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As 2009 begins, the NWT and the world stand on uncertain times. As the global economy struggles it will take leadership to guide the territory towards success and productivity.

The question is: does the NWT have the leadership necessary to shield its people from economic uncertainty? If this past year is any indication the answer is a resounding no.

Premier Floyd Roland has demonstrated he and his cabinet are ineffective leaders. Our long awaited devolution deal has fallen by the wayside and hardly a peep on the issue has been heard from the premier's office.

If it wasn't bad enough, Roland's clout with Ottawa is weak at best and his character came into question at the end of the year. The man who campaigned on family values is now embroiled in a scandal involving an affair with a legislative assembly staffer.

If Roland is to continue as the leader of this territory he needs to step into the public light and be more accountable to the people.

This government is quickly gaining the reputation of a political dictatorship that does as it sees fit without seeking the support of residents.

Case in point: Finance Minister Michael Miltenberger continues his emperor-like reign over the territory, tossing out the democratic process while decreeing government policies as if his position has granted him divine right. His board merger plan, which came without consultation, was presented with no real forethought. Already the plan has been adjusted following legal posturing by the French school board. Similarly, the Catholic board is prepared to fight the constitutionality of the merger. We question the ability of one board to manage three massive areas of responsibility - housing, education and health -- with any efficiency.

Economically, the NWT is struggling. The GNWT has been unable or unwilling to curb the rising cost of living in the NWT. This year, the NWT was the only Canadian jurisdiction to experience a population decrease. Longtime Northerners have stated they are going south because they can no longer afford to live in the North.

That means less money for the NWT from Ottawa. Compound that with the mines slowing down to compensate for economic uncertainty and the Joint Review Panel again delaying its report that would kick start pipeline development - and the NWT becomes less and less attractive. Our government has too long ridden the coattails of economic prosperity and now that it has to actually employ some creativity and ingenuity to keep the territory running, our leaders are showing their ineptitude.

What the NWT needs now is economic stimulus. That can only be obtained through jobs and finding ways to attract people to the North. Instead the GNWT is finding ways to reduce jobs, scare away people and has done little to fight for more money for the North. The JRP twiddles its thumbs and devolution is cooling on the back burner.

What the territory needs in the new year is strong leadership. So far our current premier is getting a failing grade in that department.

As we enter 2009, some are forecasting a bleak period in the global economy.

The new recession has triggered cutbacks by mining companies, especially in exploration and development. Economic uncertainty may cause everyone - companies, governments and individuals alike - to tighten their purse strings.

Despite Nunavut's distance from the events that triggered this market meltdown, it will be affected by it in the new year.

Less money will be spent here by mining and oil and gas companies on exploration. Fewer tourists and sport hunters will be willing to pay the high cost of travelling here. The various streams of federal funding Nunavut depends on may dwindle, despite the presence of an Inuk in cabinet.

These are sources of revenue Nunavummiut rely on.

All this may mean life in Nunavut's remote communities may become more of a struggle in the next year than it already is.

Skills, however, are recession-proof. A drop in the stock market won't take away your ability to fix an engine, start an IV or repair a furnace.

Nunavut needs people with skills — nurses, mechanics, accountants, general contractors — the list is very long. For years the territory has relied on people from other provinces and countries to supply these skills.

Some training programs exist in many communities, and more educational opportunities are available through a flight south. A Grade 12 diploma is necessary for many of these programs. That's available in every community and all it takes to get that is commitment and hard work.

Spending time with elders is also a good way to learn skills vital to life in the North and to gain knowledge to pass on to future generations.

Consider learning a new skill this year. If you already have a few, consider teaching them to others.

Education is the wisest investment there is. It costs time, energy and money but the rewards continue for a lifetime regardless of stock prices.

The beginning of every new year is widely seen as a time of optimism and opportunities. It's a time to make resolutions and turn over a new leaf.

In Fort Simpson, levels of optimism are running high among a group of residents who are part of a proposed geothermal project. This group is hoping to prove that there's enough untapped geothermal energy beneath the village to provide electricity to meet all of its residential and commercial needs.

Fort Simpson, according to the preliminary research, is sitting on a "positive geothermal anomaly" which, in the case of this project, means a geothermal jackpot. Apparently underground temperatures in the area increase per kilometre at twice the average rate found in the rest of the continent.

In theory, if tapped properly, water that's heated naturally underground could be the village's primary source for electricity within two years.

However, there is a catch - the price tag.

The feasibility study will cost approximately $485,000, not to mention the approximately $40 million needed for the final product. Both of those numbers are substantial and enough to cause more than a few second thoughts.

Yes, the price tag is big, but so are the opportunities.

The high cost of electricity in the village is always one of the first complaints to be raised at community meetings

Average residents are feeling the squeeze on their budget as the costs of electricity rises.

This project is a way residents could take constructive action to address the problem of high electricity costs. Airing concerns is one option but this project is a concrete step.

Although the price of diesel fuel may rise and fall in the short term it's unlikely prices will fall in the long term. It only makes sense for communities relying on diesel power generation search for other alternatives.

Residents need to learn how they can get involved in this project at any level. They also need to let the village know if this is something they should be supporting.

The geothermal project should be explored. The worst that can happen is the test holes fail to find sufficient temperatures, the project has to be scrapped and $485,000 is gone. At least the village will be able to say it tried.

If, however, the study is a success the project could mark this new year as the start of a promising time for the village.

As the new year starts, it's common to look back at the past 12 months and reflect on the things we've seen and done.

After spending the past week frantically typing to catch up on overdue work and reading up on the past year, it's obvious this community has been through a lot.

We've experienced devastating fires, emotional reunions and first-rate celebrations.

Our 50th anniversary summer welcomed a lot of old faces home, if even just for a short while.

Looking back, this was a year of growth and prosperity for the people in our community.

Much-needed services like the Inuvik Food Bank, Gwich'in Treatment and Wellness Camp and the homeless shelter are growing -- thanks to generous local support.

The community mourned the loss of some good people this year, testing the bond we share as family and friends.

Hopefully we have learned valuable lessons from these tragedies and some will be avoided in 2009.

In the past few months, the issue of littering has been at the front lines of coffee shop talk and dinner table discussions.

We've identified littering is a serious problem in this town. Hopefully, when the snow melts this spring, we won't have to wallow through knee-deep piles of trash on our daily adventures.

With the start of a new year comes a lot of change. Some people make plans to lose weight, quit smoking or to drop other vices.

Whatever your resolution, make a choice to be a better person.

If this community can kick its bad habits for good, there is no telling how far we can go.

The newspaper report a large amount of cocaine was seized in Yellowknife, exposing its already obvious plight with controlled substances.

How far are we from being a haven for hard drugs?

Industrially, 2008 was a poor year for the region. Talks of reduced exploration projects and companies threatening to pull out of the area don't help an already hurting morale for the business community.

Maybe by this time next year, we could have the pipeline report from the Joint Review Panel -- It's nice to dream.

Because of the delays to the pipeline project, families have fled the North to seek opportunities elsewhere.

My thanks to those families that didn't bail out. Just keep treading water and don't hold your breath waiting for development to boom in the region.

There are plenty of opportunities here for someone who is willing to make a difference.

Getting involved with the youth is a great way to pave the streets of our future.

By arming the younger generations with skills they can use, we're helping everyone.

Hopefully your holiday was a good one, because it's time to pull up your socks and start the new year with some momentum.

The year 2008 didn't feel like a banner year for Yellowknife.

Signs of trouble and more ahead were everywhere, from gloomy announcements from the territorial government of job cuts and red ink to a shrinking population, layoffs and slowdowns among the three diamond mines responsible for much of the wealth the city has experienced over the last eight years.

On top of that, Yellowknifers were feeling gouged from all directions, whether it be record high gas prices hitting the pumps last summer, proposed tax hikes from the territorial government and more of the same from the city, and a 10 per cent increase on power bills.

It was enough for even lifelong Yellowknifers to announce that they've had enough and were looking to live elsewhere.

Not all was doom and gloom, however. Despite less than rosy predictions coming from the diamond industry, the once troubled Arslanian diamond polishing plant was released from receivership in November with hopes of future expansion. Again in November, Crossworks Manufacturing - a diamond polishing company - felt confident enough to open a plant here, increasing the number of polishing plants in the city to three.

Yellowknife's travelling public also had something to cheer about this month when Westjet announced Yellowknife-Edmonton flights next summer for $149. It spurred a price war that led to an overall drop in airfares to the south.

As for the astronomical fuel prices, they have dropped to prices not seen for years now that oil is holding steady at around $40 a barrel.

Civic pride received a boost this year with the formation of the Polishing the Gem litter committee - a group of business people, property managers and city officials - with the aim of cleaning up city streets. Coffee shop owner Adrian Bell and city councillor Paul Falvo got in the act by organizing regular litter pick-up meetings.

On the social welfare side, 2008 was topped off with the opening of the long-awaited Bailey House transitional home for men. Its purpose is to reintroduce homeless men into the rent-paying workforce.

There are still plenty of problems in this city. While civic leaders have committed themselves towards litter cleanup and giving homeless men a leg up, little has been accomplished in finding the city's destitute a dignified place to relieve themselves. Back alleys often remain the only option as the homeless are generally shut out from public buildings and downtown washrooms. Drug and alcohol abuse continues to be a problem.

As for the cost of living, there's still plenty to worry about. Last month's consumer price index showed a 4.7 per cent increase over 2007.

City taxes are going up next year, at the very least to cover generous wage increases awarded before the recent global economic meltdown, which has affected our mines and will soon affect the federal government.

The city and territorial government, meanwhile, remain bent on pricey infrastructure projects while taxes keep on climbing. Recessions usually mean lower costs with deflation but because of projects like the Deh Cho Bridge - which Northern mines and residents will have to pay for through truck tolls - prices in the NWT will remain high.

Economic worries have led many to fear what 2009 has in store.

It's important, more than ever, for our municipal and territorial leaders to make wise spending decisions while continuing to work with businesses and residents to ensure this city remains a desirable place to live.

It's December, so that means it's another debate on the effectiveness of liquor bans in communities where alcohol is legal.

We were not surprised to see the majority of people who answered this month's NNSL web poll on the subject thought the only ones who benefit from the bans are bootleggers.

That's often what you hear the most from the average person on the street regarding the matter.

But policies aren't made on the street. They're made in council chambers.

They're usually heavily influenced by the more outspoken councillors and, in the case of alcohol, always influenced by reports from the local RCMP detachment.

We're not debating the RCMP's contention that the holidays are quieter when alcohol bans are passed by council.

In fact, even though there's precious little in the way of substantiated evidence from year to year to back the claim the alcohol ban works, we'll go with the flow and accept it at face value.

But everyone willing to take that claim at face value should also remember to look at the big picture.

If you were to go to any community, tiny or enormous, across this great nation, you would find the largest percentage of crimes committed are directly related to drug and alcohol abuse.

This is not news.

Neither is the fact history shows prohibition has never succeeded anywhere it was tried, except, of course, to create a booming business for those in the (under) world who take advantage of such things to live high on the hog from their ill-gotten gains.

You will also find, in each and every community, the police deal with about five per cent of the population on an ongoing basis.

That's because the vast majority of people are law-abiding citizens who don't have a beer and beat their spouse, and they can have a bit of liquor in their homes for the holidays and not spend their family's entire income on it.

In other words, those who want to drink to excess are going to, no matter what the cost, as long as there's booze available.

That being the case, if these annual bans are here to stay, why not take them a step further and severely limit the amount of liquor anyone can order for the 45 days preceding the holiday season?

In short, make it a whole lot tougher for bootleggers to stockpile their resources for the holidays.

That would not affect the majority of adults, who don't need babysitters, while, at least, making it a little tougher for bootleggers to conduct business.

Or, maybe, we should move in the other direction and have hamlet councils look at banning bingo games across the Kivalliq during the month of December, as well.

We'd be willing to bet there are far more people spending money they can't afford to lose at bingo games than abusing the liquor laws.

At the end of the day, it is an exercise in futility for councils to try and control those who can't, or won't, control themselves. Their efforts come at the expense of those who can control themselves, and who just happen to be the majority.

Food for thought as you toast the new year.