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Carbon monoxide is a threat that most people don't think about until it's too late. It kills silently and quickly and, unless the proper safety precautions are taken, with no warning.

The death of a Hay River couple at a cabin last October highlights the risk and the potential for more deaths in the territory.

Country living is commonplace in the NWT. Cabins dot the landscape as either privately-built homes or rental and short-stay accommodations. An example is the Mountain Aven Campground where Brenda Laviolette-Rapp and Robert Bradley died after succumbing to fumes from a propane lamp while they slept. According to the NWT's fire marshal it is common for cabins not to have carbon monoxide detectors and there is no territorial law requiring their installation.

Cathy Menard, the NWT's chief coroner, says carbon monoxide deaths in the NWT are rare. Before the couple died in Hay River no similar deaths had been reported in at least the past two years. However, one death is enough to raise the alarm and the evidence overwhelmingly supports the danger and potential for more tragedies if people are not vigilant.

The solutions are simple, as outlined by the fire marshal. Every home or cabin should be equipped with a carbon monoxide detector, especially those using gas or wood-burning appliances. Even off-the-grid properties can easily be equipped with the inexpensive devices.

They can easily be the difference between life and death.

Some Canadian provinces, such as Ontario, have made it law for homes to be equipped with carbon monoxide detectors. Although that idea has merit in the NWT concerning residential homes and businesses, it would be virtually unenforceable in the back country. With that in mind, it is in people's best interest to understand the dangers and protect themselves. Install detectors, ensure appliances are working properly and understand how they work. At the Mountain Aven Campground, the propane lamps that contributed to the deaths were in fact working correctly but, unbeknownst to users, when operating at low levels they emitted a lethal level of propane.

The territorial government should also help with education. Outlining resources for inspecting appliances that could pose a risk, how to safety-proof homes, how to recognize early signs of carbon monoxide poisoning and the various agencies and authorities that can assist people.

There is no fault in the deaths of Bradley and Laviolette-Rapp. What happened was a tragic accident. Their loss should not be in vain but serve as a warning to others.

Last week's announcement that two major airlines with a long history of serving the North are holding serious discussions about merging into one company means interesting times are ahead for the aviation industry in Nunavut.

Since Air Canada discontinued its scheduled service from Iqaluit to points south in 2011, Canadian North and First Air have been the dominant players in the market for long-haul passenger service from Nunavut's capital.

Although it will likely take more than one year for the companies to iron out a commercial agreement and receive approval from the competition bureau and federal regulators, it seems likely that the merger will become reality.

One aspect observers are considering is the issue of ownership. The Inuvialuit Development Corporation closed a deal earlier this month to take full control of NorTerra, which owns Canadian North, by purchasing 50 per cent of the assets from Nunasi Corp., a wholly Inuit-owned company. Some applauded the move, thinking Nunasi will be better off without a stake in NorTerra, while others are concerned that the Inuit of Nunavut are no longer involved with a major airline because First Air is owned by the Inuit of northern Quebec through Makivik Corporation.

To its credit, Canadian North is continuing to offer passenger fare discounts to Inuit beneficiaries from both the Eastern Arctic and Western Arctic. But what will happen in the future?

It is expensive to operate an airline in the North because of the vast distances, the climate and the higher cost to operate in comparison to the rest of Canada. A merger makes sense for the companies because it has the potential to eliminate duplication of service, personnel and equipment.

But there is bound to be a ripple effect of the merger. Specifics are difficult to predict because the structure of the merged company is still in the process of being developed.

Two things should be of concern to consumers - what will happen with fares for passengers and cargo, and will the level of service to Nunavut communities change? What will happen if the company created by the merger has a monopoly in parts of the regional market and a complete monopoly in the national market?

Aviation services are essential to the communities in Nunavut for passenger movement and the delivery of goods, including groceries. There may be an opportunity for regional carriers to become more dominant in the marketplace. Considering that construction of a new airport in Iqaluit is on the horizon, perhaps another major airline such as WestJet or Air Canada will begin offering flights out of the territory. The merger - if it goes ahead - will also create a hole in the market that might attract competition.

Those orchestrating the merger have much to consider. Hopefully they don't lose sight of the needs of the consumer while trying to create the potential for profitability.

Former NWT premier Stephen Kakfwi has added his voice to the thousands of aboriginal people who have been speaking up about their childhood experiences, or their parent's experiences, in government and church-run residential schools.

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission - mandated with documenting the 130-year residential school legacy in Canada - wrapped up their public-hearing phase with its seventh and final national hearing in Edmonton last month. The commission now has until June 2015 to complete its report.

After the final hearing, former premier Stephen Kakfwi spoke closer to home about the reconciliation process - in Dettah at a teachers' professional development session, where teachers were learning about the impact of the past on their own students.

Having the former premier come forward with his own residential school experiences is a valuable measure of the depth and breadth of the damage done by residential schools. Kakfwi kept silent for years, saying nothing much had happened, while writing and music served as personal outlets for the pain.

Although Kakfwi said he was elated as he witnessed the conclusion of the hearings, he noted that he could not help but see the closing of this dark chapter in Canadian

history as just another step on the long road to healing.

The hearings began in Winnipeg in 2010 and spanned the nation. The commissioners visited about 300 communities and collected more than 6,000 statements.

The stories shared at the many events confirm that the process of rebuilding families and lives is just at the diagnostic stage and much more needs to be done in terms of ongoing and future support for healing programs, counselling services and addiction recovery facilities.

Marie Wilson, Kakfwi's wife and a commission member, noted that nearly 80,000 former residential school students registered for common experience payments, and almost 50 per cent of that number - about 40,000 people - also registered for abuse claims, with a current acceptance rate of about 90 per cent.

However, no one should confuse the lump sum payments as anything more than legal compensation for a wrong done to an individual.

Now the focus must remain on the whole aboriginal population, the families. The damage was done over generations - real reparation and healing will take equal time. With the right support, this may be possible.

Through exaggerated facial expressions and zealous body movements, against painted backdrops and tunes-a-plenty, Xanadu sparkled on stage at the Northern Arts and Cultural Centre last week.

Most impressively, though, was that in front of the audience were 30 young students whose acting, singing and dancing skills soared above what one may assume a less experienced age-group could produce. Anybody seeking a quality production would have left the theatre smiling and satisfied.

Aside from Landon Peters' - director of the Sir John Franklin School drama department's musical - feat of directing the students so well they inspired laughter and cheers from the audience throughout the entire production, his efforts are creating something of unknown proportion within the community.

Often the richness of a place lies as much in its culture as it does its people, and cultivating such talent from a young age brings a magical air to the community that can't be removed, nor created overnight.

These young singing-and-dancing talents of the stage are already contributing to the artistic affluence of Yellowknife, and will go on to be the acting adults of future productions both here and beyond.

Well-produced, energetic theatre that fill the seats of the NACC night-after-night, year-after-year, deserves much celebration and is not something that should ever be taken for granted.

May we all be so lucky as to reach Xanadu, as depicted in the play - an ideal but achievable state-of-being roughly translated as, "to love another person and create art."

One thing all Deh Cho residents get accustomed to is distances.

No matter which community in the region you live in, it is almost always a very long way to get to where you want to go. The need to travel for potentially hours, even if it's just to the nearest neighboring community to buy groceries, is one reason the state of the highways in the Deh Cho is such a topic of interest and concern.

Drive to visit any Deh Cho community and once people realize you are in from out of town, one of the first questions you'll get is "how were the roads?" Smooth roads can mean the difference between an expedient, stress-free trip and lengthy delays if you have to drive slowly to avoid washboard, potholes or soft spots or, worse yet, end up off the road.

Most Deh Cho residents have at least one story related to bad road conditions and what happened as a result. Every one hopes for good road conditions when they head out.

But what those conditions look like might not be the same for everyone. Chipseal is often held up as the holy grail for the highways in the Deh Cho.

People imagine chipseal stretching as far as the eye can see, smooth, flat and a dream to drive on. Just think of the trips then. The distances wouldn't get any smaller, but traveling them would be faster and easier.

No more giant dust clouds in the summer that hide oncoming vehicles, no more chipped windshields every time a transport truck passes. Wouldn't it be lovely?

Of course those dreams aren't always tempered by reality. Who wants ruin the ideal by thinking of the chipseal near the junction of Highways 1 and 3 that has been breaking apart almost since it was laid. And potholes, those can get pretty deep in chipseal.

For some, ideal highways in the Deh Cho are ones that are well maintained even if they are gravel. As long as the surface and its under structure are kept in good repair, gravel highways can get people where they need to go with few problems. In perfect conditions it can feel almost as smooth as chipseal.

Yes, gradually getting all the Deh Cho highways chipsealed is something most residents want to see. In the meantime, perhaps instead of an extra 20 km of chipseal here or there, residents should be pressing the Department of Transportation to have equally good highway conditions between all communities.

No highway should be allowed to lapse so that a few more kilometres of chipseal can be added elsewhere.

When it comes to the demolition of Sir Alexander Mackenzie School, people know a controversy when they see one.

Following last week's story on the school, several people sent some sharply-worded e-mails that were forwarded to the Inuvik Drum by travel agent Zora Zubko.

Although clearly appreciating the school's historical association with the residential school era, these people, including Zubko, have good memories of the school.

It's not possible to repeat the e-mails in their entirety, but a few snippets are revealing.

"It was not just a school," one reader wrote. "The town's social life revolved around that building in the early days – Halloween parties, talent shows, concerts, plays and sports competitions that we all attended. It breaks my heart to see that building being torn down – it was the centre of the community I grew up in."

"All of our hearts go out to those who suffered in any way, but we can never forget the many people that made, and continue to make, Inuvik their home," writes another.

And yet another reader writes, "I am sure all of us have our own stories about how this school was our 'centre of our universe' when we were little.

"I am sorry for what happened to those who came from out of town. But we went home every night and looked forward to the next day of school. All of our little lives were changed for the better with education, sports and friendships. I think that our positive story is being lost or shaded by the bad stories."

That's a sampling of the comments, some of which were considerably less polite. While the opinion they express is valid, and they have every right to express them, it is important to show respect for the differing opinions others might hold, particularly on this part of history.

Some people have good memories of SAMS, and that's fine. Others do not, and that is also valid. It's all part of the overall perspective. SAMS has meant many things to many people. Thankfully, there is a large segment of the population who fondly recall their time spent in the hallways and classrooms.

Last week saw the Yellowknife debut of Brigette DePape, the young woman made famous by the handmade "Stop Harper" sign she held in the Senate chamber while working as a parliamentary page in 2011.

DePape was in town for a workshop on social activism, flown in on the dime of local labour organizations and social awareness groups.

While it is always good to start a discussion on how the government, no matter what level, can be improved, there needs to be more than just slogans and jargon.

DePape came to national prominence for saying "Stop Harper." Fine then, but stop the prime minister from doing what, exactly?

Many people would agree that Stephen Harper hasn't exactly been a likeable prime minister but the ugliness of his warts aside, there is no denying that Harper has made the North a key area of concern since taking office eight years ago. Many will remember past governments - both the Liberals and the long-gone Progressive Conservatives - which paid little attention to the North at the best of times.

And if Harper is to be stopped, what's next? What political solution is the right answer? Should Canadians give the old/new of Justin Trudeau's Liberal brand another try in the top spot? Or perhaps the answer is Thomas Mulcair and the New Democratic Party. Is it time for the party that Jack Layton led into the official opposition to take the next step and become the leading party?

And beyond the expediencies of party politics, what policies should be pursued? And how will they benefit the North and the rest of Canada?

To often the discussion is drowned out in ad hominem attacks that take us nowhere closer to addressing the real issues at stake.

There is nothing wrong with opposing the government but it ought to come with a message stronger than scripted slogans and a "Stop Harper" sign - if the goal is to convince people to change their vote.

Considering how only 30 people attended DePape's workshop earlier this month - no doubt familiar faces all among the local activists who attended - it seems doubtful that people are heeding the call.

Talk of First Air and Canadian North merging is making some Yellowknifers nervous.

It was announced last week that company executives were having serious discussions over consolidating the two brands. Peter McCart, vice-president of sales and marketing for Canadian North, said it made sense to combine the strengths of both companies to "create a stronger, more sustainable business."

Many still remember the bad old days before national carriers Air Canada and WestJet landed in town. With little competition, airfares were expensive - almost identically so between the two Northern airlines. A merger between First Air and Canadian North gives air travellers one less option to choose from - although the addition of Yellowknife-to-Ottawa flights this year through Yukon-based Air North is a positive mitigating factor.

However, mergers don't always mean hardship for the consumer. Combining the two companies will likely streamline their operations, giving customers faster, more efficient service. A major complaint among Yellowknife's fliers is the frequent lateness for both incoming and outgoing flights to southern connections.

Streamlining services could give the two airlines the competitive edge that will keep southern-based competition on their toes, while hopefully translating into better service all-around for customers.

The negotiators must keep these factors in mind while they work out a deal and remember that the competition will quickly scoop up customers if they fail to make a deal that benefits all.

As regular readers of this space realize, it came as no surprise to me when the Parti Quebecois's illadvised charter of values and raised voice for separation cost it the Quebec provincial election on April 7.

But I do admit surprise to just how dearly the blunders cost them.

In short, the Parti Quebecois (PQ) was devastated at the polls, with the Liberals grabbing 70 seats and more than 41 per cent of the popular vote on their way to forming a majority government in La Belle Province.

The PQ claimed only 30 seats and a disastrous 25 per cent of the popular vote.

Party leader Pauline Marois resigned after losing her CharlevoixCotedeBeaupre seat while watching the PQ drop 24 seats and its dreams of a majority government.

In fact, it barely remained the official opposition by finishing three per cent ahead of the Coalition Avenir Quebec and its 22 seats.

Quebec solidaire took three seats in the election.

Marois made a fatal mistake by getting caught up in the fistpumping rhetoric of Pierre Karl Peladeau, who vowed to make Quebec a country.

Peladeau's antics seemed to light a fuse of disconnect in Marois, who began to publicly muse about life as the leader of a sovereign Quebec.

The habit alienated many in the voting public. Coupled with the secular charter that caused a backlash of anger across most of the country, the majority of Quebec voters decided the PQ was on its own page, not theirs, and choose what they viewed as the lesser of two evils in Philippe Couillard's Liberals.

I've never quite understood why the PQ attached such a shining star to Peladeau, given its troubles with organized students and his disdain for organized labour.

But as was mentioned in a Doug Firby column this past week, the uber-wealthy media baron, Peladeau, may be the best hope of every Canadian who wishes our country to remain intact and to see the PQ destroyed once and for all.

Peladeau, as with Marois, has little in common with the masses.

He can be brash, outspoken and overly-dramatic, and he's used to wielding all the power money can buy to get his own way, while often coming across as being his own biggest fan.

Should he gain the PQ leadership, chances are high he will not take the time to slowly rebuild lost confidence in the party.

He's more likely to take a banzai run at making another referendum his main platform in the next Quebec election.

It could turn into a wonderful scenario for the millions of Canadians who prefer their country intact.

Distrusted by organized labour and student leaders suspicious of his intentions, and with a middle and lower class feeling disenfranchised and not able to relate to his upper-crust ways, Peladeau may, to nick Firby's analogy, turn out to be the political version of Custer's Last Stand for the PQ.

It now promises to be an interesting four years ahead for Quebec, with no tolerance for political missteps.

And that may end the separatist movement once and for all, if Peladeau leads the next PQ charge while not caring whose toes he steps on in his quest to be king.

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