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Looking back on 2011 it is clear a lot of changes must be made in the NWT if we are to ensure our future success.

Most notably, we saw a serious decline in economic spending in the territory as resource exploration plummeted amid investor uncertainty due to the combination of a tumultuous global economy and the NWT's oft-criticized regulatory regime.

In contrast, adding proof that the problem lies more with us than the economy, Nunavut saw an increase in exploration spending near pre-recession figures.

It is time for the GNWT to push the federal government to move faster at implementing improvements to the Northern regulatory system, improvements it has been promising since 2007. Essential to this plan will be to streamline our environmental regulatory regulations and ensure long-standing regulatory board vacancies are filled.

Back in July, the Fraser Institute ranked the NWT as the worst place in Canada for investing in oil and natural gas exploration and development. Although the survey found that in most cases there were no respondents who said the barriers would deter them from investing in the NWT, spending levels seem to indicate the opposite.

Devolution will be the biggest political decision of the GNWT's history in terms of fiscal self-management and self-determination. We must ensure the terms hammered out with Ottawa provide the NWT with the dollars to cover the rising costs of health care, infrastructure and housing. The GNWT must uphold its promise to work collaboratively with aboriginal governments to prevent a deal from being bogged down for years to come.

First Nation and GNWT relations will also be key to tackling environmental concerns. Our controversial Wildlife Act, which after 10 years of work failed to pass in the previous legislative assembly, must be a priority as the NWT fights to protect species at risk from increased hunting pressure and global warming.

On the climate change front, the North needs to document specific threats and costs as melting permafrost threatens existing infrastructure. We must not only explore cleaner energy options, we must exploit the opportunities to use our own forestry and natural gas resources.

On a brighter note, NWT athletes will kick off the early part of the new year in March when they join the circumpolar world in Whitehorse for the Arctic Winter Games.

Every two years the NWT battles for position among the top three teams at the event and we hope for a strong finish in 2012. Beyond the medals, we encourage every athlete to perform to the best of their ability and act as strong ambassadors for their communities.

During the last games in Grande Prairie, Alta, in 2010, the NWT had the strongest showing of community athletes compared to previous games. As the trials continue in January to select teams, we hope participation from outside Yellowknife is front and centre in Whitehorse.

The winter solstice has come and gone and with the impending return of the sun there are a lot of good things to watch for on the horizon.

Nunavut will benefit heavily from mineral industries, especially in light of the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement which will give beneficiaries a 12 per cent cut of profits gained by companies mining resources on Inuit land.

To name a few projects: Agnico Eagle Mines Ltd.'s Meadowbank gold mine poured its first brick in 2010 and looks to keep going until 2019; Newmont Mining Corp.'s Hope Bay gold project is progressing, needing just a mill to really get things underway; Shear Diamonds just shook hands on a funding agreement with a Belgian company to assist it in reopening the Jericho diamond mine; Baffinland's Mary River iron ore project looks to kick into gear in 2014; Areva is looking to mine uranium in the Kivalliq, and Sabina Gold and Silver are looking to pull gold from the ground at Goose Lake.

These mines are the territory's best bet for jobs and big money. Nunavut has caught the eye of the mining industry in a significant way and efforts should be made to keep it at the forefront and get these mines off the ground.

Another industry to look at is fishing. The GN needs to build small craft harbours for all fishing communities as soon as possible. Pangnirtung is getting one, and the more of these that are built around the territory, the more money will be brought into Nunavummiut pockets.

There are still issues that need to be tackled.

The vastly underwhelming Nutrition North program is still bearing very little fruit, and Nunavummiut need to make sure Nunavut MP Leona Aglukkaq plays a big role in making it work.

The onus is on her to make sure it results in lower food prices to the territory - we are her employer; we must demand change.

The perennial problem of alcohol abuse and the violence that springs from it still looms tall, unheeded, and there seems to be no end in sight for it. The suicide rate is 11 times the national average, though an ambitious plan was released last fall to help prevent more tragic deaths. This plan must be acted on as soon as possible, as we're sure the GN knows.

Living in the North could be easier - employment could be more available, food could cost less, there could be more housing and some tragedy could be avoided - so let's head into 2012 demanding change and playing as big a role as possible in making it happen.

Yellowknifer's first editorial of 2011 cautioned readers to view the upcoming year with guarded optimism. We will repeat that message for 2012.

Cartoons

There are plenty of dark clouds on the horizon. The economy, in Yellowknife and elsewhere, is still very fragile three years after a recession brought markets around the world to their knees.

The NWT's economy is expected to contract by 2.3 per cent this year; two of the three diamond mines operating in the territory are reaching middle age. BHP Billiton - owner of the NWT's second largest diamond mine -- brought that reality home earlier this month when it announced that it may not remain in the diamond business for much longer.

The cost of living, meanwhile, continues to rise and will surely rise some more once the Deh Cho Bridge is complete, expected this fall - a year late and nearly $30 million over-budget.

The territorial government will likely waste no time launching its toll on every commercial vehicle bringing goods to Yellowknife in order to recoup the cost of building this project, now sitting at almost $200 million. That's $200 million that will be coming mostly out of Yellowknifers' pockets as businesses pass the cost of those tolls onto us.

Despite all this doom and gloom lapping upon shores, Yellowknifers by and large have proved to be fairly impervious to it.

Yellowknife is not the boom town it was in the late 1940s and '50s when gold was king, or at the start of this century when diamonds took over but it's still a dynamic city. Opportunities for employment and advancement are still plentiful compared to other Canadian cities, and Yellowknifers remain the top income earners in the country.

Still, it will take some work to maintain our city's prosperity. The recently elected territorial government has put an emphasis on finding ways to build the territory's economy over the next four years. To do that, the GNWT must alter the perception that the territory is not a resource company-friendly place to invest. We're a long ways yet from fully developing other economic sectors like tourism and forestry so mining and oil and gas must continue to lead the way.

Property taxes have risen for eight straight years but that hasn't stopped residents from supporting and enjoying state-of-the-art facilities built over the last decade, such as the Multiplex and the Fieldhouse.

There has been some grumbling from the Yellowknife Chamber of Commerce about city council's perceived disinterest in the city's business community and its preoccupation with environmental issues. It remains to be seen whether the chamber's dissatisfaction will translate into viable candidates who can challenge the incumbent councillors running in the municipal election this fall.

Council did suffer a defeat earlier this year when voters rejected a city scheme to borrow up to $49 million for a district energy system to heat the downtown core. Residents were concerned about backstopping such a large investment, and were not convinced the city had a viable plan with the much touted but unproven geothermal energy capacity of Con Mine.

The city is now moving ahead with a private partner, Vancouver-based Corix Utilities, to construct the district energy system.

We recommend two things: focus first on building a central heating system powered by diesel and wood boilers; and secondly, that council avoid the temptation to use the private partnership to shield the project in secrecy.

The city needs support from the business community and residents to get this energy system built and won't get it if there is no transparency.

On the social front, every effort must be made to ensure the hard work that went into establishing a day shelter downtown is not wasted for a lack of funding.

Downtown revitalization is at a bit of a crossroads now that the shelter is in jeopardy. It's up to the city, the GNWT and the community to ensure the shelter's doors stay open.

The year 2012 holds much promise, and Yellowknife has- shown time and again that it can withstand serious challenges to its well-being. It's up to all of us to ensure this city continues to thrive.

The question of what it takes to be a leader is a difficult one.

Recent elections have put a number of new and familiar leaders in place around the Deh Cho in both municipal and first nations' governments. In Wrigley, Tim Lennie was returned to the position of chief of Pehdzeh Ki First Nation for a second consecutive term.

Speaking after the election, Lennie said that leaders in small communities have to multi-task, dealing with everything from economic, social, political and environmental issues while still taking care of their own health and well-being. It's not the easiest job description.

Dehcho First Nations (DFN) is undertaking a project that will lead it to look at exactly what it takes to be a leader and how those qualities can be developed. DFN is working to create a Leadership Development Program.

The program will be designed to foster the next generation of leaders for the Deh Cho. The program is needed.

A cursory look around the region shows that the average age of the First Nation chiefs and Metis presidents is creeping upwards. Most of the leaders are middle-aged or older. The average age of band councillors isn't a lot younger.

This in itself isn't a problem. A lot of experience and knowledge comes with age. The current leaders have a good grasp on the issues the Deh Cho is facing because they have seen them develop over time.

The troubling trend, however, is there are few people in training to become leaders when the current ones decide it is time to step aside.

While there may currently be no heir-apparents, that's not to say they won't come. First nation governments aren't going to collapse in 20 years because of a lack of people to lead them.

The real question is how prepared will those new people be and what kind of leaders will they make? How many will be able to speak Dene Zhatie fluently or have a depth of traditional knowledge?

A program such as the Leadership Development Program is needed to ensure that the Deh Cho and its people have the best possible leadership as the years advance. The program, as it has been envisioned, will provide potential leaders with a strong base of knowledge, which they will be able to build on. Even if participants don't choose to run for leadership roles they will gain skills that will benefit both themselves and their community.

Dehcho First Nations should be supported in this initiative. This program is a concrete step towards creating a strong future for the region.

December is a special month, filled with expectations for Christmas and the New Year.

The darkness and snow have fallen long ago up here, but the lights, presents, and gatherings make December seem like one month-long party, with a few days of work in between.

It can be a time of joy and happiness as friends and family re-unite after months apart due to school, work or simply busy schedules. People find their way back home, wherever that may be, or make their own home in a new town with friends who have become family over the past year.

Up North it's a real chance for a breather. There's no mall madness, no road rage. Everything shuts down, people take breaks, leave town or just stay inside keeping warm.

There's no work, no school, limited activities at the rec complex and a lot of empty time to fill. Tensions could be high from expectations not being met over Christmas and New Year's.

All we ask is to be gentle. Take it easy. Use this time to relax, recuperate and be lazy. Don't set your expectations too high and just enjoy life however it is. Tragedy may have befallen you over the past year, or maybe you've received a great new job, a new lover, a new child, discovered a new hobby or skill, gotten rid of baggage you didn't need or learned something from repeated mistakes.

Whether you're alone or surrounded by friends, be gentle not only with others, but with yourself. Life has a way of making you see things happen for a reason and even if you believe in fate or free will, accept what has happened in 2011, learn from it and move on.

Maybe Inuvik is the best place to take a break over the holidays, or maybe it's the worst. Maybe the lack of distractions will drive some people to the edge, but hopefully people will come together and support one another during this season, because that's what it's really about. Whether your family celebrates Christmas or not, simply enjoy the season as a time to share with those you love.

And don't forget, the days are getting longer once again. The darkness will pass and the sun will rise once more.

Merry Christmas, happy holidays and happy New Year.

It's hard not to miss the irony in David Ramsay's promotion to minister of Transportation in the 17th legislative assembly after October's territorial election.

The Deh Cho Bridge was, and still is, the department's most controversial project; Ramsay, the MLA for Range Lake, was arguably its biggest detractor.

"I've previously referred to this project as a boondoggle and I may have been too generous," Ramsay remarked bleakly from the regular members' benches last March in response to a damning report by the auditor-general.

A few months later and now on the opposite side of the aisle, Ramsay is talking about "improvements to the design" and construction delays adding another $10 million, which now puts the total projected price tag to $192 million.

Surely an MLA who has viewed himself as the taxpayers' watchdog on the Deh Cho Bridge for seven-and-a-half years knows people will have a difficult time accepting hollow statements about design improvements on this project.

Is it just his turn to sugar-coat and deflect now that he's in cabinet? We say it's not necessary to do so.

We've said before that this bridge could cost residents more than $200 million to build when all is said, up from a modest $55-million estimate in 2002. Yellowknifers will not have to be reminded the cost overruns will be added to the price of our food and fuel etc., in the form of bridge tolls on transport trucks for many years to come.

Public trust in the government's ability to deliver on time and on budget have been seriously hampered as a result, and we've got some fairly scary projects ahead of us -- $200 million for Stanton Territorial Hospital renovations for one - and so little wriggle room on our debt wall.

Ramsay has promised a full audit of the Deh Cho Bridge once complete. That's about the best news he can deliver on the Deh Cho Bridge project until he cuts the ribbon to let the first vehicle across and the first inflated toll is collected.

With this being the last edition of Kivalliq News for 2011, may I take this opportunity to wish everyone a merry Christmas and happy New Year before scaling another topic for this week.

Thanks for your support in 2011, and I look forward to serving you in 2012.

I had an interesting chat recently with a couple of folks who took exception to my repeated contention that many people are losing faith in science, due to its increasing propensity for reporting facts that often favour the agenda of whatever organization happens to be paying the bills.

And there's the ongoing stream of data that constantly predicts doom, gloom and despair, then ends with a footnote of more study being needed in the area.

Can you say scientific grant, boys and girls?

There was an interesting read awhile back from Vivian Krause, who was the corporate development manager for one of the world's largest producers of farmed salmon and fish feed.

Krause's work was yet another illuminating example of today's brand of science and, for those who read up on such things, another reason why the general public can no longer take science at its word. In fact, a growing number of studies are starting to parallel that old saying that it must be true if it's on TV (wink, wink).

Using tax returns from American charitable foundations, Krause traced about $300 million to Canadian environmental groups during the past decade.

She found, in some cases, environmental activism being funded by U.S. foundations as part of marketing campaigns in favour of American interests.

Krause's research, coupled with her own noted vested interest in fish farming, led her to cross swords with none other than David Suzuki, whose foundation has received millions of dollars from American foundations.

Suzuki had released a damning study on farmed B.C. salmon, saying they are heavily contaminated with PCBs and other toxins.

However, what he failed to report was the wild salmon in his study contained even higher levels and -- if you can believe this -- all of eight fish were used in the study.

But the study did its job, turning consumers away from farmed and back to wild salmon. The big winner in all the kerfuffle, you ask?

Well, that would be those in the Alaskan salmon industry who have seen the exvessel value (value before processing) of Alaskan salmon quadruple since consumers turned away from farmed salmon.

Alaskan and B.C. salmon might be a long way from what concerns us here in Nunavut, but the fish are a prime example of the dangers of taking science at its word.

That's especially true when environmental activism lurks behind the science.

This is not to say there's no good science being done, but to show that things are not always black and white when big money is in play.

Knowing who backs what study is quite useful in helping one cobble together an informed opinion on a myriad of topics, including mining, seal hunting or weather patterns, for example.

There's a lot of good fish in the world of science, but, with some studies, if it looks like a skunk and walks like a skunk, chances are good it's going to smell like one, too.

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