The numbers are staggering.

Twenty-six billion dollars to build six dams. Generating capacity would top 11,500 megawatts of electricity; revenue would top $600 million -- as much as the Northwest Territories now receives from the federal government.

As he works to drum up support around the NWT, Finance Minister Joe Handley is pitching it as a mega-project with mega-potential.

But while it's one of the best ways now known to generate electricity, hydro is not so "clean, green and renewable" as one might believe.

The promise of money and power brings with it flooded lands and a changed environment.

As well, talk of the projects has already raised concern among members of the Lutsel K'e First Nation, who bristle at talk of damming the Lockhart River. Grand Chief Joe Rabesca has told media that any dams in Dogrib territory will be built on their terms.

It's not an easy sell, and that's a good thing because damming rivers has to be done with great caution.

Handley is right that we need to wean the NWT off its dependence on diesel-generated electricity. It's a dirty, and expensive, way to power our lights, microwaves, and televisions.

Hydro would be one way to do that; as long as we could build power lines to the territory's remote communities. That's a mega-project in itself.

Sending the power south to hydro-hungry Canadian and American customers would also generate important revenue for a cash-strapped NWT. And once you turn on that tap, the money continues to flow as long as the rivers do.

Handley is taking the right steps by pitching the power proposal to the people before pushing ahead. It allows for rational debate and careful consideration of all the options.

And even if only a few of the 26 dams are built, we could all be a lot better off.

Let the good times roll.

The Northwest Territories has the hottest economy in Canada, out-performing and out-muscling such traditional provincial powerhouses as Alberta and Ontario, federal Industry Minister Brian Tobin noted recently in Yellowknife.

The increase in the gross domestic product (GDP) this year in the NWT is expected to hit 19.5 per cent, said Tobin -- three times that of Alberta, our neighbour to the south, and a projected 10 per cent GDP increase in the heartland of Ontario.

The former Newfoundland premier and likely Liberal leadership contender, also correctly noted "with growth comes substantial and real challenges ... you've got a housing problem."

Growing pains aside, Tobin was also equally correct in concluding the "Northwest Territories is on the short-list of places that are powering Canada's future."

Reports from an ecology fire camp at Kelly Lake in August raise serious concerns about how Northwest Territories taxpayers' dollars were spent.

Ed Smith, a NWT Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development department summer supervisor, who conducted the camp near Norman Wells, described some of his 13-to-22-year-old campers as having "punk attitudes" with poor discipline and a lack of interest. The camp had a $25,000 budget and participants were paid $10 per hour over and above that.

There were five such camps in the NWT this summer. Since 1995, they have played an important role in exposing Northern youth to the essential elements of forests and fire and the inherent ecological dance between the two.

We believe the camps have merit; we also believe the government is the custodian of the public purse and has an obligation to determine whether the problems at Kelly Lake were an isolated aberration or symptomatic of a larger problem.

Paul Crowley's case against the City of Iqaluit's garbage burning practices is overkill. Not because burning potentially cancer-causing material is acceptable.

His actions are overkill because the city knows its solid waste disposal system is flawed. No council member will dispute open burning of unsorted garbage is already banned throughout Canada.

Still a request for a short-term court injunction is proceeding. Crowley's request hinges on a Nunavut Water Board licence which prohibits the burning of plastics and glossy paper. It condones burning food waste, paper products and untreated wood.

However, the licence's validity hangs in question with the Department of Indian and Northern Development's (DIAND) refusal to back it.

Here's the problem: mounting legal fees for the city. Crowley versus the City goes before Justice Al Cooke this month. Who ends up paying the lawyer's bills? Ratepayers.

The city already plans to raise taxes to help finance $47-million infrastructure projects in the next few years. Perhaps now is not the time to slap the city with a court case and growing legal fees.

Crowley, a trained lawyer, is defending himself in court. His convictions are commendable. He's raised important points about POPS (Persistent Organic Pollutants) and industrial chemicals such as PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls). Iqaluit coffee shops and dining rooms are buzzing with people concerned about the heath risks of open burning. Furthermore, Citizens for a Clean Iqaluit are doing their part by presenting new information to council about documented health risks.

For all of Nunavut's beauty and ruggedness, strong economy or industry is lacking. Iqalungmiut cannot expect the same municipal infrastructure found in other Canadian cities to be built overnight. And while the territory and municipalities struggle to get there, ratepayers' money would be better spent building new systems, not defending old ones.

Federal Industry Minister Brian Tobin had a message for Nunavummiut when he visited the Kivalliq region recently; building a tourism industry in Nunavut requires more money from all levels of government.

"We need to help shape, deliver and market what's already here," Tobin told guests while he announced the establishment of a business service centre in Rankin Inlet.

Nunavut is blessed with breathtaking scenery, gifted artisans and abundant wildlife. Tourism and this territory are a natural fit.

Still, we don't need a Minister of the Crown to state the painfully obvious, that you have to spend money to make money.

A better approach would be to tell us what ideas and funding proposals the Minister has to grow tourism in Nunavut.

The launch of a community radio station in Cambridge Bay is a sound move for residents.

Not only will it serve as a source of pleasure to its growing body of listeners, but the radio station -- 97.7 FM -- is a valuable tool. Community members can call up to air their concerns, they can apply to run their own programs and enrich their neighbour's lives, and they can participate in radio bingo fundraisers, thereby helping out local groups.

The radio station will also prove to be priceless in promoting Inuit culture. Just a few weeks in and Innuinaqtun programming is already a constant presence on the dial and more and more Elders are expressing interest in sharing their stories and their history.

Well done.

Editorial Comment
Darrell Greer
Kivalliq News

If Sustainable Development Minister Olayuk Akesuk has any aspirations of one day becoming a federal minister, or, for that matter, the first Inuit prime minister in Canadian history, we hope he was taking notes this past week while sharing the spotlight with Brian Tobin.

The federal industry minister and former premier of Newfoundland could instruct a course on the art of politics at any major university.

And Capt. Canada was at his very best during his brief stop in Rankin Inlet to sign an agreement to provide Internet access sites to seven Nunavut communities and acknowledge the official opening of the Canada-Nunavut Business Service Centre in the hamlet.

For with Tobin, politics are an art form.

This is not to take anything away from Tobin's effectiveness as a politician. His past record speaks for itself and we here at Kivalliq News will not be surprised if those who shook Tobin's hand at the Siniktarvik Hotel were shaking the hand of a future prime minister of Canada.

Tobin uses his Newfoundland heritage and natural charm to project a grassroots image.

In political circles, he has the enviable ability to come across as one of the people, the guy next door. The small gathering at the hotel got a brief, yet powerful, glimpse of that ability when Tobin made a point of setting aside his prepared speech in favour of "speaking from the heart," just as those gathered in the room with him were obviously doing.

And the charismatic leader was almost moved to tears by the performance of well-known Nunavut elder Mariano Aupilardjuk.

There was another lesson to be learned from Tobin during the gathering. When the minister spoke of Canada, he spoke of Canadians -- all Canadians. Although in Nunavut, he did not feel compelled to separate Nunavummiut from the rest of the country, as did his territorial counterpart.

He spoke of the development of Nunavut in partnership within the federal government and always in the context of all Canadians. Unique as Nunavummiut, yes! But, first and foremost, unique as Canadians.

A point a number of our territorial leaders should also make more frequently. For 'tis better to partner with Capt. Canada than to tug on his cape!

Editorial Comment
Malcolm Gorrill
Inuvik Drum

Civil debate seemed to be the norm during the 18th annual general assembly of the Gwich'in Tribal Council.

About 60 delegates and many onlookers trooped into the Aurora College gym day after day for four days (one more day than originally planned).

There was a lot to talk about. Certainly much was said about the need for, and plans in the works for, economic development -- especially pertaining to oil and gas.

A real sense of optimism was in the air, as the Gwich'in seem poised to take some big steps forward in their journey towards economic self sufficiency.

Delegates raised concerns about possible future directions the Gwich'in people could take. More than once the need to retain links to the land, and teach young people the ways of their ancestors, was spoken of, often with passion.

In keeping with that theme, delegates passed a motion in support of efforts to protect the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, thus trying to protect the Porcupine caribou.

Young people were not forgotten at the assembly either, though some youth delegates argued they are indeed forgotten the rest of the time in their communities.

One of the most poignant moments of the four-day event was when a youth delegate gave an emotional speech, imploring those present to assist the young people and elders in his community.

The need for unity was stressed again and again during the assembly, and it appears more than just lip service was paid to the concept. Delegates treated each other with respect, both during debates and after.

The GTC has undergone a lot of changes in the past year. The group's development corporation has been set up as a business, for one thing, and the four chiefs have assumed a more direct role in the management process.

More challenges face the GTC and beneficiaries in the coming year, as self government negotiations continue on, and the Gwich'in assume a 51 per cent share in a new company whose purpose is to provide oil and other oilfield services in the Gwich'in Settlement Area.

As the assembly drew to a close it seemed perhaps the Gwich'in were more ready than before to face the challenges before them, as they seek to help all their people share in the opportunities and wealth available.

This year's annual assembly has come and gone, but the memories it instilled in those who attended shall remain.

Editorial Comment
Derek Neary
Deh Cho Drum, Fort Simpson

It's only been good fortune that has kept somebody from perishing in a fire in Fort Providence or Wrigley over the past few months. With a shortage of volunteers, those communities are ill-equipped to deal with a house fire.

Making things more desperate, the water pump on Wrigley's only fire truck hasn't been operating properly for months. Somebody has to act fast, whether it's the GNWT or the Pehdzeh Ki First Nation. Lives are at stake.

Because there's been no major fire, there's been no sense of panic. The gravity of the situation hasn't hit home. But there surely would be an outcry if an individual, or worse, an entire family, died in a blaze.

Hopefully the warehouse fire in Fort Providence opened some eyes. With only six trained firefighters in a community of over 700 hundred people, a catastrophe is in the offing. As occurred Saturday, there's bound to be occasions when two or three of those six volunteers are away from the community or unable to respond.

With no meetings, training or practice taking place, how can firefighters be expected to combat a fire in an organized and effective fashion? The dependable few who remain on the department simply cannot spare a few minutes after arriving at the fire scene to talk things over and formulate a plan.

The other problem is that when there are so few volunteers, burnout quickly becomes an issue. If a heavy burden is placed on a person's shoulders for too long, he or she will likely walk away.

Communication necessary

It appears there has been a severe breakdown in communication in Fort Providence. Although the fire department has been deteriorating over the past year, nobody took notice or sounded the alarm. Either somebody dropped the ball or the message, as important as it is, simply never got through. There have been three changes in municipal leadership within the past six months. That lack of continuity probably hasn't helped matters.

In Wrigley, things are just as bad, if not worse. With only four reliable firefighters showing up for training, the community is in dire straits. Fire Chief Ed ten Brinke should be given credit for attempting to recruit youth in a supporting role.

Enough can't be said about the importance of proper training. Average people on the street may mean well when the try to jump in and help, but without a thorough background, they only put themselves at risk, if not others.

The cost of honorariums for the firefighters may have to be weighed. If a plea for help goes unheard, perhaps it is time to offer some compensation for an invaluable service. After all, lives will undoubtedly be lost if nothing is done.