The Northern Residents Allowance is an important factor in people's decision to move to Yellowknife for a new job. We recognize the cost of living is higher, but there's a trade-off in higher wages and huge opportunities for personal and professional growth.

And while those of us who choose to call this city home know there's so much more to Yellowknife than making money, being able to claw some cash back from the feds each year makes the cost of living more palatable.

Recently in the legislative assembly, Great Slave MLA Bill Braden called on the federal government to increase the allowance. It's remained unchanged for 17 years, said Braden, during which time the cost of living has jumped 150 per cent.

What he says makes sense, even when you consider Northern wages are among the highest in the country.

If a couple makes $111,500 a year, the median income in 2005 according to Statistics Canada, $89,730 of that went to cover household spending, the highest in Canada. That was a 16 per cent increase from 2003, more than three times the national increase and eight times the rate of inflation.

As well, StatsCan says housing costs here are among the highest in Canada, with NWT leading the way in average shelter costs, $17,690 per year.

Where else but in Yellowknife would people be happy to spent $250,000 or more on a trailer parked on a postage-stamp lot blasted out of the bedrock?

At the same time, many residents hear stories or know of diamond mine workers who, after living in Yellowknife for years, decide that they're better off selling their home here and moving to Alberta or Edmonton where the cost of living is cheaper. That might explain our stagnant population figures in a development boom.

Every person who leaves the North costs the territorial government $24,000 in funding from the federal government and robs the North of skills and the ability to be self-sufficient.

Increasing the Northern Residents Allowance is not going to solve any problems, but it will be one more reason for people to stay in the North.

As well, a mechanism should be put in place to make sure the allowance remains competitive and doesn't sit unchanged for 17 years. The rate should be reviewed now and then again every five years and compared with inflation and changes in the real cost of living in the North.

Every Yellowknifer should take up pen and paper, or turn on their e-mail and let federal Finance Minister Jim Flaherty know we need a raise. As well, the rest of the MLAs and cabinet should add their voices to Braden's and bring Yukon and Nunavut MLAs onside. It's an issue worth fighting for.

Editorial Comment
Darrell Greer
Kivalliq News
Wednesday, March 7, 2007

The written word can travel fast in today's world.

With so many people plugged into the global community via e-mail and the Internet, distance has become an illusion when it comes to what you say or write at any given time.

In fact, one has to exercise a certain amount of caution and constraint when sitting behind a keyboard to share their thoughts and observations -- even if those thoughts and observations are only meant for a school district newsletter in British Columbia.

This is a lesson Kelly Atkinson, a temporary resident of Baker Lake, now knows all too well.

Atkinson is on a one-year leave of absence from the Quesnel School District in B.C. to be a teacher-librarian at Rachel Arngnammaktiq elementary school in Baker.

She agreed to author a six-part series for the school district newsletter in B.C., and some of her observations haven't made her any friends in Baker and parts beyond.

Anyone desiring to read Atkinson's work on the Internet, will find the series under Update 28 of the school district's site, starting on Jan. 10 (as of this writing).

One thing you will notice as you read through Atkinson's remarks - other than it being fraught with pseudo-intellectualism - is that she does have some nice things to say about Baker Lake, Nunavut and Inuit in general.

However, when Atkinson decides to portray what she perceives as the reality of life in Nunavut, some of her comments stop you cold - and she has some rather unique perspectives to share.

According to her, you see overt drunkenness in many communities, especially our smaller ones. Gambling is out of control in Baker, evidenced by ill clad, dirty, hungry children who spend most of the night wandering aimlessly from house to house.

Hopefully, not too many of these ragamuffins get between Atkinson and her wonderful view of the moon or the Northern lights on the lake through her window.

Many of us also thought the green light for the Meadowbank gold project to proceed was good news, but, apparently not.

According to Atkinson, the vast majority of the jobs will be taken by "Newfies" and Quebecois.

And, the few Inuit who are hired to work on the road will blow their money on booze and drugs, she claims.

Atkinson also points out that every adult in Nunavut gets $20,000 a year in a Northern living allowance, Inuit grieve for sex offenders when they're sent to jail and give no thought to the victim, a number of Inuit teachers are woefully undereducated with only a Grade 3 or 4 education, and many babies are born about nine months after every sports tournament.

Despite the parts of her series that are flattering to Baker, it's no wonder people have had their feelings hurt by some of Atkinson's remarks.

They are, to use her word in describing Baker, raw.

Inuit can take heart in the fact Atkinson predicts good things for them in the future, that is as soon as they figure out life in this century.

But, judging by how careless she was with some of her remarks, Atkinson has a bit to learn about life in this century herself.

Editorial Comment
Dez Loreen
Inuvik Drum
Friday, March 02, 2007

I'm in a room surrounded by high school students and we are all focused on a film being shown. It depicts a male babysitter molesting a boy.

I was in the library at Samuel Hearne school for a presentation about sexual assault. I looked around the room and expected to hear snickers and giggles from the youth in attendance.

Instead, I hear quiet whispers about how sad it is and how disgusting some people are.

There is no room in our society for sex offenders. Sexual predators should be taken out back and shot.

I have no sympathy for people with skewed sexual interests. Keep your hands to yourself. No means no.

But I am impressed with the way the students handled the presentation.

I think it's important to mention that while it took the students a few minutes to settle down and listen, when that film strip came on, everyone had their eyes to the front.

In the small discussion groups after the film, some young guys were asking questions about how to identify a healthy relationship. I'm glad they took it all seriously.

Sexual assault is a difficult subject for anyone to discuss, regardless of sex, age or experience. It takes courage to get in front of a group of high school students and talk about "bad touches."

Some of the language might have been harsh for sensitive ears, but the message struck home with straight facts.

The whole deal was hosted by a group of young people who wanted to get through to the students and teach them an important lesson about respect.

Using younger presenters was a great idea.

All you parents out there, I want you to applaud everyone who educates your kids about respecting themselves and warns them of dangers such as drinking to excess and passing out at a party or getting involved with the wrong people.

These messages need to be taught early and often.

The presenters spoke about sexual abuse from parents, family and friends. It may have hit close to home with some students, but the talks were completely necessary.

It takes strength to speak about sexual assault, but every word spoken gives someone else the power to stand up against their aggressors.

After the talks were done with the groups of youth, I spoke to some of them about what they were thinking about.

This generation of young people seems highly respectful of each other and understands the meaning of the word "no."

I appreciated the respect and maturity shown by the students during the speeches.

They treated the issue of sexual assault with seriousness and with concern, and that's a promising sign for youth and future generations.

Editorial Comment
Roxanna Thompson
Deh Cho Drum
Friday, March 02, 2007

Once again the Wise Women awards have been given out.

Since 1992 the Status of Women Council of the NWT has distributed five regional awards to recognize women's time, commitment and work in improving the lives of other women and their families.

In the Deh Cho, this year's winner is Bertha Deneron of Trout Lake.

This award provides a convenient opportunity to recognize the work of Bertha Deneron and that of all the other women across the Deh Cho and the NWT.

As of July 1, 2005 there were an estimated 20,889 women in the NWT, just a few thousand short of outnumbering the men who stood at 22,093.

The Wise Woman awards honour female role models who provide volunteer, counselling and caregiving services to others. Although at different levels, many women provide these services on a daily basis whether to their family and friends or as part of their work.

Women have come a long way in terms of their personal and public rights and should be encouraged to take all available opportunities to advance themselves and continue their great work.

Adequate housing is something to which everyone has a right as a human being.

There are lots of stories from developing countries about people forced to live in shacks built from pieces of corrugated metal, cardboard, wood or whatever they can scavenge. For some people having even a flimsy shelter is a luxury.

In developing countries, housing issues usually revolve around making sure there is adequate housing to meet needs and finding housing for people with low or no incomes. Most people, especially Canadians, are fortunate enough to have a sturdy place to call home.

Homes are places for living, raising families, sharing meals and relaxing. But what do you do if you suspect your home is also making you sick?

In the North mould and homes are no strangers to each other.

Houses need to breathe, especially during extended winters. Inadequate ventilation may keep houses warmer by keeping air in, but in doing so it also keeps in all the things the air carries such as water vapour.

In the Deh Cho it's Fort Liard that has had the most significant problems with mould. There has been an ongoing struggle in Fort Liard to ensure that housing there is suitable for the needs of the residents.

The effects of mould growth caused by poor ventilation, inadequate insulation or lack of vapour barriers are well-known. They can include allergic reactions, rashes, asthma and wheezing.

Many residents point to their houses as the causes of these symptoms. Others also suspect their houses of harboring more dangerous moulds.

Experts such as Dr. Andre Corriveau, chief medical officer for the NWT, say the only way to deal with mould problems is to have the house in question renovated.

Continued priority needs to be given to upgrading houses to ensure that they are properly suited for habitation in the North.

Homes are for living, not for making people sick.

Despite an exchange in the legislative assembly between Monfwi MLA Jackson Lafferty and Transportation Minister Kevin Menicoche, which suggested traffic lights, were to be erected at the Behchoko junction on Highway 3, a department of transportation official has informed News/North that the junction is getting street lights, not traffic lights as reported in last week's edition.

The paper regrets any confusion this may have caused.