The trouble with the city's development appeal process is that it gives false hope that people can stop a development. It also sets up a developer to be beaten up even though he has done all his paperwork, got his financing in place and is already pounding nails.

Nova Builders' had a building permit in hand when they began the controversial building on the corner of Range Lake and Old Airport roads.

But four Yellowknifers appealed, as is their right under the present bylaws.

They challenged the rezoning which allowed a hotel to turn into an apartment building, saying the apartment should not have been allowed because the lot was listed as commercial-use only in the general plan.

By the time the appeal board finally met Oct. 8, the Nova building was almost fully framed. The developer kept building despite a stop work order because winter was fast approaching.

It was a frustrating process for everyone involved.

As company lawyer Jim Murphy said: "You can't take away the permit, and even if you could, it would be a mistake."

When was the last time the appeal board actually ordered a change? Even if it did, could a developer sue the city?

It's time to rewrite the development appeal bylaw.

No building permit should be issued until all appeals are complete. A builder could receive tentative approval, followed by a 10-day appeal period. A hearing should be held within 30 days of the tentative approval.

That would give residents a chance to challenge a council decision and let developers build without fear of being dragged through a costly appeal in the middle of construction.

For eight years, Calvary Community Church has provided a space for the Yellowknife Food Bank to help hundreds of needy people every month.

It's a donation that cannot be overlooked; especially in light of the cost of office space.

Now that the food bank has to find a new home, the community should say thanks to the church for being such a good host.

It's not going to be easy to find a place as convenient or a landlord as accommodating.

But one thing's for sure: in a city as generous as Yellowknife, someone will step in.

Editorial Comment
Darrell Greer
Kivalliq News

Well, it certainly is good to be back home in the Kivalliq.

I would like to personally thank my interim reporter, Lisa Scott, for doing such an admirable job in my absence.

Thanks, Lisa. I owe you one!

It certainly has been interesting gauging Northern fan reaction to the NHL's work stoppage.

What separates this labour war from those of the past is that you would be hard pressed to find many fans who still side with the players.

In fact, this work stoppage is leaving a bad taste in the mouths of most fans.

NHL players have lost touch with reality -- obscene amounts of money can do that -- and are making it all too clear that they don't give a damn about the fans of the game. You know, the people who buy the tickets, pay their salaries and cheer them on.

In short, they're biting the hands of the very people who pay for the comfortable lives they've grown accustomed to.

How do they live on that?

I, like most hockey fans, have grown sick of the players' spoiled attitudes and tired old rhetoric that no longer holds water.

The two that disturb me the most are their stances on career longevity and replacement players.

The NHLPA claims the average lifespan of an NHL career is four years.

Even if that were true, under the NHL's proposed salary cap, the average player's salary would be $1.3 million.

So, over the rigours of their four-year career, they'd make a paltry $5.2 million. Yeah, we can see where it would be awful tough to live on $5.2 million.

Just divide that number by your annual salary if you really want to have a hard time keeping your breakfast down.

Second, NHL players would do everything at their legal disposal to block the NHL from using replacement players, not to mention doing everything possible to tarnish their reputations -- read scab tag hung around the neck.

But, NHL players, who already have banked millions, have no problem going to Europe and taking jobs away from players who aren't in the bigs.

Oh, that's different, eh guys? Why should you care about their families going without a paycheque, as long as you can still jump in your Hummer and your wives and girlfriends don't have to miss any time at the beauty salons and boutiques?

Give it up, guys! You're getting paid incredible amounts of money to play the coolest game in the world. Get back on the ice where you belong!

Editorial Comment
Jason Unrau
Inuvik Drum

It would seem the Roger Allen saga has finally come to an end with the embattled Twin Lakes MLA's resignation Tuesday from his post at the legislative assembly.

As Allen gets ready for his day in court -- he's slated to appear in the Inuvik Courthouse Monday to enter a plea on the charge of sexual assault against him -- the only certainty is that he will no longer be the media's whipping boy.

Allen will appear before the judge just as countless other accused persons do each and every day -- as a regular citizen of the Northwest Territories answering to a criminal charge.

While there are those who will toast the man's departure from territorial politics, let us not forget the fact that there are others who would happily cast their vote for Allen were his name to be on a ballot for consideration in any other capacity.

Candidates running for mayor and council in the upcoming municipal election in Inuvik should count their blessings that nominations have closed.

So as some dust off their campaign placards in anticipation of the coming by-election for Allen's vacated seat in the assembly, most others will be tucking themselves in bed tonight in preparation for another day because life goes on, with or without Allen at the helm of the Twin Lakes riding.

Film director Woody Allen once said that comedy is tragedy plus time.

While nobody is laughing now at Allen's demise from politics -- least of all Allen himself -- in the years ahead this twisted tale will probably find itself in the realm of parlour jokes and other shenanigans discussed over the umpteenth whiskey sour.

And just as the memories of Allen-inspired guffaws fade into the haze of a stinging hangover, so too will the facts and rumours of the entire episode meld together like the exploits of a lost weekend on the town.

In the end, either are as meaningful as suffering through somebody's sorry retelling of the last Simpson's instalment that busted their gut.

As many predicted, Allen has called it quits from territorial politics and gone out on a less-than-stellar note. Whether anything changes for Inuvik in the wake of these events is anybody's guess.

There are some who say change is as good as a holiday. I say, let's get on with life and hope for a better tomorrow.

Poor planning lets Ethel off the hook

Several people commented that they enjoyed last week's editorial about the importance of punctuality.

While I stand by the essence of the piece, it should be noted that Western Arctic MP Ethel Blondin-Andrew's plane was late coming in from Ottawa prior to her announcing the Aboriginal Skills to Employment Program funding at the college.

While she was at the mercy of her air carrier's delayed arrival into town, event planners should have taken into consideration the possibility that her plane could be late and arranged the shindig at a more appropriate time.

Because, quite frankly, nobody likes to be kept waiting around.

Editorial Comment
Derek Neary
Deh Cho Drum

One man's junk is another's man's treasure.

That old adage exemplifies that perception can make a world of difference. The same thing can be said of politicians. One person may say a particular politician is easily accessible while another may say the same politician is evasive.

That very issue arose Friday evening at MLA Kevin Menicoche's constituency meeting. Because the meeting was held on the eve of a long weekend, it prompted some mild criticism from Fort Simpson resident Peter Shaw.

He asked Menicoche, somewhat in jest, whether he planned to hold his next constituency meeting on Christmas Eve.

Menicoche reacted with humour; he laughed, turned to constituency assistant Lisa Lafferty and told her that Shaw had caught on to their strategy, so they better reschedule that Christmas Eve public meeting.

Is Menicoche really denying his constituents their say by holding a public meeting just before a long weekend? Some people did leave town, but in a community of approximately 1,200 people, only 11 showed up.

Menicoche defended the time and date by stating that it was a busy week.

The previous evening was the Take Back the Night march. Undoubtedly he would have raised the ire of a few marchers had he not participated in that event and chosen instead to hold his constituency meeting.

The night before that he met with the Liidlii Kue First Nations, and a Fire Prevention Week open house was being held at the fire hall. Two nights earlier, comedian Don Burnstick put on a performance at Thomas Simpson school, so that evening was pretty well out of the question.

Menicoche explained that he wanted to hold the constituency meeting prior to the next sitting of the Legislative Assembly, which convened on Oct. 13.

He pointed out that he had been in Fort Simpson throughout the week and some people approached him in public with their concerns. He said he has been visiting people in their homes, which some residents prefer to constituency meetings because they are too shy to speak in front of a group. As well, he noted that he has a constituency office in the community. There, concerns can be addressed to his assistant, who will relay the messages to him.

Menicoche said he advertised his last constituency meeting in March, but only one person showed up. In August, he toured the Nahendeh communities with the ministers Michael McLeod and Michael Miltenberger.

In Fort Simpson, where some people said there was not enough notice, less than a dozen people turned out.

There was some grumbling in the community when Menicoche wasn't present for a public meeting on policing on Sept. 30. He was at GNWT budget meetings in Yellowknife.

His next scheduled stop in the Nahendeh communities will be Dec. 6-8 with Premier Joe Handley and the ministers of education, finance and public works and services.

Is that accountable enough? Again, that's a matter of perception.

Is he going to make everyone happy? No, and that's a matter of fact.