SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - Drinks such as Red Bull and Rockstar should be banned in the NWT, said Frame Lake MLA Wendy Bisaro in the legislative assembly on Monday.

"At least ban them from purchase for our youngsters," said Bisaro. "We can put in place the same restrictions that we have for the sale of cigarettes to young people."

She said Health Canada reported 69 cases of illnesses involving energy drinks since 2006.

"That doesn't seem like a lot, Mr. Speaker, but one of those reactions was death for an 18-year-old," she said.

She also quoted a Canadian Medical Association Journal editorial from last July, which she said stated "caffeine-loaded energy drinks have crossed the line from beverages to drugs delivered in tasty syrups."

Bisaro said the government should incorporate energy drinks into its Drop the Pop campaign, which aims to ween students off pop through an education campaign.

"Maybe we can call it eliminating evil. Our kids will be healthier for it," said Bisaro.

Red tape woes

The GNWT will look at reducing red tape for small businesses that get government funding at its next Refocusing Government Committee meeting, according to Finance Minister Michael Miltenberger.

The issue was brought up in the legislative assembly on Tuesday by Yellowknife Centre MLA Robert Hawkins, who said all the paperwork and reporting required by the government in exchange for grants is "nothing but a roadblock and burden on our industry."

He said paperwork for small airlines who charter non-scheduled flights transporting fishers and hunters, and harvested animals, can be heavy work; the costs for the regulatory processes that go hand-in-hand with mining exploration are high; and the extensive documentation on liquor store operations that needs to be submitted can be overwhelming.

"Many times they ask me: What's the point of this? Just to keep someone employed?" said Hawkins.

Miltenberger pointed to the BizPal program the GNWT offers, which helps businesses navigate the government maze. Hawkins agreed that is a good program, but he also said the paperwork needs to be drastically reduced, and the NWT is lagging behind every other jurisdiction in Canada on reducing red tape, according to the Canadian Federation of Independent Business.

Miltenberger said he'd bring it to the refocusing committee, and then be in contact with Hawkins.

"I would point out that probably is the ultimate remover of red tape for us, especially when the members talk about regulatory reform and such," said Miltenberger. "When we take over authorities in the Northwest Territories and we can adjust our systems, when we're not reliant on systems and programs and regimes that have been set up by a government 5,000 miles away, that we will, in fact, be able to be much more effective."

Food Rescue rapidly expanding

About 390,000 pounds of food has been distributed to those in need in Yellowknife since the introduction of legislation in 2008 absolving those who donate food of any liabilities, according to Great Slave MLA Glen Abernethy.

"In 2010, Food Rescue has donated and delivered around $440,000 worth of food in the community which would have otherwise been unavailable or ended up in landfill," said Abernethy on Wednesday afternoon.

The Donation of Food Act, brought forward by Frame Lake MLA Wendy Bisaro and passed in 2008, ensures that those who donate food or who distribute donated food are not liable for possible harm unless it was a result of intent to harm or reckless behaviour, according to Abernethy.

Yellowknife Food Rescue is a volunteer organization that collects food donations and distributes them to more than 15 organizations in Yellowknife, according to its Facebook page.

We welcome your opinions. Click here to e-mail a letter to the editor.