Friday, April 08, 2005
Considering the tax advantages, that puts the salary over $100,000. That's a tidy sum for an elected figurehead who's not responsible for day-to-day administration of the city.
So, that begs the question: how do you determine what the annual salary should be?
Perhaps by the pound. The bigger the mayor, the larger the pay.
After all, if you're a really big person, you need a large vehicle, likely eat more and need bigger, more expensive clothes from a big and tall store in Edmonton. In this case, bigger is better. Offer the job through a Request for Proposals. Governments love RFPs. That's how the Legislative Assembly hires its Sergeant at Arms.
How about making it a job creation project that qualifies for HRDC funding? You could train a future MLA, MP or premier and get the federal government to pay for it.
The mayor could sign a contract that includes performance bonuses: so much for every new house that's built, each park that's created or metre of sidewalk paved.
You could also set up a Canadian Idol-type phone-in so Yellowknifers can rate the mayor's performance. If 90 per cent of callers liked the job the mayor did in the past year, the mayor would get 90 per cent of the annual performance bonus.
In all seriousness, though, the money paid to mayor, and every member of council, should be determined by an independent panel of residents.
They could review inflation and whether demands upon mayor and council have changed in the past three years. The panel would table a recommendation just prior to an election.
It should never be put on the table mid-term by members of council. Moves like that are stinky, smelling of politicians looking to give themselves a pat on the back with a nice pay increase.
The kudos, and decisions on how much a mayor and council are worth, are best left to voters on election day.
Editorial Comment
Darrell Greer
Kivalliq News
It's about time the general public gets to see some data on the effectiveness of the various community justice committees across the Kivalliq region.
In fact, there are growing voices of concern in a number of communities surrounding this combined alternative/traditional approach to justice.
One of the biggest concerns being whispered is that older, more experienced young criminals are taking advantage of the justice committees' existence to talk younger kids into doing their dirty work for them.
Since the committees won't deal with repeat offenders as a rule, youth who have been convicted of break and enters in the past don't want to roll the dice again in a court of law, especially those now too old for youth court.
So, they quickly gain the confidence of younger kids with clean records to hit their targets.
The kids are convinced the rewards awaiting them, should they get away with the heist, far outweigh a little time spent with an elder and an apology to the property owner should they get caught.
Life in the Kivalliq is no different than anywhere else when it comes to the scenario of young kids being impressed by the stolen cash and loot being flashed around by their older peers.
The message they hear from the more hardened lawbreakers isn't crime doesn't pay; it's easy money and easier time.
Another concern being raised about justice committees is when elders, who are paid for their efforts, sit in court as a character reference for a young offender who just happens to be related to them.
Aside from, maybe, the same last surname and a striking resemblance, a court justice would have no way of knowing the elder giving the glowing report is the offender's auntie away from the courtroom.
The fact so much of the justice committees' work is done by elders intimidates many from voicing their concerns in public.
And, while we do not agree with people being intimidated into silence for any reason, we'd be less than honest if we said we didn't understand their reluctance to come forward.
Detailed reports
What would go a long way towards easing concern in our communities, is for each justice committee to table a detailed report to its hamlet council outlining each of the youth its worked with during the past few years and the results.
Are the majority of the youth walking the straight and narrow after being referred to the justice committee, or do most of them spend time with an elder only to wind up in youth court a short time later?
The councils would also hear exactly what committee members do with the youth referred to them.
After a period of time, the compiled data could provide valuable insight into what approaches work with different youth and, conversely, what approaches show no positive results.
If the community justice program is producing positive results, it's time to let the rest of us in on it.
Editorial Comment
Chris Hunsley
Inuvik Drum
Is it biting the hand that feeds you or looking a gift horse in the mouth?
March 18th, in broad daylight, Bill Rutherford, also known as Inuvik's beloved Fruitman, turned his back on four youth who'd stepped into his tractor-trailer/fruit and vegetable mart for a reprieve from the cold.
Moments later, the youth - and Rutherford's cash box - were out the door.
This is the man who travels thousands of kilometres every week, from British Columbia to the far North and back, specifically to ensure an abundance of the freshest produce for our dinner tables.
Now out of pocket around $1,500, Rutherford will undoubtedly survive.
The real loss, however, would be if this type of service were discontinued in the region because those that can't appreciate a good product and service feel the need to ruin it for others.
Was that money for a loaf of bread to feed a starving man?
Probably not. If it was, why didn't they grab a bag of carrots instead?
Proceeds from that crime have more than likely found their way into some of the less reputable business ventures in the area.
All four youth are well known to police and one has since been charged with theft under $5,000.
Two others are expected to receive the same charge once they are located.
Even after being caught, however, the youth refused to make amends for his wrongdoing.
This is where we locals can show Rutherford our appreciation of his regular endeavours to keep us healthy.
The youth may refuse to hand over the unlikely-to-be-cashed-without-a-forthcoming-fraud-charge cheques that filled Rutherford's cash box, but those well-fed shoppers who wrote them could simply sign their names to another.
Rutherford may not recoup all of his losses, but this is the action that will have the most impact.
Conversely, if someone tries to cash a fruitman cheque, dated around mid-March, it's probably a good idea to inform the police.
It's unlikely one of the thieves would try to cash one, they say, but it's possible.
What's important is that Rutherford knows he and his service are valued.
Make a point to tell him that the next time you fill your basket with some crunchy apples or beautiful greens.
Let's let him know that Inuvik would be a rotten place without our Fruitman.
Editorial Comment
Derek Neary
Deh cho Drum
Here's a dog's breakfast of personal brain waves (however minimal):
The goal is to determine exactly where conservation zones and development zones will lie. Despite the gravity of the issue, few people have bothered to show up at open houses held by the Dehcho Land Use Planning Committee over the past few years.
Land Use Planning staff have been in each community on numerous occasions. They have had the doors open to the public morning, afternoon and evening.
They have even resorted to offering door prizes to entice residents inside. Sometimes several people showed up, sometimes only one or two.
Hopefully one of the delegates has the secret to generating wider interest in the land-use plan. Door to door visits would be impractical, and why force staff members to recite background data to people who really don't care?
Yet there was something else alarming in the immediate area - loose dogs and, by extension, irresponsible pet owners. There were several canines running up and down the street, chasing vehicles that night. What's so difficult about keeping a dog confined, whether by chain or within a fenced area?
Twice a year we dutifully traipse from room to room adding or subtracting an hour, except for the marvellous computer, which updates the time automatically. Then we get in the vehicle and realize that there's yet another clock that needs updating. It's been six months... which button does what again?