Richard Mostyn

Censorship for nothing

Chalk one up for intolerance and hatred. Dire Straits' Money for Nothing is no longer fit for Canadian ears. Good thing the Canadian Broadcast Standards Council finally cleared that up.

irons in the fire

We were recently reminded Whitehorse is undergoing a branding exercise. "Really?" we asked. "Who? Mayor Bev Buckway? Ranj Pillai? Doug Graham? Florence Roberts? All of 'em? "And will this be hot iron? Or tats.

The big, big bang theory

Our universe is bigger and more incomprehensible than we ever imagined. A recent study increased the number of stars in place to about 300 sextillion. How many is that? Well, frankly, a lot.

We hope the fix is in

In the next couple of days, Dr. Bruce Beaton and James Allen are expected to deliver their report on chronic inebriants. We hope they recommend some sort of medical detox facility in their final document.

Drunk driving laws too lax

The Criminal Code of Canada should be tougher on drunk drivers. The legal blood-alcohol content limit should be lowered to 0.05 from 0.08. The reason is simple.

magic and loss

There is a magic in numbers. If you don't believe it, take a close look at the Whitehorse Centre byelection. Newly minted New Democrat Leader Liz Hanson received 356 votes on Monday night.

a good pirate dreads hunger

It is frankly, er ... inconceivable the Whitehorse Food Bank had more than 500 clients last month. That's a lot of mouths to feed. And the number of people using the service is still growing.

Leading by example

Nacho Nyak Dun Chief Simon Mervyn makes $70,000 a year. He should get a raise. Alright, maybe not a raise per se. But he should definitely get a pat on the back.

taming the wild

Well, at least one fellow has been taken care of. Thanks to the kindness of strangers, Allen Kempel has come in from the cold. You might remember Kempel.

a vote to watch

Electoral reformers should watch the Black Street vote very carefully. Thanks to the Yukon Municipal Act, it's an oddball vote. But it may hold the key to voter apathy.

Time to lift the fog of doubt

The Fentie government should come out of the shadows and tell citizens where it stands on protecting the Peel River Watershed. It's beyond time it did so. In late 2009, the commission studying the issue recommended protecting 80 per cent of the watershed.

losing the war at home

Are fanatics winning the War On Terror? It's something to ponder as the rights, freedoms and protections from tyranny Canadians have long enjoyed are cast aside in the name of security.

We tolerate secrecy at our peril

Our government is obsessed with security these days. It scripts news conferences, even to the point of vetting reporter questions before they start. Ottawa suppresses documents in the name of national security.

watching the watchers

Ottawa must find a way to investigate the RCMP without using the RCMP. This is not a new idea. It is floated every time the cops investigate themselves.

Heavy handed leadership endorsed

The Yukon owes a debt of gratitude to the Little Salmon/Carmacks First Nation. A majority of its elders have answered a long-standing and troubling question in aboriginal politics.

Two bits on remembrance

We remember our dead soldiers. And we forget the living ones. In 2006, Ottawa implemented the New Veterans Charter, ostensibly to improve things for soldiers who had been maimed, mutilated and mentally damaged while fighting for this country.

odd choices

We all have choices to make. In the strange case of Kari Knopp, it's troubling how many have been wrong. Until a couple of weeks ago, Knopp was living on the chilly streets of Whitehorse with three dogs.

Birth of a leader

Now, more than ever, Carmacks needs strong leadership. And Eddie Skookum is not the man for the job. Sure, he's holding on to power, but members of the Little Salmon/Carmacks First Nation should summarily turf him.

time to kill the policy

Damn Cesar Millan. While the wildly popular Dog Whisperer is a magician when it comes to problem dogs, he's a nightmare for run-of-the-puppy-mill shelters.

think about whats at stake then attend

People often grouse they are powerless to influence government decisions. Here is a chance to change that. On Wednesday, at 7 p.m. in the hospital cafeteria, the Yukon Hospital Corporation board of trustees is holding its annual general meeting.