Wild rumours have no substance, but Justice Department sends wrong message
The theory goes one of the owners of the Top Knight and sister bar the Black Knight has huge government connections. He was a minister in the old NWT government. High level bureaucrats often gather at the Black Knight and all are friends.
The story goes on that after being charged with a liquor violation, the pub owner complained loudly about harassment by liquor inspectors. Yellowknifer ran his complaint on the front page. Rumour mongers claimed Justice Department bureaucrats stopped the case from going to the liquor board. With charges dropped, the bar owner was happy.
As usual, the rumours are based upon some true events, but the rest of the story is twisted. Any owner of any business can complain about any aspect of government giving them grief. It's the job of the newspaper to print those complaints for public discussion. A Justice Department lawyer put his legal stamp on the case. Case closed.
The real problem is the message the Justice Department sent by stopping the liquor board from ruling in the case of the Top Knight. The move prompted a lawyer to question the board's authority to rule at all.
By stepping in, is the Justice Department signalling that the liquor board is in conflict with government policy? Does this confirm that the territorial legislative assembly is soft on alcohol?
We know alcohol treatment centres take a back seat to $40 million jails. Yet all the indicators of alcohol abuse and crime, especially sexual assaults, are higher in the North than the national average. Being soft on alcohol makes the territory suffer and costs money, just as alcohol makes individuals suffer and throw money away.
With 140 licensed establishments in the NWT, 7,000 inspections averages one visit a week by either a liquor inspector or RCMP. Out of the 7,000 inspections, there were seven charges. Out of 5,000 inspections in 2001-2002, there were five charges. With such tiny numbers, cries of harassment would only cease if there were no charges.
Instead of having its integrity attacked, the liquor board should be credited for taking on the thankless job of managing people's drinking for the benefit of those not drinking. At the same time there is a requirement to be fair to legitimate businesses.
Lonely is the job of the liquor inspector. For $25 a visit, they do not make many friends in their workplaces if they are doing their job. They are referees in striped shirts.
Now is the time for other voices in the city to speak up for the liquor board, especially the coalition of community groups wanting to enhance the value of downtown. As a Yellowknife MLA and the Minister of Justice, one of those voices should belong to Charles Dent.
Besides helping restore respect in the board, Dent's public support could help create public confidence that alcohol abuse is being taken seriously at the highest levels. It might also put to rest wild rumours about what happened at the liquor board hearing.
Editorial Comment
Darrell Greer
Kivalliq News
It was more than a little disheartening during the past few weeks to hear a number of male hockey players, young and old, whining about female players in "their" tournaments.
In fact, some didn't participate because a "girl" was playing on their team.
It's time to wake up and smell your sweatsocks gentlemen.
Since remarks were made at two vastly separate tournaments, let's deal with each on an individual basis.
For the senior mens recreational players who truly believe females have no right on the ice with them because they can't take the rough stuff, the last time we checked body contact was not allowed at that particular level of hockey.
So, if the gals are willing to suit up, and there are teams willing to add them to their rosters, they should have every right to do so.
In fact, at two recent tourneys in Rankin Inlet, the female players gave a good account of themselves.
There were a number of players from Chesterfield Inlet who did not come to the Avataq Cup because a female was playing on their team.
We can't help but wonder how those guys felt after learning not only did the female player earn a game star for scoring her team's only two goals (and neither of them cheap, we might add), she also skated away with a beautiful trophy for being the Avataq's most sportsmanlike player.
Not bad for a poor defenceless girl, eh?
The wrong message
The peewees were a different story, as a number of females participated, including a trio of fast skaters on the silver medal winning Repulse Bay team.
You guys must admit, a silver medal is a pretty impressive accomplishment for a squad obviously playing at such a disadvantage with a bunch of girls on their team.
There is no doubt in our minds that the peewee-aged players with such strong anti-female sentiment are having that message passed down to them by older hockey playing friends or family members.
The peewee tournament was, in fact, a full-contact event and every female we saw bodychecked got back up and continued on.
And, the gals gave some back as well.
There are at least two young male players with fond memories of being flattened by their female counterparts during the tourney. More and more females are discovering the joy of playing hockey and their participation should be encouraged, especially here in the North.
And, you never know, while none are likely to become the next Jordin Tootoo any time soon, one just might become the next Hayley Wickenheiser or Cassie Campbell a lot sooner than you think.
Editorial Comment
Jason Unrau
Inuvik Drum
Take the Beaufort Delta Education Council plans to slash 20 full-time positions next year with the dismal student attendance at Samuel Hearne secondary school, and you might think, why stop at 20? Many classes are half-full (I'm trying to look at this optimistically), anyways.
If one was looking at an SHSS daily attendance record -- and the principal didn't let you in on the secret that many kids prefer catching up on their beauty sleep as opposed to making it to school in the morning -- one might think a flu epidemic had hit.
In some grades, particularly 10, 11 and 12, nearly 45 per cent of students aren't showing up for the first two periods.
And so the day lingers on, and students slowly rise from their peaceful slumbers and trickle into school, as if attending class were optional.
I wonder what would happen to the Town of Inuvik if, say, attending work became optional?
There would be a lot of grumpy people in town for the first few days and then we'd all be screaming bloody murder a week into the experiment.
It makes you sympathize with the teachers at SHSS, who must grit their teeth whenever they have to go over the same material, twice and three times (and maybe more) because some students insist on missing class.
Not only is it frustrating for the teachers, but also for the students who take the initiative and actually show up.
When I was a kid -- one who generally disliked school as much as the next -- my parents used to tell me that my school days were the best days of my life, and that I should enjoy them while I could.
I never believed them then, but I sure do today. What I would give to have the luxury of being a student again. No responsibilities, not a care in the world except for showing up to class and handing in the odd assignment.
Come to think of it, what were my options back then? Cutting class to hang out at the arcade or smoking cigarettes behind the school only had so much appeal and eventually became as boring as attending my least-favourite class.
In fact, the entertainment value of actually going to school was often all the more reason not to miss it.
What would Mr. So-and-so do or say today and which students would misbehave to the chagrin of Mr. So-and-so and to delight of their classmates.
But, I suppose times have changed and plugging into a video game or walking the streets of Inuvik for hours on end hold more excitement for many who choose to miss class.
However, those kids who do perpetually miss class better get used to those activities as that's what awaits them in the future, without a high school education behind them.
Because one thing that hasn't changed is the necessity of having an education.
Editorial Comment
Derek Neary
Deh Cho Drum
Is there any replacement for the experience one gains from travelling?
Whether it's Jacques Harvey and Laverna Martel sweating it out in Haiti (literally), or the Jumbo clan hiking through Nepal, it's difficult to truly understand life elsewhere without having witnessed it first hand.
Sometimes there is an element of danger.
A country can be seemingly stable one day and erupt into anarchy the next.
Quite often the message that it reinforces is that as Canadians, we generally have a great standard of living: Clean drinking water, adequate health care and good education standards.
But North Americans are sometimes ashamed of our largely consumer-driven society.
While products and gadgets shouldn't be one's primary source of happiness -- hopefully that's derived from family and friends or possibly religion -- what's wrong with relishing modern conveniences?
Who doesn't love electricity? Lights, heat and appliances are a must. Television can be a marvellous diversion. Telephones are very handy, as are computers, the Internet and e-mail.
It would be hard and time consuming to get anywhere without a vehicle.
The list -- which for some includes video games, DVD and MP3 players, Palm Pilots, digital cameras, microwaves and snowmobiles -- goes on and on.
There are just a few principles of compassion and humanity that we shouldn't forget along the way.
Charity is bliss. Waste not, want not.
We don't want to deplete the world's resources in pursuit of all things material. There are alternate forms of fuel and energy that we can lobby for or incorporate today.
We also must be wary of becoming too lazy.
One down-side to our increasingly sedentary way of life is the rise in obesity.
But if our lifestyle is so greed-oriented, why would so many immigrants clamour to reach our shores?
It's true, some are fleeing persecution, but many are also seeking the so-called "American dream."
Even within our society, there is always the option to drop out of the rat race, to forsake conveniences.
A minority choose to do that, and it's usually for the weekend while at a cottage or in the bush.
Even there a generator or a radio is likely to be found.
Fewer still are the Amish, who reject most modern technology and its benefits.
To each his own.
For the most part, we really do have it good. We don't need to apologize, but we should be grateful.