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The sparsely populated North depends on fossil fuels for survival. That's a fact.

The NWT and its neighbours have very few, if any, alternatives when it comes to generating power for home heating, industry, and transportation.

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Premier Floyd Roland and his Northern premier colleagues Dennis Fentie of Yukon and Paul Okalik of Nunavut are right to ask the federal government, as they did June 30, to eliminate the goods and services tax in the North on home heating, power generation and transportation of essential goods. As oil prices keep rising to unprecedented highs, so too does the cost of living in the territories. The higher the cost in the North, the more we'll see workers living in Edmonton who fly in and out of the NWT's mines, where they make a respectable living.

If the North is to be weaned off fossil fuels, it must have alternatives to go to. Without them, the territory's communities, including Yellowknife, threaten to become ghost towns.

The GNWT remains reliant on proactive policy-making with a national capital 5,000 km away. Other than hydro-electric projects, the NWT has few realistic alternatives to fossil fuels right now. Ottawa must recognize that it cannot push citizens to take on alternatives if none exist. In Yellowknife and the NWT, this would amount to pushing whole communities to oblivion.

Air Canada recently came under criticism when a Yellowknife resident purchased a flight pass he was subsequently unable to use - and was far from satisfied with the way his complaint was handled.

Jeff Wilson shelled out $1,600 for a flight pass, then discovered there were virtually no more available seats for pass holders.

Air Canada should back up the product it advertises. Either the number of passes sold should have been limited or more seats should have been opened up for passholders.

When Wilson called to complain about the situation, he found complaints could only be made by mail, e-mail or fax, which limits the voice of people with limited literacy skills, those who speak English as a second language and those without Internet access.

Air Canada Jazz gets high marks for introducing lower rates since coming on the scene in July 2006 - the company offered a return fare to Edmonton for less than $500 at a time when Canadian North and First Air were charging $879. Both Northern airlines responded with seat sales to compete.

But in other ways over the last two years, Jazz has come up short when compared with its Northern competitors.

Jazz cancelled several flights this winter because its aircraft were not certified to fly at temperatures below -40 C, a temperature Northerners see at least a few times every year.

Plus, Jazz offers snacks instead of meals and doesn't allow pets on passenger flights.

Northern airlines, with ownership North of 60, have set a high precedent. If Air Canada Jazz wants to compete, it needs to step up its customer service.

There are a few things that summers in the Deh Cho and the rest of the Northwest Territories are particularly good for. One of these items is construction.

As soon as warmer weather rolls around, construction projects ranging from home renovations right up to entire buildings kick into gear. With only so many suitable months available in the North, contractors donÕt waste any time getting down to work.

Around the Deh Cho, construction projects are blooming like flowers. The largest is arguably the Deh Cho Bridge project on the Mackenzie River near Fort Providence.

The progress being made on that site can be seen daily as heavy equip- ment and workers set the stage for the construction of four piers.

In Fort Simpson work is ongoing on the new territorial government building. There is also a giant trench working its way down 99 Street and around to 100A Avenue as the village tackles its major summer project of replacing sewer mains.

In other Deh Cho communities there are undoubtedly other projects also underway. With all these construction pro- jects on the go, the summer is also a very good time to recognize the importance of training Deh Cho residents to work in the trades.

Construction projects canÕt move forward unless they have skilled trades people ranging from electricians to welders, carpenters to plumbers.

The importance of training in the trades is being recognized by the Deh Gah GotÕie Koe First Nation in Fort Providence.

The band is taking steps to ensure that its members have every opportunity to apply for the jobs on the Deh Cho Bridge project.

Many of the jobs, however, require skilled labourers including welders and carpenters. Most of the band members who have that kind of training already have jobs in other areas, said Moe Barriere, the economic development officer for the band.

Barriere said heÕs trying to convince some members who live out- side of the community they could return and live in Fort Providence for three years while the bridge is under construction.

The shortage of tradespeople is also evident in Fort Simpson. With so many projects underway at once the smaller ones are finding it difficult to attract the workers they need.

Anyone who is looking for a career path with a bright future neednÕt look any farther than the construction projects in the Deh Cho. While the Dehcho First Nations talk about building capacity to manage selfgovernment, the whole region also needs to consider promoting the trades.

The Deh Cho needs to build its capacity in this area so that residents can reap the benefits of job opportunities on projects being built in their communities.

How much can one take before being pushed off the edge of rationality? Only days after writing an editorial about irresponsible kids and their spray-can habits, I'm hunched over a keyboard, sweating out my frustrations about the state of this community.

Last week, I actually read online that people were being shooed away from coming to Inuvik because of the reckless behaviour of our kids. Samuel Hearne secondary school was hit again by a group of unknown vandals.

This time, the damage is in the neighbourhood of $50,000. That number is an early estimate and I'm sure the final tally will be staggering.

If you haven't seen what those criminals did to the shop class, music room and foyer, be thankful. For someone who grew up respecting that institution and eventually graduated from there, it honestly hurt me to walk through the school after the damage was done.

When I got in, there had already been three days of cleaning crews in and out of the site, taking out debris and trashed materials. What a bloody shame, that we have a community so keen on development and growth, but it has such a pathetic foundation of family values.

I took a drive down by the school a few weeks ago, when the crews were busy boarding up the windows for the summer -- a safeguard against broken windows and unlawful entrances.

Poor Samuel Hearne, why do you have such a bum rap? Maybe the youth of today, armed with their wikipedias and online information, don't like what Sam Hearne did with his life and are taking it out on his namesake school.

Probably not, though. I think we've got some kids with some real issues that might not end so quietly next time.

Our community is celebrating its 50th anniversary next week and we're wasting resources on cleaning up after some juvenile delinquents? Just like the workers who spent all week scrubbing paint stains, or picking up shattered glass, I'm extremely upset about this situation.

I shuddered when I walked into the new music room at the school, because I covered the story when they got all their new instruments in from the south. Now, what will become of the community band, or the coffeehouses or the music course?

It's a shame for those who were actually getting good at their new skill, because now it's most likely delayed or even worse, cancelled. I'm sure the school board is going to be reluctant to purchase all those expensive pieces again.

Going deeper into the problem with our misguided kids, I keep coming back to the feelings of resentment and jealousy. The kids responsible for this need some serious help with their growing social issues.

Town council was going to look at revising the curfew at its meeting on Wednesday night.

Something has to be done.

There was a lot of misplaced frustration taken out on poor old Sam Hearne school this month.

For shame, Inuvik, for shame.

While there's still a way to go before Oct. 27, there are some interesting rumours floating about concerning Nunavut's upcoming general election.

And there are some skirmish lines already drawn.

Legendary hockey coach Toe Blake once said, "Predictions are for Gypsies," and that quote often holds better for politics than sports.

That being said, the political dominoes could fall in such a way this coming October that Nunavummiut will remember 2008 as the year a group of female candidates took control of a number of major positions within the territorial government.

As with most organizational conjecture, there's no better place than at the top.

The rumour mill is running red hot with speculation concerning Iqaluit Mayor Elisapee Sheutiapik's designs on earning a place in history by becoming Nunavut's first female premier.

I'd be the last person to suggest Premier Paul Okalik would shy away from a fight.

But not knowing which riding Sheutiapik may be considering, her potential candidacy could be the reason behind the rumours of Okalik leaving the Iqaluit West riding and running in Pangnirtung.

Things won't be any easier for Kugluktuk incumbent Joe Allen Evyagotailak if Millie Kuliktana decides to seek his seat in October.

The executive director for Kitikmeot School Operations has 20 years of experience in the field of education, and is renowned for her organizational skills and straight-forward approach to dealing with issues.

Keith Peterson in Cambridge Bay is another male incumbent who may be in for a tough battle if Michelle Gillis decides to throw her hat into the territorial battle.

The first female to be elected as Cambridge mayor, Gillis has strong connections to the New Democratic Party (NDP) through serving on its federal council representing the Nunavut riding and helping in the formation of the NDP Aboriginal Commission.

Closer to home, the worst-kept secret in the Kivalliq this past year was Rankin Inlet Mayor Lorne Kusugak's plan to contest Levinia Brown's riding of Rankin South/Whale Cove.

If that battle does come to fruition, it may be one of the more interesting ones.

Brown has held a number of important profiles during her tenure and is widely respected among Nunavut's female population.

Rankin voters who support Premier Okalik would also, in all probability, support Brown through association.

Kusugak, on the other hand, is one of the most popular mayors in Rankin history and is highly regarded by both the working class and the community's elders.

The deciding factor in this riding could very well turn out to be the Whale Cove vote.

On the ghosts of elections past front, Jack Anawak is rumoured to be looking at Steve Mapsalak's Akulliq seat, while Joe Kaludjak has not ruled out running in one of the two Rankin ridings.

And to top it all off, one John Todd has apparently been approached about returning to Rankin and offering his services in the October election.

All in all, Nunavut's 2008 election could turn out to be one for the ages.