The early establishment of the secondary diamond industry in Yellowknife is another good example of size advantage, although Hay River is showing you can take on Goliath and get some of the pie.

But sending such a strong message will carry consequences unless it is followed by skillful diplomacy.

The most dangerous consequence is a court challenge.

Potentially, the outcome could be worse that what might have been accepted in the legislature had the MLA's taken a more moderate position on more representation for Yellowknife.

The court, by strictly adhering to the Charter of Rights and relying on the population numbers and ignoring Northern reality, could rule Yellowknife should get two seats or more.

Premier Don Morin is on record as saying: "I think you can get many different opinions from many different lawyers."

Morin may not be worried but he is not a lawyer and his present troubles indicate his political judgement is lacking. There is also the bad feelings that will be generated if the anti-Yellowknife MLAs keep a hard line which does not bode well for consensus government.

So we hope that when Western MLAs took their bold step, they did so with a plan in mind such as a reasonable compromise, one that will pacify the disgruntled populace of Yellowknife yet still maintain the clout smaller communities will need to survive.

It's a good sign to see members of the Dene Nation and the Dogrib Rae Band are being offered support by the GNWT to begin clearing the way for a new and improved highway from Yellowknife to Rae-Edzo.

With about two fatalities a year along the 90-kilometre stretch there's no time like now to begin the multi-million dollar project.

What's particularly encouraging to see is that the project -- estimated to take up to 13 years to complete -- is providing more than 30 jobs for area people and utilizing the very capable Nishi Kon Freeway Inc., who are now busy cutting the way through the forests that border the highway.

This arrangement not only creates much-needed work for the community, but will probably produce an important partnership when it comes time to bring in the engineers and re-design the dangerous road.

Globalization, the current explanation for all our problems, has a bright side. Take pizza, for instance. That oven-baked meal on a crust of dubious Italian origin has spread throughout the North like a virus. And by all reports, people love it.

But what the world of pizza needs is the Northern touch. Thinly sliced musk ox and chunks of caribou sausage would be a perfect compliment to an unadorned pizza. Seal and the variety of seafood such as shrimps and scallops pulled out of the Arctic ocean would put an undeniably Northern stamp on the southern import. Anything with char on it is bound to get the attention of gourmets around the world.

Pizza should be regarded as another opportunity to showcase Northern abundance and creativity.

Bad enough Iqaluit is facing a severe housing shortage, but, thanks to the dastardly deeds of the brain dead in the community, the Iqaluit Housing Authority must also deal with senseless acts of vandalism to its precious properties.

Last week, about $10,000 damage was done to an apartment ready to be rented.

Now, instead of being a revenue generator for the community, it has become a financial liability as the authority scrambles to come up with the cash to repair the senseless damage.

When will these thugs realize they're hurting the entire community with their senseless acts?

Not only does the vandalism prevent new tenants from moving into units, it also reduces the standard of living for other innocent folks in the community.

Many public housing residents are forced to do without preventative maintenance, such as fresh paint and general repairs, while the authority struggles to repair damaged units.

There are more than 400 units being maintained by the Iqaluit Housing Authority and already its waiting list has passed the 50-person mark.

With division comes the chance for expansion and economic growth, valuable opportunities put at risk by the senseless acts of those within the community who lack respect and responsibility.

Hopefully, the small group of local citizens focusing on the problem, known as the crime prevention group, represents the first step in finding a solution.

The group would be well-advised to recommend a zero tolerance policy to local RCMP and bylaw officials and push for maximum penalties imposed against those found guilty of wilful property destruction.

Yes, the dire shortage of nursing staff in the Baffin region has been strongly influenced by the lack of a collective agreement between the Union of Northern Workers and the GNWT.

And, yes, a solution to the situation is needed today -- not four years down the road when, and if, more Northern nurses begin to graduate and work in the region.

But when Health Minister Kelvin Ng points an accusing finger at the ongoing UNW-GNWT battle, he absolves himself of his responsibility as the health minister and puts additional pressure on a problem that, ultimately, lands back on his own plate.