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The dump is no ashtray
Yellowknifer - Friday, September 18, 2009

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The Yellowknife landfill is a public place loaded with flammable, volatile waste materials - and yet one of the few sites remaining in the city where smoking is not banned.

Since the town was established, Yellowknifers have known that one person's trash can be another's treasure. It's an economical, common-sense solution to limiting garbage and promoting the reuse of items in a bustling, remote city.

The dump is a place to rummage for salvageable goods, but not a place to discard a lit cigarette butt, which could act as a live fuse and cause costly damage.

A smoking salvager is thought to be the culprit in the 12-hour fire that erupted in the landfill's salvage yard on Sept. 5. The ordeal cost the city at least $100,000 to extinguish and sent huge clouds of black, toxic smoke billowing over the city. These sorts of extreme occurrences also put the lives of emergency personnel in jeopardy.

City councillors were astonished to find that smoking is not banned at the site. Now is the time to correct that oversight. The city would do well by starting with a complete ban on smoking on the premises at risk of a hefty fine. While it may be difficult to enforce - like the bylaw pertaining to picking up dog poop - it should be on the books nonetheless.

Placing no-smoking signs at the landfill would be another recommended measure.

The dump fire sparked another concern: the ability for citizens to find out what's going on when an emergency is in progress. Some Yellowknifers have expressed frustration over being left to wonder for hours what was causing the black smoke to waft from the landfill. With the marvels of modern technology, there's little excuse to keep residents in the dark. Councillor Dave McCann suggested a city Twitter account to notify those who regularly check for online Tweets. It's one avenue.

At the very least, the city should have an individual designated to update its website when there's timely and important information to impart.

Yellowknifer updates its website after work hours and on weekends. Someone at city hall can feel free to give our news desk a call. We'll gladly help spread the word.

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Ruining it for everyone
Editorial Comment
Tim Edwards
Deh Cho Drum - Thursday, September 17, 2009

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The problem with underage ATV operation in Fort Simpson was brought up in a village council meeting last week. Members of the community told Mayor Duncan Canvin and councillor Bob Hanna that they'd seen reckless ATV driving committed by those too young to legally drive.

Claims were made that kids had been speeding on to the main road without stopping to check for traffic or pedestrians, and creating dangerous situations for the general public.

Growing up in the North - though in Yellowknife and not Fort Simpson - I have seen underage ATV driving all my life and have done it myself, though with older folk who taught me how to drive.

It seems to be tolerated in most communities I have been to, but, as with anything, when someone abuses unspoken privileges such as this in public areas, people notice and these privileges become issues. These issues get discussed and privileges get taken away.

No one obeys all the rules all the time, and in some situations people feel they have to break them for moral reasons - but when people do, I'd like to hope they would be cautious about it. If you break the rules, don't forget why the rules are in place - in terms of underage ATV driving, if you're going to do it at least try not to be a hazard to the public.

Whether underage people are allowed to drive is decided by how much they can be trusted. Some parents have complete faith in their child and let them drive, and sometimes this faith is well-placed. Most of the time, though, it is not.

Kids may try to show off to their friends or they just might not know how to properly operate the machine - but neither is an excuse for bad driving. Blowing through stop signs or intersections without even looking, or narrowly avoiding pedestrians while speeding down the slow streets of Fort Simpson is unacceptable. Such cases not only put the child and their parents at legal risk - they also put members of the community at physical risk.

Kids can't buy ATVs, so the vehicles must belong to older persons. To those who let kids drive their vehicle, be very aware of what you're getting them and yourself into.

The bylaw states that parents can be held liable for their child's actions on an ATV, and if there is a death to someone in the community or damage to property involved, you could lose your money, friends, ATV, and your child.

This law is in place for a reason, and if broken, consequences could be tragic.

Editor Roxanna Thompson returns in October.

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Give credit where it's due
Editorial Comment
Andrew Rankin
Inuvik Drum - Thursday, September 17, 2009

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There was something dignified and fitting about the Inuvik Volunteer Fire Department's National Firefighters Memorial Day ceremony on Friday afternoon.

Most of the firefighters showed up to the quiet ceremony and there was only a small gathering there to witness the event - which not many people knew about, as it was scheduled late.

A few prayers were spoken and a few minutes of silence were devoted to firefighters who have died in the line of duty. Members then filed into the hall where finger foods and conversation were shared.

You could feel a subtle sense of camaraderie among the group, which deputy fire chief Rick Lindsay speaks of in this week's story on the event.

In my few years as a reporter, I have covered several fires and firefighters' events like this one. I've always held a lot of respect for the majority of volunteer firefighters that I have met. Obviously my point of view stems from the fact that they're willing to put their lives on the line for their fellow residents at any time of the day. Think of the countless fires they've responded to this summer.

I can't think of a higher contribution to community than that.

But most of these people are the type that just love to help and are usually volunteers in so many other ways in the community.

I got to thinking about this two days after Friday's National Firefighters Memorial Day when I arrived at the Demolition Derby. There were several firefighters there hosing the demolition pit down, ensuring conditions for the drivers were perfect and keeping a watch over the entire event. It's just an example of other ways the fire department helps out in the community.

It also got me thinking that nobody can deny the importance of what they do, but a lot of us can't deny that they're often taken for granted.

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The nominations are in
Editorial Comment
Andrew Rankin
Inuvik Drum - Thursday, September 17, 2009

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There's a healthy number of candidates vying for a seat on town council this year and Mayor Derek Lindsay has a formidable opponent in Denny Rodgers, who is the only other resident vying to become Inuvik's next mayor.

The town is trying to schedule an all-candidates forum in the next few weeks, an event which will prove to be more than a tad interesting.

Apart from the seven incumbent councillor candidates, the list contains a number of residents who could bring a lot of passion, business sense and some wisdom to the table. I've always believed the roots of a democratic society start at the community governance level.

In the next few editions we will devote space to candidate profiles, which we hope will be useful to readers as they decide how to vote. More than that, we hope that residents will take the time to get to know each candidate for themselves, then vote. And then maybe attend a few council meetings afterwards.

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Time to rebuild relations
Yellowknifer - Wednesday, Wednesday, September 16, 2009

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The recent decision not to file charges in the case of Alfred Baillargeon makes this an ideal time for the police to hold open meetings with the public.

Baillargeon is the Dettah elder who said he was roughed up by RCMP after they picked him up for public intoxication in January.

His daughter Beatrice said her family withdrew the formal complaint against the police on Alfred's behalf. The RCMP proceeded with the investigation anyway, in an effort to assure themselves and the public that everything was done by the book.

Beatrice also insisted that the lines of communication were not open with the RCMP. She said even though she had found out that there would be no charges against police officers in the incident involving her father, news media had obtained more detail on the investigation than she had.

The police have committed to meeting with Baillargeon and his family, and Beatrice said she would welcome that.

However, public meetings would also be beneficial - not just a meeting with chief and council, but a community feast in Dettah where the public could interact informally with the police in a social setting. A structured question and answer session would help as well.

Something similar should be held in Ndilo and in downtown Yellowknife as well.

It would be an opportunity for the police to explain their policies and outline the challenges they face regularly on the streets. It would also allow residents to voice their perceptions of the RCMP and how justice has been meted out in a traditional sense.

Surely both sides have much to share, and some things to learn.

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Boaters shouldn't wait for licensing requirement
Wednesday, September 16, 2009

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The deadline for operators of powered boats in Canada to obtain a Pleasure Craft Operator Card was Sept. 15 - except for those in Nunavut and the NWT.

Transport Canada decided 10 years ago to exclude the two territories, mainly because of the difficulty in certifying aboriginal language speakers in these vast, remote regions.

For that reason alone, the decision makes sense. It would be unfair to order residents to submit to a test in communities where boating is the principal mode of transportation and obtaining a livelihood which, for many would be available online only - especially when no hands-on courses are available. That wouldn't necessarily be a problem in Yellowknife, but it would be in places such as Lutsel K'e and Colville Lake.

We've already seen what happened when the federal government introduced the gun registry in the North, where getting a passable photo taken for firearms licence identification is extremely difficult.

This is not to say boating safety is not important. Boating can be very dangerous in unskilled hands and adverse conditions - 10 people lost their lives while boating in 2006, for example.

That is why boaters, particularly those in Yellowknife where certification courses are available, should undergo the training, whether they're legally required to or not. The Great Slave Yacht Club, as the club's vice-commodore points out in his letter to the editor on page 9, offers this course.

After all, it's better to be safe than sorry.

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Nothing golden about this silence
Editorial Comment
Darrell Greer
Kivalliq News - Wednesday, September 16, 2009

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While my Sept. 9 editorial (Repaying some respect) was meant as an acknowledgement to outgoing ADM Shawn Maley, I seem to have struck a nerve with a few observations in the piece.

A pair of government workers contacted me this past week to let me know – in no uncertain terms – my remarks about looking away from wrongdoing were unfair. Both individuals pointed to the lack of whistleblower legislation as the main reason why many government workers won't speak up when they know something is amiss.

They contend the lack of such legislation leaves any worker willing to go public with such information completely unprotected.

In short, they would undoubtedly lose their job for speaking up.

I'm not buying the total argument, because many innocent people can suffer when government officials are up to no good.

And, at the end of the day, knowing someone is acting outside the law for their own gain and doing nothing about it is as bad as taking part in the activity yourself.

However, I do give some credence to their argument and I totally understand the fear involved.

From what I understand, Nunavut should have whistleblower legislation in place sometime in 2010.

But Nunavut is not the only Canadian jurisdiction lacking in protection.

In fact, Canada has very few laws which pertain directly to whistle-blowing.

The feds enacted the Public Servants Disclosure Protection Act in 2007 to protect public servants from reprisals for reporting wrongdoing.

However, it's been roundly criticized for setting too many conditions and protecting wrongdoers.

While a number of provinces do have legislation to protect whistleblowers to some degree – and a number of other acts provide slim protection for reporting wrongdoing – for the most part, whistleblowers in Canada are unprotected by statute.

So, one can certainly understand why those in the know can often have grave misgivings about coming forward with information.

And that's truly unfortunate, as the public's right to know is a cornerstone of democracy and a pillar of good governance.

Iqaluit Coun. Jim Little was recently banned from in-camera sessions for speaking to police about a criminal act he believes may have taken place.

Little told the Iqaluit RCMP a city councillor may have been offered a bribe in connection to a development permit.

It seems openness and accountability are two words rarely understood or properly defined in all levels of government in Nunavut.

Those in the government ranks who abuse the system realize all too well the perils that await anyone with the intestinal fortitude to speak out about wrongdoing.

Until that changes (banning all in-camera sessions would be a great start), the vast majority of those who want to come forward will remain silent for fear of reprisal.

And this is one form of silence that has nothing golden about it.

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Government should support Northern airlines
NWT News/North - Monday, September 14, 2009

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Canadian North and First Air are in the middle of a dogfight with national giants WestJet and Air Canada.

Flight costs between Edmonton and Yellowknife have plummeted. Good news for the common traveller who can now afford to fly south more often, but it puts the squeeze on our Northern-based air carriers.

As a result of lost revenue from that major route, there are fears airfares on the smaller Northern routes - to Inuvik, Norman Wells, Hay River and Fort Simpson, for example -- could increase to compensate for losses in the Yellowknife market. It's not a threat Northerners in the communities should have hanging over them.

Tracy Medve, president of Canadian North, which is partially owned by the Inuvialuit, is asking the government to follow the Business Incentive Program (BIP), which favours Northern-based business. That program essentially allows First Air and Canadian North to corner the market on government travel.

Medve's suggestion that all government contracts conform to BIP makes sense. In fact, all travel and cargo on any contract paid for by the government should fly a Northern air carrier, North or South.

It's clear any money government might save using cheaper carriers would be done on the backs of communities outside Yellowknife.

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A fishing we will go
NWT News/North - Monday, September 14, 2009

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Commercial fishing is hardly the first thing people think about when the NWT is mentioned. However, the Great Slave Lake fishing industry has, in the past, contributed to the livelihood of a good many Northerners.

The catch in Great Slave Lake drastically decreased to 300,000 kilograms last year from 760,000 kilograms in 1996. Consequently, the Hay River fish plant is the last of three processing plants remaining on the lake. That is due to the plummeting number of fishers working the waters. The number of vessels fishing on Great Slave Lake dropped to 45 boats last year from 60 many years ago - split between steel boats and skiffs.

We commend the federal government for trying to save the NWT fishing industry from a slow death. This year the Department of Fisheries and Oceans began making fishing vessel certificates available to non-residents in an effort to revitalize the industry.

Six of the 10 available were taken, and the Department of Fisheries assures NWT fishers will never be pushed out by non-residents. Presently, competing for fishing permits is not a concern. With nearly 100 certificates available in total and an annual catch limit of 1.7 million kilograms, the industry has a long way to go toward recovery.

In a territory searching for economic diversity, the fishing industry is a perfect place for investment. It has plenty of room to grow, the potential to employ hundreds of Northerners and creates an opportunity for the mass and cheap marketing of a homegrown product, namely whitefish.

All levels of government need to take a serious look at supporting the fishing industry. Building renewable-resource based industries is vital to the territory's future.

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Municipalities should welcome airline competition
Nunavut News/North - Monday, September 14, 2009

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One of the announcements made by Elisapee Sheutiapik, the newly re-elected president of the Nunavut Association of Municipalities, has left us scratching our heads.

At the association's annual general meeting in Cambridge Bay a few weeks ago, its members pledged not to support an incursion into Nunavut airspace by southern airlines such as WestJet or Air Canada.

Now, neither WestJet nor Air Canada has expressed any interest in flying to Nunavut. But the arrival of WestJet in the Yellowknife market in May has reduced the cost of airfare to Edmonton on all airlines. A round-trip ticket that used to cost more than $800 can now be had for about $200, or even less.

The drop in ticket prices on the Yellowknife-Edmonton route may reduce the profits gained by First Air and Canadian North, which are owned by Inuit, employ Inuit, and which make many contributions to community events.

But if WestJet were to begin flying, say, the Iqaluit-Ottawa route, we think most Nunavummiut would gladly welcome a big drop in the cost of airfare and the resulting freedom to travel more frequently outside the territory, even if it results in smaller dividends for Inuit-owned corporations.

Northern airlines recently urged the NWT and Nunavut to adopt a "buy local" policy. In an ideal world, the choice to buy local would be an easy one. But most of us don't have the cash to spare to pay quadruple the going fare for the choice of flying a Northern airline - except when we have no choice.

With its stand on this issue, the Nunavut Association of Municipalities may be defending Northern businesses contrary to the interests of the regular people in the communities it represents.

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The Akitsiraq of accounting
Nunavut News/North - Monday, September 14, 2009

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Lillian Aglukark was called to the bar on Sept. 1 in Arviat, allowing her to practise law in the territory.

Aglukark is one of 11 graduates of Nunavut's Akitsiraq Law Program delivered in conjunction with the University of Victoria Law School.

The program, which graduated its students in 2004-2005, has so far been the only one of its kind. Teaching and nursing remain the only professional degrees attainable without leaving the territory.

Besides lawyers, the territory has a dire need for accountants, doctors, engineers and myriad other professionals.

There are plans to run another law program, but there should also be a similar educational opportunity for professional accreditation in accounting or commerce.

Reports by Canada's auditor general consistently find fault in bookkeeping practices in Nunavut's public institutions, resulting in questionable accounting of the money needed desperately by communities for housing, health care and education.

Instead of continuing to hire professionals from the south - for jobs like those coming through the Northern Economic Development Agency, or CanNor -- programs like Akitsiraq give Nunavummiut the tools they need to build their territory. There should be more like them.