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Politics and punishment
Yellowknifer - Friday, August 21, 2009

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Should Premier Floyd Roland resign if found in conflict of interest by inquiry chair Ted Hughes? Absolutely.

Should Roland pay back money for costs borne out of the inquiry? That would seem an inappropriate and dangerous precedent.

For one, determining an amount to pay back would be purely arbitrary. There's no reasonable expectation that taxpayers will be fully compensated for this proceeding.

The inquiry into former premier Don Morin's business dealings cost taxpayers $1.7 million. It's a safe presumption the Roland inquiry will be in the same ballpark before all is said and done, but no one is going to expect him to pay back six figures or more should he be found in conflict for not revealing his affair with a legislative assembly clerk sooner than he did.

He didn't steal money or financially benefit from the situation. Handing him a fine of any amount would really just be a punishment for his bad judgment, and Roland certainly isn't the only politician in the world who has made a bad decision.

If politicians had to fork over cash every time they wasted taxpayers' money, some of them would be bankrupt or behind bars. Bad decision makers are best dealt with in the voting booth.

And should Roland be absolved, should we ask that those MLAs who brought the complaint against him pay a fine for wasting everyone's time?

Now that we're seeing two of the complainants, MLAs Dave Ramsay and Wendy Bisaro, flip-flopping between calling for an inquiry closed to the public and pleading for an open one - in addition to Bisaro's sudden desire to keep Roland in office - we have to ask what's really going on? Roland will have his day, and if Hughes rules him in conflict, then the MLAs should ensure he doesn't stay as premier for long.

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Tourism needs helping hand
Yellowknifer - Friday, August 21, 2009

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With the Northern lights predicted to be highly active for the next few winters, an economic opportunity is presenting itself to tourism companies, as well as to the GNWT and the city, to market Yellowknife as the place to visit.

More intense and more frequent auroras forecast between 2010 and 2013 have the potential to draw legions of tourists to the capital, however the governments need to capitalize with an effective marketing campaign that promotes Yellowknife as a prime destination for aurora viewing.

Aurora Village, one of the last players standing in the NWT's Northern lights market, has done a good job of growing business and expanding clientele in recent years.

Now's the time for our governments to step up their efforts. The 'solar maximum' presents the chance for Yellowknife to get noticed by the world as a top-notch city, let's just hope our governments don't leave our tourism market in the dark.

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Smarten up, vandals
Editorial Comment
Roxanna Thompson
Deh Cho Drum - Thursday, August 20, 2009

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The recent break-ins at the community pools in both Fort Simpson and Fort Providence have raised an ugly spectre.

At least once a summer, one or more youths in a Deh Cho community commit some sort of act that raises the issue of youth crime. The break-in at the Fort Simpson pool last week is the first major incident of this sort in the village this summer.

There were three earlier break-ins in July but this one has garnered more attention because it closed the facility for three days, thanks to a rip that was made in the pool's liner. Due to the nature of the damage done inside the building, RCMP suspect pre-teens or teenagers are behind the incident.

In Fort Providence five youths under the age of 12 were actually found at the facility on July 27 where they'd broken in and thrown items into the pool, effectively clogging the filtration system.

Acts like these paint all pre-teens and teenagers in the communities in a bad light even though only a handful of youths are actually involved. The two pool incidents are made worse by the fact that the facilities that were damaged serve the whole community. The youth weren't only damaging themselves, they were purposefully doing something that had negative repercussions for anyone who wanted to swim in the pool.

Conversations about youth crime in cases like this are immediately tied to the question of the respect, or lack thereof, that youth have for community property.

For adults, and maybe some youths, it's hard to imagine the thought process that led them to break in and toss objects into the pools. What was going through their heads?

You can try to pin acts like this on the perpetrators' parents, asking why their children were out at all hours of the night unsupervised and causing mischief. You can also look to the RCMP and wonder if enforcement of a youth curfew is the right answer. Another popular option is to look around and wonder why there aren't more acts like this given the lack of activities to keep youth occupied during the summer months when they are out of school.

The conclusion many people reach is that nothing will have any effect. No matter what's done there will always be youth who find a reason and a way to commit minor crimes.

To avoid this defeatist end there is one final approach. The best hope is to make youth realize that acts like damaging community pools aren't acceptable - not only under the Criminal Code of Canada and, more importantly, not to the wider community.

Enough people need to speak out so the youths understand that they need to think twice before doing something that hurts not only themselves but also innocent people.

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Teens need their own youth centre
Editorial Comment
Andrew Rankin
Inuvik Drum - Thursday, August 20, 2009

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When it comes to youth crime in Inuvik, you can talk all you want about curfews, more policing and heavier penalties as methods to stop it. Each will only go so far. But that's a tired argument.

Why isn't there a centre for teenagers at risk; a place to keep them occupied? What Inuvik needs is a big, open facility for them to hang out in, to do things they like because currently there isn't one. Sounds simple enough.

Yes, there's the Inuvik Youth Centre, and it offers several worthwhile programs. But the problem there is that it invites younger kids and teens to share a relatively small place and for the most part, unfortunately, that rarely equals harmony.

I was talking to someone about this very idea last week. And what he said on the topic made sense to me. Again, he said you've got to give these youths a big open space and give them maybe a boxing ring or an Ultimate Fighting Championship-style ring. Give them somewhere they can go to do something they like - somewhere they can act out their aggression.

In response to that, I got to thinking wouldn't that be counterproductive, encouraging violence among youths? But then I realized maybe that's muddled thinking. Maybe that's the type of thinking that contributes to the type of backlash of youth crime we've been seeing of late.

As adults, we think we have the answers, especially when it comes to straightening out teenagers, and usually a big part of the answer is punishment.

I don't think it would be such a lofty goal to build a simple centre for teenagers. Maybe it could be paid for by the government or town residents or both. What would be wrong in forming a youth committee who would be responsible for the operations of the centre? They could decide what would work for them and what wouldn't. Residents could volunteer to help run it, providing guidance along the way. Even with such a centre there may still be teenagers involved in break-ins and other crimes, but it's a step in the right direction.

The issue of youth crime is complicated. Of course youth and parents have to be held accountable. But a community has a responsibility to show youth that we're listening to them. Empowering kids goes a long way in producing responsible, productive adults.

Or we can maintain the status quo and keep boarding up the school windows summer after summer.

Show your support

I love music. I'm excited that Inuvik will be hosting the End of the Road Music Festival this weekend. What's especially great about it is the fact that it took just a few community members to come together to make it happen.

Doug and the Slugs and Yukon Jack are just some of the fine talent we can expect as performances will be hosted at Jim Koe Park and the rec centre throughout the weekend.

A point one of the festival organizers made recently was that we all deserve to hear good, live music. I believe that. Hopefully we'll all get out and show our appreciation for those who made it happen.

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Blanket drug-testing is bad politics
Yellowknifer - Wednesday, August 19, 2009

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Politicians should not be any different than voters when it comes to performing their jobs to the letter of the law, with their faculties intact.

Working without drugs and alcohol is an occupational requirement at just about any workplace, and elected officials should also adhere to that, of course.

However, drug testing for all elected officials, regardless of whether they are believed to be under the influence, is begging for a human rights complaint. After having promised to introduce mandatory drug-testing for chief and councillors, newly-elected Ndilo Chief Ted Tsetta has proceeded with caution, stating, understandably, that he would have to take his proposal through council first.

Tsetta meant well. He wants to ensure that his community's decision-makers are focused and serving the people who elected them, and that means their thinking cannot be muddled by intoxicants.

That said, councillors have rights and Tsetta's proposed approach of drug testing would be in violation of their freedoms.

But his sentiment need not be lost. Council should adopt a zero tolerance policy and demand the resignation of any councillor convicted of committing a violent crime, as most assaults are committed while under the influence of alcohol.

Serving as an elected official carries with it many expectations. While asking politicians for a sample of urine, blood or saliva would be going too far, demanding that they refrain from committing acts of violence is not too much of an added burden.

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The greener the better
Wednesday, August 19, 2009

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It's no easy task getting flowers and gardens to grow in Yellowknife, perhaps even more so this year after our less than stellar spring.

Despite that, 25 homes and businesses took part in this year's city lawn and landscaping contest. Brian Kelln, community services programs manager, says this year's crop was "right up there" in terms of quality with past contestants, although many have participated for years.

The contest, now in its 11th year, was born out of the city's desire to keep the competitive spirit going after Yellowknife opted out of the national Communities in Bloom competition.

But the contest provides more than just an avenue for a few green thumbs in the city to gloat over their rose bushes.

As participant Margaret Marshall puts it: "The nicer the town looks the better people will treat it."

Yellowknife has undertaken a bit of civic soul-searching in recent years as litter, urban decay, and a host of social problems have made some residents question the benefits of living here.

Those who attempt to beautify the city are answering back the best they can. Too bad there aren't more. Maybe the city should hold an ugly lawn and landscaping contest to drive home the point.

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No point in asking
Editorial Comment
Darrell Greer
Kivalliq News - Wednesday, August 19, 2009

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I must admit to a smile of bemusement on my face earlier this month when a fax arrived from Baker Lake.

It told me of hamlet council's resolution to write a letter to Calm Air requesting information on when the airline will be reinstating the Aeroplan program back into its system.

It went on to say people in Baker who collect Aeroplan miles would like to be able use them. Go figure.

I get the distinct impression the good folks in Baker think it's a whole lot easier to use points if one lives in, say, Rankin Inlet.

Not!

My wife and I moved to Rankin more than a decade ago and, not that long after arriving, we applied for our Aeroplan Visa card and were accepted. We've been point collectors ever since.

Since that time, we've been able to use our points twice to get out of Rankin. Twice!

Like many in Rankin, we've long heard the rumours about who you are having more to do with getting seats on points than anything else. I don't know how that works and I don't care.

I do know every time we try to use points, the answer is always the same there are no Aeroplan seats available on that flight.

That can be pretty darn frustrating when you pay for two tickets and fly to Winnipeg in a halfempty plane.

In fairness to Aeroplan, I've never asked for tickets out of Winnipeg, Ottawa, Charlottetown, Halifax or Moncton without getting seats on the flight asked for. But that's not Kivalliq, is it?

This past winter, we called Aeroplan and tried to book two seats out of Rankin on a Friday and returning from Winnipeg on a Monday.

I told the cheerful voice on the phone to start that week and try every Friday after for a fourmonth period.

That will take a bit of time, I was told. No problem. I can type while I listen to that gawdawful guitar riff playing over and over again.

Long story short, there were no seats available during that time frame.

Another time, a local ticket agent referred to points travel as "free."

Excuse me! Those 50,000 points equal $50,000 spent on a Visa which carries significant interest for the right to collect points, but I digress.

When we returned from vacation a few weeks ago, I phoned Aeroplan looking for two seats in December (yeah right!) and early next summer, again travelling the Rankin to Winnipeg route and, again, the answer was no.

It's hard to feel sorry for "our" Northern airlines when they cry for support.

People in Yellowknife used to pay about $800 for round-trip tickets to Edmonton before the arrival of Air Canada Jazz and WestJet.

Now their average return fare is $200 to $250 to Edmonton, with seat sales under $100 not unheard of.

I bumped into a local airline employee this past week who was convinced we'll never see WestJet fly into Rankin.

Hopefully, that was nothing more than wishful thinking on their part.

But, if WestJet ever does show up, this is one consumer who has a whole closet full of no's saved up for "our" Northern airlines, if and when the day comes they actually need my business.

And each one is stamped return to sender!

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Fighting the flu
NWT News/North - Monday, August 17, 2009

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We all dread waking up with a raw throat and burning nasal passages.

If we're lucky, it's a mild cold that will pose a nuisance and cost us a great number of tissues, but it will pass after a week or so.

The swine flu has changed the equation as the symptoms are nothing short of nasty: body aches, a high fever, a nagging cough. Some who have contracted it say it is worse than any flu they've ever suffered.

It is a dangerous virus, no doubt. A pregnant woman in Nunavut perished from swine flu in July.

What's mystifying is that close to 500 people in the neighbouring territory to our east have been diagnosed with the flu while here in the NWT there were only 29 documented cases as of Aug. 7.

The explanation from acting chief medical health officer Dr. Richard Nuttall is that the Department of Health has done a good job of forewarning the public of the virus. The department has held a press conference and has done some advertising advising people to see a doctor if they have swine flu symptoms, to cough into their arm, wash hands frequently and to stay home if they become sick.

But the same message went out in Nunavut.

Are we to believe that NWT residents are much more receptive to such advice?

There are a number of parallels between the two territories: overcrowded housing persists (although it's widely accepted as a worse problem in Nunavut) and people commonly fly from community to community, spending hours in the confined space of an airplane, where germs can easily be passed.

It would seem that Nunavut's extensive testing for the virus is another major factor in the substantially higher number of documented cases there.

In the NWT, we've obviously enjoyed a stroke of luck, but we can't rely on that luck continuing. Numerous scientists and medical experts are predicting that a second, more potent wave of the swine flu will strike this fall.

The NWT Department of Health has ordered 80,000 doses of flu vaccine, which is in high demand across the country. It's expected to arrive in November or December. That may not be in time and nobody can afford to be complacent.

If this flu spreads like wildfire, then the delivery of essential services will be vulnerable and businesses will be hurt.

A comprehensive strategy would help counter that. Stanton Territorial Hospital just issued a request for proposals for an updated pandemic plan. There's no time to waste on getting this plan in place. It must be rolled out quickly and efficiently.

Swine flu's effects could be crippling to communities, services and the economy.

The Department of Health is going to have to be as sharp as a needle in tackling this virus and we should be prepared to get a few needles ourselves: the ones that will help keep us healthy.

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A chance to teach
Nunavut News/North - Monday, August 17, 2009

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Cruise ship passengers have become a seasonal resource in Nunavut, like geese or caribou. They flock north in the brief summer window of open water and flee at the first sign of ice.

Exploiting this new yet valuable resource is something Nunavummiut are getting better at, season after season.

Besides the economic benefits of passengers flooding communities and spending money on art, clothing and other souvenirs, the visits provide opportunities for Nunavummiut to take on the role of teacher to educate tourists about Inuit, their history, their culture and their modern-day lives.

The guide program of Cambridge Bay's visitors' centre is one example of how to take advantage of these chances. The training helps guides gain confidence in their presentations, and helps visitors get the most information from their walks around the settlement. Communities on the cruise paths also often send artists, performers and storytellers and interpreters on board the ships to meet and greet visitors, and, in the words of Cambridge Bay guide Melynda Minilgak, talk about "what it's like to be us."

Like other seasonal resources, the visits are unpredictable. They're subject to economic ups and downs and the whims of the weather.

But they are excellent chances for Nunavummiut to talk face-to-face with hundreds of people from all over Europe and North America, who will go home and pass on what they have learned to their family and friends all over the world.

Providing visitors with more knowledge of Inuit than they came with can only help build bridges between Nunavut and the wider world.

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Territories can learn from each other
Nunavut News/North - Monday, August 17, 2009

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Though Nunavut's handling of the swine flu pandemic so far has not been perfect, it's not fair for the NWT to crow over having so many fewer confirmed cases.

Nunavut responded initially to the H1N1 outbreak by lab testing every person reporting symptoms to their health centre. This enabled the department to track the flu's spread most effectively, though the department refused to share this information with the public, instead issuing numbers of cases by region.

But this high level of testing on Nunavut's part meant the number of lab confirmed cases of H1N1 was higher here than anywhere else in the North.

The NWT has not been conducting such strict testing. That territory's acting chief medical health officer says he believes the "slow spread" of H1N1 in the NWT is due to his department's public awareness campaign.

But there are outbreaks happening in NWT communities, just as in Nunavut's. The only difference is the NWT is only testing hospitalized cases and people with moderate to severe symptoms.

Had Nunavut done that, it would have had much fewer than the 500-plus cases it has reported.

Both territories can learn from each other's experiences - NWT on the testing side, and Nunavut on the public information side - and these lessons can be applied to the second wave of flu expected this fall.