Monday, June 6, 2005
It can take hours to get seriously wasted on beer. Ahh, but a couple of quick shots of 75.5% rum and you're nearly there, in just a fraction of the time.
And there are other benefits. Remember your last fishing trip, lugging case after case of Molsons to the boat? Next time, bring one 750 millilitre bottle of Bacardi's overproof and you're good.
Don't forget the environment. One glass bottle tossed into the woods is so much easier on Mother Nature than a couple of dozen cans.
Of course, with more people taking advantage of this super-efficient product, there is the potential for increased alcoholism, drunk driving and other social problems, not to mention the danger of accidental alcohol poisoning and more people dying of liver disease and related illnesses. The reality is, alcoholism is an extremely serious issue in the NWT and our government should take every opportunity to combat it.
Banning the sale of overproof alcohol across the territories is one such opportunity.
The case of the $84 light bulbs has sent the Inuvik Housing Authority a very expensive message.
Sometimes you have to bend over backwards to show you're being fair and reasonable, especially with undeserving people.
The authority spent $4,526.60 in an unsuccessful court challenge to a rental officer's ruling that cut a $1,329.59 repair bill charged to a tenant. It can't even collect the $500 the rental officer said was reasonable because the tenant has left the jurisdiction.
The housing authority must do a better job of working with its clients. It's not reasonable to expect low-income tenants to pay top-dollar for repairs. The authority has to give tenants a chance to make whatever repairs they can before calling in high-priced contractors.
It may have to compromise on its principles when billing tenants for repairs because it can't possibly expect to collect. All one needs do is look at the hundreds of thousands of dollars in unpaid rent owed by public housing recipients around the NWT to understand that.
The unfortunate truth is that sometimes public housing agencies are going to be left with the bill.
Two kids duck under a building. They take out a book of matches and proceed to explore the world of fire.
They leave behind some ashes, which unfortunately are still smouldering.
Fast forward five or six hours and the result is two bathrooms and an entrance area of the Cambridge Bay community hall destroyed.
One question that remains is why kids were playing with matches.
The other is how they got under the building in the first place.
Many public structures in Nunavut are built on pilings because of the permafrost and the rocks.
One answer would be to fence the bottom off so kids can't go poking around under there.
It might remove an interesting hiding spot for kids and prevent such incidents.
Pride. Self-confidence. Self-worth. All are essential ingredients for children to grow into healthy, strong adults.
In Rankin Inlet, youth are learning these character-building traits through Qimmuksiqtiit, a mushing program.
Originally begun by Dyan Gray to train a youth to compete at the Arctic Winter Games, the program has grown to be about more than controlling a dog team.
Participants learn what it takes to care for the animals, which helps teach responsibility and pride in Inuit culture and, ultimately, in the themselves.
They are told why they should respect parents, teachers and elders, which helps teach self-worth.
By gaining a skill, like mushing, the youths experience a sense of accomplishment, which teaches self-confidence.
It's an amazing program that could be emulated throughout the territory. And it doesn't have to be mushing. In Kugaaruk, soccer and volleyball programs have achieved similar successes.
In a territory where suicide, substance abuse and other social problems are big issues, every opportunity to help youths develop must be taken.
Editorial Comment
Darrell Greer
Kivalliq News
We fully support the stance being taken by Rankin Inlet hamlet councillors surrounding the former fishing derby committee.
The matter should be turned over to the RCMP if money can't be accounted for, but council can't stop there.
It's all well and good to request an investigation, but the matter has to be followed up until it's resolved.
It's no big secret most RCMP detachments in Nunavut are understaffed and, as a result, the members overworked.
As a result, some issues are pushed toward the top of the priority ladder, while others slide downward.
Taking the councillors at their word that they never heard anything from the RCMP, one way or the other, on the last file they turned over under similar circumstances - if they have to go down that road again, they must stress the importance of this situation to the police.
Coun. David Ningeongan was bang on when he said residents have to be confident in the fact all monies raised through bingo go toward the betterment of the community, as a whole.
We all know the dark underside to using bingo as a fundraiser in our communities.
The logic we use to convince ourselves that the positives outweigh the negatives depends on the proper use of the money.
If we allow ourselves to believe 10, or even 20, per cent of the money is being misused, the balance of the equation tips decidedly toward the negative.
It doesn't matter if you're talking about wildlife, the environment, the economy or our social structure - balance is a delicate issue in the North.
Once that balance is lost, it can be quite difficult to restore.
Although the games get more frequent, and the cash prizes reach a point that is unhealthy for some members of our community, the majority of us support bingo because of the programs that continue to exist from the revenues.
The hamlet's own recreation department would be in a sorry state if bereft of bingo revenues, not to mention search and rescue, community radio, youth groups, sport teams, etc.
The same is true for every community in Nunavut.
Committee members who abuse funds put our balance in peril.
And, human nature being what it is, some people will continue to abuse their position unless there are serious repercussions to their actions.
The police have to see far more than the few thousand dollars, in question, which, rightly or wrongly, is easily dropped to the bottom of the priority ladder when members are all ready overworked.
They have to see the potential for damage this type of activity really has.
Like it or not, we could paint you a picture of what life in any Kivalliq community would be like without bingo - the loss of programs, vindictive youth, angry adults, the explosion of back-room games, etc.
If we lose the integrity surrounding bingo we eventually lose the game itself, and that's when trouble begins.
And that's the picture we need police to see should another file come their way.
Editorial Comment
Jason Unrau
Inuvik Drum
The crack dealer who left his stash in the woods to be swept away by the rising water level of the Mackenzie River must be kicking himself this week.
While police will not go public with the exact amount turned in by the civic-minded youth who found the floating stash, the scenario provides an interesting portrait of one's brain on drugs.
Only a fool would think hiding something in the forest so close to the river at spring thaw is a good idea and not consider the risk of having it swept away.
Last year, it was a champion litter bug who dumped a big load of trash by the river bank to get flushed into the Beaufort Sea.
This year it was a "substantial amount" of crack that got sucked away instead.
Oh, the times, they are a changin'.
Nevertheless, that's one less load of the dangerously addictive drug to find it's way into a youngster's hands and the community is way better off for it.
Bravo to the kids and their parents and a special thanks to Mother Nature for making it all possible.
Disability awareness
Hats off to Mayor Peter Clarkson for giving up the use of his legs this Friday afternoon and agreeing to view the world from a different perspective, confined to the seat of a wheelchair.
What a great initiative and one can only hope that more leaders in local government will take the time to give this experiment a try.
Despite the efforts of many offices and shops in town to include wheelchair access at their entrances, many places are still not equipped to deal with the needs of the mobility challenged.
Petroleum show, pipeline summit
While the premier and local leadership have signed on to attend the "Finding Common Ground With the Mackenzie Gas Project" planned for the upcoming Inuvik Petroleum Show, we're still awaiting confirmation that representatives of the federal government will be heading this way.
With the current state of pipeline machinations and the fact that an obvious boon to the Canadian economy is at stake, one would think federal leaders would be more than happy to pencil the event into their respective schedules.
But alas, the continuing threat of a non-confidence vote in Ottawa might just keep the big-wigs chained to their desks for the time being.
It will be interesting to see who will actually show up.
The Dehcho First Nations Grand Chief is tied up with ongoing negotiations in Ottawa, which may also take the Indian Affairs and Northern Development minister out of the equation.
In that case, will the Deputy Premier step in to fill the breach?
Time will tell.
Depending on how things play out, it would be wise for voters to keep in mind Ottawa's attention to this matter the next time the country goes to the polls.
Because, after all, an election could be just around the corner.
Editorial Comment
Derek Neary
Deh Cho Drum
Some government departments have been taking flak over the past week.
At least one deserves a round of applause (come on, we can all muster at least a half-hearted clap).
Let's review:
The Department of Transportation was widely criticized by delegates at the Dehcho First Nations' leadership assembly in Fort Liard last week. The atrocious condition of the Liard Trail was the source of their complaints.
Nahendeh MLA Kevin Menicoche added his voice to the fray, going after Transportation Minister Michael McLeod in the legislative assembly.
McLeod explained that in spring, the roads need to thaw before any serious repairs can be made. Technically speaking, that is probably a valid response.
Yet it would have been little comfort to anyone driving to or from Fort Liard in May. Motorists can always slow down - turning a three hour trip into four hours - but even travelling at 80 km/h or less, there were a number of spots where the deep ruts and pitted road jostled vehicles like nobody's business. It was ugly, very ugly.
Over to the Department of Health and Social Services. They put a feather in their cap by landing a regional dentist in Fort Simpson. Gradually, and rather quietly, that department has bolstered its Deh Cho staff positions over the past few years and continues to do so. Of course recruiting health professionals remains a real challenge, as it does across the country, if not around the world. The other side of the coin is that Wrigley continues to go without full-time nursing service, something the community has demanded be restored.
Black cloud
Finally, a black cloud continues to follow the Housing Corporation. Numerous homeowners have decried the poor condition of their homes (although many others have remained content).
In this edition of the paper, an individual who lost his home to fire is seeking another house - or at least the supplies - from the corporation.
The president of the Housing Corporation says there is more to the story than meets the eye, but he can't get into details due to client confidentiality.
Honestly, the government often does fight these public battles with one hand tied behind its back. The media should strive to tell both sides of the story, but the bureaucrats are restricted in what they can reveal about a client.
In some cases, government policy desperately needs to be amended or scrapped. Other times, members of the public have abused rights and privileges and somehow still make the government look like the bad guy.
It can be hard to judge when only some of the circumstances are known.
A Dene government will assume control of most of these programs and services in the future. It will be most interesting to see how things change.
In the May 30th edition of News/North, the name in the photo that accompanied the story "Green thumbs colour the North" was incorrect. Jessica Gnyp was the person in the photo. Northern News Services apologizes for any confusion or embarrassment this may have caused.