the Department of Health to state former Rankin Inlet dentist Sonia Autut simply wasn't patient enough to wait for the government to affect change.

But, remember, this is the same department that constantly bemoans the fact it can't entice health care providers, especially those in specialized care, to take up long-term residency in Nunavut.

Autut is exactly the type of individual the GN is looking for and it's allowing her to walk away from the community she's served for almost four years.

The GN has a commitment to the feds to maintain the status quo until the larger health contract negotiations are completed this December.

Fine. But that doesn't stop it from negotiating in good faith with Autut now, to lock up her services early in the new year.

We're not buying the rhetoric over, possibly, having to put the contract out for a public expression of interest.

That homework should have been done long ago.

The bottom line is, the GN has exactly the type of health care professional it's been squawking about for years living right here in Rankin.

Unless the GN can show that her requests have been unreasonable, it should cut through the red tape and simply make it happen.

A hearty thumbs down for way this situation has been handled.

Editorial Comment
Terry Halifax
Inuvik Drum

The meeting with self-government negotiators opened a few eyes and answered some questions about this emerging new government here.

While much still needs to be answered in the areas of financing, the political structure and voting rights seem fairly clear.

There will be guaranteed representation from Gwich'in and Inuvialuit which will form half of the council, with four open candidates composing the other half.

Many feel that they should be able to vote for any candidate, but that really waters down the whole purpose of self-government.

The reason for guaranteed representation is self-explanatory; if an aboriginal candidate is campaigning to the masses, that candidate is not necessarily representing the needs of his or her people.

As an exodus of people flow North to take the gas South, aboriginal people here will soon be out-numbered and guaranteed representation by their own population is necessary to protect their interests.

I understand the principles behind that, but the flaw I see in basing any system of government on race, ethnic origin or for that matter religious affiliation is that one day we will all be the same race.

One big happy family

Futurists predict that should humanity survive the next few centuries, we will become a homogenous mix of the world's races.

Looking that far down the road, the lines that divide us are blurred and I don't think people spend enough time looking that far ahead.

Catholics and Protestants, Israelis and Palestinians, Sikhs and Muslims and countless others have spilled oceans of blood over their differences.

If they'd look down that long road ahead I think they might spend more time celebrating their similarities, rather than fighting over their differences.

I understand the inherent right and the reasons for self-government, but I don't like the negative way people are using their differences to build walls between races.

One thing that sticks in my mind from Monday's meeting came from Bob Simpson:

"It's not so much who has the power, but how you share that power."

If this shared power is used to build a better region for all; it will be a great thing. If it's used to build walls of difference, it will be counter-productive and hurt more than help.

Editorial Comment
Derek Neary
Deh Cho Drum

Somehow the tune has changed in regards to a potential Mackenzie Valley pipeline over the past year or two.

Hark back to January, 2000 when aboriginal groups from the NWT gathered in Fort Liard and agreed to work together to benefit from a major natural gas pipeline running from Inuvik south into Alberta. At that time, Deh Cho leaders were willing to back the group but with conditions. Outright support hinged on self-government negotiations, then Grand Chief Michael Nadli explained.

Over the few years, pressure was heaped on the DCFN from around the North and from Calgary (perhaps Ottawa too). The Deh Cho, it seemed, wore the black hat in this scenario. Some remained cautiously optimistic, but others talked of gloom and doom if the DCFN didn't come on board. The whole pipeline project could fall apart, alarmists speculated.

Despite the coercion, the Deh Cho steadfastly stuck to their objectives. The remainder of the regions in the NWT along with the Aboriginal Pipeline Group -- the Arctic Resources Corporation (ARC) was still in the picture at that time, too -- and industry were forced to begrudgingly forge ahead without the Deh Cho's participation.

Now it seems we've arrived at a point where the DCFN is no longer viewed as "making or breaking" the pipeline.

Deh Cho at the table

So what has changed? Well, the Aboriginal Pipeline Group has secured its funding for the preliminary study stage. It took quite a while but it was done without the Deh Cho at the table. Obtaining the money was a boon.

Talk of "losing out" to a competing an Alaska-Yukon pipeline has faded. The odds now heavily favour the Mackenzie Valley pipe being built first.

The Mackenzie Gas Project (under the oil and gas consortium led by Imperial Oil) established a presence in three Northern communities, including Fort Simpson. Consequently, there has been an upswing in consultations. There is plenty of talk of jobs and contract opportunities associated with preliminary pipeline work and, later, construction of the pipeline. Yet questions remain about how well prepared the DCFN will be to capitalize on these preliminary opportunities.

Deh Cho communities, like many of their Northern neighbours, continue to be flooded with representatives from oil and gas companies, environmental firms, heavy equipment businesses, helicopter operations, camps, catering companies and others. Most of these business people are interested in forming partnerships, or joint ventures. Many of the First Nations are negotiating and signing on the dotted line for themselves.

Greater royalties

Yet the Deh Cho First Nations' negotiating team hasn't changed its stance in regards to the pipeline. The Deh Cho's chief negotiator, following direction from the region's elected leaders, is still going head-to-head with his federal counterparts, still demanding guarantees of greater royalties for the Deh Cho.

Is a Mackenzie Valley pipeline going to be built? North American demand for natural gas certainly isn't tapering off, nor is the Deh Cho First Nations' demand for an equitable share of the pie.

Interestingly, it is NWT Premier Stephen Kakfwi who now is getting media coverage for threatening to halt resource development in the territory if the GNWT doesn't get a share of resource revenues from Ottawa. The only thing that seems to have subsided -- maybe only temporarily -- is the intense pressure for the DCFN to get a deal done immediately.