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Resource development is vital to the NWT economy. Although tourism, agriculture and small business, to name a few, are worthy investments, combined they will fall well short of the economic power of mineral and oil and gas projects.

Last year, the NWT was hit with a scathing assessment by the Fraser Institute when our territory was ranked last in Canada among global mining and exploration destinations. At the heart of the critique was the territory's regulatory system, which was described as difficult to navigate and too slow to attract investors. Part of the problem is difficulty accessing private lands. In most cases, private lands in the NWT refer to areas with negotiated or interim land claims agreements. In rare cases, it applies to single land owners surrounded by Crown land where land claims are still being negotiated.

To help restore investor confidence, the federal government has come forward with legislation to enact a new surface rights board. In essence, the board will have the power to settle disputes and negotiate access to land where mineral rights have been attained or need to be crossed to reach such areas.

The new board is receiving mixed reviews. Where industry is hailing it as a step forward, opponents view it with fear.

Some First Nations chiefs say it will undermine land claims negotiations and give companies carte blanche to run over privately-owned lands. Considering the history among First Nation groups, Northerners as a whole and the federal government, these concerns are not surprising.

However, the federal Department of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada insists the board's purpose is to settle land access disputes fairly. Stephen Traynor, a senior adviser with Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada, said the board will not have the power to supersede land claim agreements, nor any currently established licensing and permitting process.

"This is just about when someone needs access to land that is occupied," he said.

Further, he said not only will the board act under the constraints of land claim agreements, Traynor said a clause in the legislation creates a requirement that the surface rights board act be amended should it fall into conflict with any future settled land claims. Also, in cases where land claims do differ with the surface rights board act, Traynor said the land claim agreement would take precedence.

Although the surface rights board is designed to resolve lengthy disputes between companies and land owners, Traynor assures it will not free developers from their obligation to consult. He said disputes will not be heard by the board if a company has not shown a demonstrable effort to negotiate with the land owner.

As yet, the board's regulations have not been set and Traynor said that will be at least a year-long process after it is passed into law.

If the intent described by Traynor holds true in practice, this new board will help improve the NWT's image as a place to do business, providing investors with a measurable tool to ensure projects begin in a timely fashion. That will mean more resource dollars, more jobs and a stronger NWT, which can benefit everyone.

We all see the need to diversify the territorial economy to lessen our reliance on the development of non-renewable resources, but until that day comes, they will continue to be our bread and butter.

It is up to Northerners to hold government to its promises and ensure that development is conducted fairly, with the highest environmental standards and in a way that maximizes benefits to Northerners.

When art is hung upon a wall, the wall is transformed into a showcase for culture.

The Iqaluit Centennial Public Library's decision to hang youth-made art upon its walls has not only enhanced the atmosphere in its facility, but it's given artistically-inclined youth a venue for public display and shows them a career in art is possible. This is not to say such a path is easy, but one would be hard-pressed to find a better place than Nunavut to give it a go.

Art is among the strongest staples of Northern tourism. Those venturing to, say, Pangnirtung or Cape Dorset often do so with the intention of picking up some of the communities' world-renowned print and carving work. According to a GN study from 2010, the territory's 3,000-artist-strong industry was the cause for $33.4 million to change hands in the territory in a single year. That's no small feat for a remote territory of close to 32,000 people.

Creative support for the industry from groups like the Iqaluit library could help artists further promote their work and make our communities more appealing to residents and southerners.

Justice Robert Kilpatrick has often been the voice of reasoned protest for a better justice system in Nunavut.

The justice department's limited resources are often strained by lawyers' schedules, and numerous cases can face excruciating delays due to vacations. Beyond this, ever-growing piles of paper on lawyers' desks contribute to the backlog.

When trials - or even preliminary hearings - drag on, they put pressure on the court that is tasked with handling all of Nunavut's crime. This task, in a territory whose 28 communities are all fly-in and whose per capita crime rate dwarfs that of most other jurisdictions, is substantial.

Despite these challenges, those accused of crime have rights that cannot be ignored. When those rights are violated, justice is jeopardized.

Last month, Kilpatrick warned lawyers that ongoing delays are causing a manslaughter case to become "stale."

Nunavut's justice minister cannot turn a blind eye to these problems. An analysis of these recurring issues is in order. If these sorts of delays were happening within the health-care system then there would be deaths as a result, and that would not be tolerated.

The same standard must apply to justice.

It's becoming increasingly clear that the $975,000 the city used to purchase three downtown properties a year ago was not money well spent.

Instaloans fled from its 50 Street location in November after encountering problems with mould, and, of all things, a plague of mice. The exodus occurred seven months after a fuel leak was discovered behind the store, which, because it didn't have full insurance coverage, cost the City of Yellowknife $52,000 to clean up.

Last month, downtown's favourite spot for late-night snacks, Corner Mart, shut its doors - six weeks before its lease expired.

So there we have it, three 50 Street properties - purchased on the backs of city taxpayers - making not a dime in rent or tax revenue a year after they were acquired. The plan - though it remains vague - appears to have been to raze this troubled "Range Street" block and redevelop it with affordable housing.

"That would probably be a good one," said former mayor Gord Van Tighem when asked if the three lots were the likely location for the city-subsidized "eco-housing project" shortly after the city purchased the properties in January 2012. The eco-housing designation is there to emphasize the project's environmentally-friendly features such as shared rooftop gardens and solar panels but at a low cost to potential buyers.

Four months later, however, in a meeting attended by Van Tighem, the eco-housing project task force was told the 24-unit development was now to be built on 48 Street, next door to Boston Pizza.

It's not clear why the city-owned property on 50 Street fell out of favour, although it seems likely the city's inability to convince the owners of the Gold Range and Raven Pub buildings to sell their properties had something to do with it. Who wants to live sandwiched between two rowdy bars? No matter how "eco" the project, or how low the selling price.

The latest plan - at least for the time being - involves tearing down the buildings at a cost of $200,000 and converting the three lots into a "temporary" parking lot.

This begs an important question: how long will this parking lot remain there between two bars and facing a boarded up mall across the street?

City administration says a redevelopment task force will commence a design plan for Range Street in 2014. But given the city's track record to date there is a real danger for inertia to set in while city council is playing developer and trying to figure out what to do with these properties once the bulldozers level them. This one-block stretch of 50 Street was originally scheduled to undergo a "streetscaping" similar to what was completed at the other end of Franklin Avenue in 2009. But it was postponed in 2010 and again last year.

The prudent option for council would be to cut its losses and sell the lots now, even if at a rock-bottom price. Surely there is a developer out there willing to redevelop some downtown lots for cheap, and to council's specifications for downtown renewal, even if a zoning change is required. Developers haven't had any problem revamping other downtown eyesores such as the 52 Street block where the Greenstone building now stands or the Gallery building across the street. This is because, unlike the city, they can't afford to let undeveloped properties sit idle.

The alternative is further dithering while city coffers remain unrewarded by property taxes from its downtown purchases.

Before I took up curling I used to wonder why anyone would want to watch that sport on television.

To be honest, I wonder that about a number of sports, but curling was near the top of the list.

Watching people throw rocks down a sheet of ice while trying to hit other rocks and follow rules that I didn't understand at all was not an appealing prospect.

My appreciation for curling has grown considerably since then during my years in Fort Simpson, although my skill level has sadly not kept pace. Curling, I have discovered since starting to play about four years ago, is a game of great finesse.

Just a little more or less weight or a little more of less handle or spin on a rock and the outcome of a throw will be drastically different.

Trying to attain that level of skill is one of the joys and challenges of curling. Now when I see competitive bonspiels on television, I can appreciate just how skilled those curlers are and how easy they are making something look that is actually quite difficult.

Luckily, one of the other great joys of curling is that each throw can also contain unexpected and sometimes better than you hoped for outcomes.

It is redeeming when, although your skip told you to do one thing with your rock, you accidentally end up doing something completely different, but it turns out to help your team more than the original move would have.

One of the best parts of curling, however, and something you can't get from just watching it on television, is the social aspect.

Winters, as Deh Cho residents know, are long and cold. Curling is a winter sport that offers, at least in Fort Simpson where there is a curling club, an opportunity to get a bit of exercise once a week and visit with fellow curlers.

The Fort Simpson Merchants' Mixed Bonspiel, which was held last weekend, is a great opportunity to see the social aspect of curling in play. It is wonderful to see so many people gathered together having a good time while the temperature hovers around -39 C outside.

If I had options, curling still wouldn't be the thing I'd choose to watch on television, but I now encourage anyone to give it a try. With our long winters there is lots of time for practise.

When you commit to getting a dog you are committing to a lifetime together.

You are taking your canine to be your long-time companion, to feed and to cuddle from adoption day forward for better or for worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish until death do you part.

So before shackling yourself to the old ball and chain you need to really consider if you're ready. Start by doing a little dating. Offer to take care of a friend's dog for a few days or volunteer to foster an animal from the Beaufort Delta Regional SPCA.

If that goes well and you're still gung-ho, then you need to start thinking about homes and having children.

All too often there are dogs running around Inuvik without their owners. This shouldn't be a regular occurrence. It's dangerous and it could land the puppy in the pound.

Thus, new dog owners and current owners need to provide their pet with proper housing. Some residents in town opt to keep their dogs outside but there are a lot of factors to consider when choosing this route, and some owners don't give their pets what they need.

If your dog is going to live outside it should have a place for sleeping and a big enough area to run around in. The dog should not be left chained up for long periods of time because it can lead to injuries. The animal also needs to have protection from the elements and extreme temperatures.

Hydration is another issue for dogs living outside. In the winter you can't just stick a bowl of water out there because it will freeze. Instead, owners need to provide animals with something like small frozen blocks of soup.

Moreover, outside dogs need attention just like those living indoors. Owners need to make time for the animal and ensure it doesn't become bored or lonely. How would you feel if someone stuck you in a cage and left you there?

Strays are a big problem in the North and owners need to do their part not to add to it. So if you aren't ready for puppies, then do as Bob Barker says and "help control the pet population. Have your pet spayed or neutered."

Every dog deserves a loving home, so do some thinking before committing.

Excitement among hockey fans has been building across the North for weeks and now it is Yellowknife's turn to get caught up in the action.

The Northern Hockey Challenge, which is a grassroots effort to form a Northern hockey league with teams in the NWT, Nunavut and Nunavik, Que., is coming to the Yk Arena on Friday and Saturday night with games against Inuvik.

Judging from the action last week in Inuvik and Kuujjuaq, this is fast-paced, action-packed hockey featuring all the fan favourites - hard checking, power plays, timeouts and even one instance of a team pulling the goalie in the final minutes to get an extra man on the ice. Arenas in the communities have hosted hundreds of fans in the first few games of the schedule, home-and-home stands which ended with each team winning one game. Inuvik took the opener 7-5 and Hay River won the second game 3-1 in the Roy "Sugloo" Ipana Memorial Arena in Inuvik. In Kuujjuaq, the home team posted a 15-5 victory over Iqaluit in its opener but dropped a 5-4 decision in the following night's rematch.

The Yellowknife First Air Flyers will be sporting the colours of the NHL's Philadelphia Flyers. The uniforms are actually a tribute to a mid-80s rec hockey team that used to play in Yellowknife.

That's where the retro trend ends, however. The Northern Hockey Challenge Facebook page is active with almost 8,000 page views in the first weekend. And those with a Twitter account can follow the action through short updates posted several times per period.

What better way to sum it up than by quoting this online comment: "Series all tied up with Iqaluit and Hay River both winning their games last night! What a great weekend of hockey! Thanks everyone for coming out to cheer on your team. Stay tuned for more great end-to-end Northern Hockey Challenge action next weekend!"

The puck drops at 7:30 p.m. for both games. See you there!

Yellowknife is the premier gateway to one of world's leading natural attractions in the aurora borealis, and the city should take further advantage of this brilliant phenomenon.

Japanese tourists have shown thousands of people are willing to travel across the globe to experience the Northern lights from the boreal forest.

Aurora viewing remains a vibrant industry, having rebounded to 6,776 tourists in 2010-11 from a low of 5,460 visitors in 2008-09, according to Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment statistics.

This season - considered to be most active in the solar cycle that feeds the Northern lights - aurora tourists from Japan often occupy more than half of the 50 seats in the nightly Air Canada Jazz flights from Calgary.

Recent initiatives to attract tourists from China and fresh discussions about reaching out to European travellers could help further strengthen and expand the industry.

An information session held here earlier this month by B.C.-based company Fraserway RV offered creative ideas for making Yellowknife more attractive for German, Austrian and Swiss tourism markets, such as by creating a network of recreational vehicle tour options between Calgary, Yellowknife and Whitehorse.

Tourism and parks director Richard Zieba said making Yellowknife a hub for European RV tours could help attract direct flights from Switzerland's Edelweiss Air to our city.

Whitehorse attracts direct Lufthansa flights from Frankfurt, Germany, which should give Yellowknife tour operators a sense of what is possible, especially given the fact that Yellowknife offers the best aurora viewing opportunities in the world.

Businesses and government should work together to make the sky the limit when it comes to aurora tourism.

This past weekend a number of important hockey games were played in Arviat, Inuvik and Kuujjauq, Nunavik.

Arviat hosted its annual Jon Lindell Memorial senior men's event, while Inuvik played host to Hay River and Kuujjuaq hosted Iqaluit in the new Northern Hockey Challenge.

At the same time, the Arctic Atoms tourney was being held in Rankin.

Two of the three senior events shared an alarming point.

Both the tournament in Arviat and the games in Kuujjuaq were officiated by southern officials.

The Arviat games were called by three refs from Manitoba, while the games in Northern Quebec were called by three from Montreal.

Both were by necessity, not design nor preference.

The fact hockey is surging in popularity across the North is a wonderful thing.

The game is helping more and more people of all ages stay physically active, instilling a sense of teamwork in numerous youth and injecting many communities with pure excitement.

Hockey is also bringing extra revenue into the hamlets hosting the events, and many of those benefitting from that have little or no involvement with the game.

On the downside is the fact the increasing number of events has already far eclipsed the number of officials able to call the games, especially in Nunavut.

Believe it or not, the hockey crazy Kivalliq has but three full-time (as in only reffing, not playing) officials.

They are yours truly, Max MacDonald and Damian MacInnis, all of Rankin Inlet.

MacInnis had to journey East for awhile and is unavailable for the vast majority of the hockey season.

Two players in Rankin, Donald Clark and David Clark, are certified and ref games when they're not playing, coaching, selecting teams or organizing tournaments.

There is no longer a certified official in the Kivalliq outside of Rankin.

I've been around this wonderful game for half a century now and I can tell you, whether you want to believe it or not, solid officiating is absolutely necessary for good hockey to be played.

But we've reached the point where playing the games at all is in danger, let alone solid officiating or top-level hockey.

Right now, either tens of thousands of dollars are spent during tournament season to bring outside officials in or the games don't get played.

Simple as that.

It's past time for our territorial and branch organizations to push officiating needs a lot higher on their priority lists.

It's great to spend money to bring coaches in to help increase the skill level of our youths, and to put smiles on faces with fun days and other similar events, but, without refs, our kids have to go south to truly learn to play the game in the proper manner.

More people have to step up and train to become officials or the momentum the game's built in the past decade will come to a screeching halt.

In fact, for the situation to reach the level it's at is reason to hand out a number of gross misconducts to all who have stood idly by and done nothing to help!

In Nunavut, hockey officials truly have become the Rodney Dangerfields of the hockey world.

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