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A recent court decision to dismiss a bootlegging charge in Tuktoyaktuk isn't a free ride for would-be liquor smugglers.

On Oct. 28, Judge Garth Malakoe ruled the RCMP's search of a Tuktoyaktuk man's luggage was unlawful and a violation of his Charter rights. Prior to laying the charges, police acted on a tip that an illegal quantity of alcohol was being transported via aircraft to the alcohol-restricted community.

Tuktoyaktuk Sgt. Bill Mooney told News/North the ruling has some hamlet councillors discouraged and fearing more alcohol will slip through the airport as a result. The sergeant, however, said he doesn't see the ruling as something that will hinder officers' ability to intercept alcohol. In fact, he said the ruling was positive.

Mooney said the judge's ruling will help RCMP with future investigations by ensuring officers conduct searches with the proper supporting evidence and do it by the book.

The sergeant also emphasized the ruling will not stop police from acting on information from the public, nor should it discourage residents from calling in tips to help deter the illegal transport of alcohol. Those tips have resulted in the seizure of vast quantities of liquor over the years.

While Malakoe's ruling may well cause the RCMP to tighten up its procedures, the judge also sent a message to bootleggers. His decision to uphold the seizure and disposal of the alcohol reinforces the fact the courts are on side with communities and their desire to curb the negative effects of excessive drinking.

News/North published its annual addictions supplement last week and alcohol was a common theme in its pages. RCMP lamented how alcohol is a factor in an overwhelming majority of calls, ranging from property crime to domestic violence; it was also cited as an addiction common among those in the corrections system.

This case was dismissed based on a technicality and we should not be deterred; it will not undermine the will of communities to regulate quantities of inbound liquor or how the authorities punish those who break the law.

Bootlegging is a plague on NWT residents who are fighting for their right to live in a safe and healthy community.

Bootleggers are despicable in their efforts to prey on the weaknesses of others by selling bottles for hundreds of dollars to capitalize on liquor restrictions. Not only do they make existing alcohol problems worse, they add financial strain to families.

Our battle against alcohol addiction, alcohol-related crime and the subsequent social ills will continue, so bootleggers beware.

Pond Inlet MLA Joe Enook has become the unlikely face of one of Nunavut's most pressing problems: inadequate housing.

The territorial politician and his wife, Mary Kilabuk, have been living in a shack since leaving Iqaluit on Nov. 3. Having been a resident of Iqaluit when he was voted into office, he's determined to live in the community that elected him. The problem is, there are no homes available in Pond Inlet.

The federal government has allotted $300 million since 2007 to help build almost 1,000 new homes in Nunavut. Despite that, the situation remains dire.

The cost of living in Nunavut is high, no question, and housing plays a part of that. The prices we pay for groceries, airfare, rent, power, long-distance calling and Internet are all much higher than most other places in the country. In many cases, the more remote the community, the higher the prices get.

The median family income in Nunavut was $54,300 as of the 2006 census. More census data was collected across the country earlier this year, so a more up-to-date figure will be available next year. Even if that number climbs by a few thousand dollars, Enook, who was elected to the legislative assembly on Sept. 12, outpaces many income earners with his compensation package, which easily exceeds $100,000 per year.

No matter how he tries to explain it and how much support he may have among those wanting him to live in Pond Inlet, the idea of an MLA applying to occupy a social housing unit, even temporarily, when there are people earning much less on a waiting list is a very unwise move politically.

He should find another alternative. Enook has raised the issue of houses designated for GN employees that sit vacant while those government workers are living in social housing units.

If that's true, somebody - and who better than Enook himself -- ought to be relentless in attacking that issue publicly. The Nunavut Housing Needs Survey, which wrapped up in June 2010, identifies as many as 30 Pond Inlet units as unoccupied.

"A private home will become available, it's just a matter of when it will be vacated," Enook said of his own predicament.

Like many Nunavummiut, Enook may have a long wait on his hands, especially since nearly two-thirds of the units in Pond Inlet are considered public.

The GN's housing survey found 1,220 people are homeless - 90 of them in Pond Inlet -- and 3,580 people wish to move when more housing is available. The data also show 23 per cent of Nunavut's homes are in need of repair.

At least Enook is well placed and presumably motivated to help fix an inexcusable situation that cannot be allowed to continue.

With the planet's seemingly endless appetite for TV shows and films about and based in the Northwest Territories, it's puzzling how little regard there is from the territorial government toward the NWT's burgeoning film industry.

How many reality TV shows and prime-time dramas does the GNWT need to see before it realizes that this is big business, and that there is much potential for the homegrown talent who live here?

This year the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment set aside $100,000 in SEED money dedicated solely to producing NWT-made films. While any new money is welcome, it's really just a drop in the bucket. It wouldn't have been enough nor could it have been used to spare the NWT the indignity of watching the film adaption of Richard Van Camp's critically acclaimed novel the Lesser Blessed move to Ontario. The project was short $250,000 needed to keep the filming here.

Despite the lack of GNWT support, producers keep coming here to film TV shows, movies and commercials.

They hire Northern filmmakers, recruit local acting talent and spend lots of money -- $9 million worth, according to a recent GNWT commissioned report.

Just this year alone in Yellowknife we had the filming of Arctic Air, a new TV drama coming to CBC, which booked 80 rooms out of the Explorer Hotel during their last visit; an appearance by the Duchess of York Sarah Ferguson and her crew, who were filming a new reality TV show for the Oprah Winfrey Network; and the premiere of a feature-length film, Love/Hate, by Yellowknife filmmaker Andrew Silke.

That's on top of the ongoing success of NWT Ice Pilots - filmed largely in Yellowknife and employing or featuring dozens of Yellowknifers; the continuing artistic pursuits of the now internationally famous ice road trucker Alex Debogorski, and the worldwide media feeding frenzy of last summer's royal visit from Prince William and his bride Catherine Middleton.

With so much interest in our territory and Yellowknife as a base of operations, it would seem logical that a well-financed film or TV project created here in Yellowknife would be well-received down south. But looking at how the Yukon and Nunavut governments outspend us seven to one on their film industries, there doesn't seem much chance of that.

There is so much interest and opportunity out there in spite of our reluctance to help our filmmakers and show the welcome mat to others.

Diavik Diamond Mines Inc. announced earlier this month it will develop the first large-scale wind farm at an operating mine globally. In doing so, it will help reveal whether wind power has a future in the North.

The project, which is expected to cost up to $30 million, consists of four 2.3-megawatt wind turbines, and it should be ready to roll by this time next year.

The mining company conducted a three-year wind resource study before deciding to proceed. The aim is to reduce the mine's diesel consumption by 10 per cent and lower greenhouse gases by about 12,000 tonnes.

There have been past studies in the North to pursue wind energy by both the GNWT and organizations such as Arctic Energy Alliance which have generally led to unfavourable results due to the turbines providing less electricity than expected, being costly to maintain and requiring technicians and parts to be flown in.

Diavik's use of wind-generated power is environmentally responsible, the question is whether it will prove to be economically feasible.

The diamond mining company, which has been generous to this city in terms of donations, is focused on profits.

If Diavik cannot make wind power cost effective, we'll know the city and the rest of the territory may as well look to other alternatives.

Moose are a very important animal in the Deh Cho.

Moose traditionally were, and continue to be, an important food source. Even though people can buy commercially raised meat such as beef at the Northern Store, harvesting moose is a way to stay connected with their culture.

In addition to being a healthy and tasty food source, moose also provide the hides for traditional crafts such as moccasins and the materials for moose hair tufting.

That's why it's encouraging to see Deh Cho leaders and residents promoting and demanding research on moose in the region. The Department of Environment and Natural Resources is currently conducting its annual moose survey.

Over the course of two weeks, weather permitting, the department's staff and community observers will spend 100 hours in the air crisscrossing the region in an airplane looking for moose. The department conducted its first survey in 2003-2004 in response to input from communities, which identified moose as an area of interest.

The department is conducting a large-scale survey this year to check the baseline density set in the first survey and subsequent data gathered every November in smaller surveys.

While the survey is a good start, there may be more work and harder work to come if the Deh Cho wants to maintain its current population of moose.

Some residents have been informing the department that they're concerned the limited access to barren ground caribou is putting added pressure on the moose population.

In Jean Marie River, Chief Stan Sanguez said residents are already seeing changes. In the past three to four years people from elsewhere in the territory and Alberta have been hunting in the community's traditional area.

Jean Marie River is already taking action.

Community members are being encouraged to avoid harvesting cows between the fall hunt and the spring so they have time to birth calves.

Jean Marie River has also requested two bison tags from Fort Providence in order to supplement moose with another wild meat source.

Regardless of the survey results, Deh Cho residents will need to start considering what measures they'd be willing to take to ensure the region's moose population is sustained for future generations. Curtailing hunting rights is an incredibly sensitive topic, especially when related to a way of life that has been followed for countless generations, but there may come a time when traditions will have to be changed to preserve what is important to the region's moose.

Everyone in the North is familiar with scientists coming to the communities, doing studies and then leaving, taking the research with them.

At Aurora College last week, a three-day course was held to teach Northerners how to research, where to get funding for research and what could be a great idea to research. Local residents could improve the work done simply because of their greater awareness of the issues in their community.

Many studies are being done in the Arctic right now and few are done by people from the Arctic. Why not take advantage of your location and the international interest in your community by completing a study yourself? That information can be used to lobby for a change in policy and maybe make a difference where you live.

Participants at Aurora College came up with ideas for possible research studies, including how much physical activity do people undertake, how many people have left the community in the past three years, how many people have been to the dentist in the last three years, at what age do people start drinking, and why are people now getting sunburned, when they didn't 10 years ago?

It's kind of funny, in terms of media, too. Where are the Northern reporters? As you may have noticed, a lot of people from all over the country come and go at Northern News Services and the Inuvik Drum. Although the editors tend to be long-term residents, there's not really any reporters from the North and there are no aboriginal reporters.

I've heard comments that the Inuvik Drum editor is a "typing tourist," and in some cases that's true. In some cases that's even great. People new to communities see the place in a different way, can question things and ask why things are the way they are.

But, other times it seems a lot of work is done researching topics that we're hearing about for the first time. It takes a while to get up to speed.

That's where having a reporter from the community could be a benefit. Like local researchers, people from the North should have a role in telling their stories and have a chance to ask questions of leaders and the public alike. A Northerner's perspective will differ from someone who grew up in suburban southern Ontario when it comes to certain issues. Shouldn't Northerners - aboriginal and non-aboriginal alike - step up and tell those stories?

There are lots of issues and concerns related to health and climate change in Inuvik right now and local people have the answers, if only because they have the questions. They see what's going on every day. Shouldn't they be the ones doing the research, alongside the southerners coming up for a month or two?

Get inspired. Find a question that you're fascinated with and do some research. Find out why this town is the way it is, and maybe you could change it for the better.

It's all about keeping the momentum going.

Last week's $5.2 million geoscience research funding announcement by Leona Aglukkaq, federal minister of the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency (CanNor), along with territorial Industry, Tourism and Investment (ITI) Minister Dave Ramsay, means that there is a brighter future ahead for mineral exploration in the North.

When one considers that Ekati diamond mine is expected to be shut down for good in 2018 while Diavik has roughly 10 years of production left, it becomes apparent that eyes must be turned toward the future to ensure continued opportunities for the mining industry, outside of De Beer's Gahcho Kue diamond project.

The Canadian Federation of Earth Sciences is one organization to laud the announcement of new funding, noting that Canada is lagging behind other countries in its dedication to basic geologic mapping. The Geological Survey of Canada employs about 500 people and has a budget of about $80 million for geologic information management and acquisition. Australia, meanwhile, also rich in mineral resources, has a landmass and population about two-thirds the size of Canada but has a budget of about $147 million.

Given that perspective, $3.275 million from CanNor, $1.1 million from ITI and $900,000 from the private sector, for a total of $5.275 million over three years, is not much money. Yet it is encouraging that steps are being taken to find out what is in the ground in targeted areas where there has been little exploration in the past.

Of course, finding areas of high potential for minerals and petroleum is only one step. We must simplify the NWT's regulatory regime, without compromising environmental standards, to get those resources to market.

Last week's announcement sets the stage for new mining activity in the North and will hopefully reduce the risk for mining companies, result in future prosperity and create new jobs and opportunities for Northerners.

Yellowknife-born singer/songwriter Leela Gilday deserves our applause after being named Entertainer of the Year at the Aboriginal Peoples Choice Music Awards on Nov. 4.

The honour is just the latest in a long list of prestigious national and regional industry accolades bestowed on the Juno-winning recording artist.

While Gilday's growing trophy collection speaks to her talents and achievements as a professional musician, last spring she received a plaque that reminds us of the other important qualities that make this creative and successful Dene woman so special and so deserving of our collective praise. Mildred Hall School, where Gilday attended Grades 2 to 6, inducted the former student into its Hall of Fame in May.

"Leela continues to inspire, mentor, and actively promote artists in the music industry," reads the plaque.

Gilday last returned to Mildred Hall earlier this year to lead workshops and motivate students to follow their dreams. Last week she visited students in Hay River to lead a Blues in the Schools program to encourage aspiring young musicians in that community.

Gilday grew up in the North and chooses to live in the North, despite various career opportunities throughout the country. Thus, we should not only congratulate this nationally-acclaimed artist on her most recent award, but also thank her for devoting her time, energy, and commitment to Northern children and youth.

There may be winners in the Government of Nunavut's decision to add three MLAs in 2013. However we fail to see how any of the smaller Kivalliq communities affected by the move will benefit.

The new alignment involving the Kivalliq will see Chesterfield Inlet paired with Rankin North, Whale Cove teamed with Arviat (North) and Repulse Bay joined with Coral Harbour.

Who knows what will unfold by 2013 and what political personalities will be holding what positions.

But, should all things remain the same as far as the elected MLAs in each riding are concerned, unless the good folks of Chesterfield Inlet have a lot more faith in Tagak Curley than Lorne Kusugak, we fail to see how Chester will escape the same small community conundrum while paired with Rankin North that Whale Cove claims to be caught in while joined with Rankin South.

On the same side of the coin -- taking for granted simple mathematics will prevail and the 2013 representative of Arviat North will hail from that community -- if Whale truly believes Rankin cares too little about its concerns, wait until it's dealing with a personality from one of Nunavut's fastest-growing communities which is still firmly entrenched in the have-not side of the ledger when it comes to badly needed infrastructure.

For many years, both Chester and Whale have been suffering from a bad case of small community syndrome at best, or a persecution complex at worst, and we can't see how this slight-of-hand switch will help either rise above that.

This is not anything unique to Nunavut by any stretch of the imagination.

Travel to just about any part of Canada and one will hear the same song being sung.

Small communities everywhere often feel they only get the leftovers from the bigger centres in their areas.

Add consensus government to the mix, where MLA decision-making is often a parody of the best Monty Hall episodes of Let's Make A Deal, and it becomes pretty obvious the bigger slice of bread is going to get the butter.

On the surface, with populations hovering around 800 (give or take a few) in both communities, it would appear Repulse Bay and Coral Harbour are a good match

for creating one riding.

And, with populations that close, maybe the thinking behind the move is that over time each community will have its fair share of elected representatives for the riding.

We certainly hope that proves to be the case, because population is where the similarities between the two communities begins and ends.

Whether anyone wants to say it publicly is one thing, but just about everyone in the Kivalliq knows Repulse and Coral aren't exactly two cubs in the same den.

Perhaps, in a parallel universe, teaming people from Rankin and Iqaluit in the same riding would hold more promise for entertainment, but none comes to mind in this dimension.

When all is said and done, precious little, if anything, will change in the Kivalliq's political landscape with the changes announced.

When the new shell game begins in 2013, Whale and Chester will still be trying to find small peas under a pair of very big shells, while Repulse and Coral won't believe there were any peas under the other's shell to begin with.

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