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The city's proposal to increase taxes by leaps and bounds over the next three years - amounting to a 15 per cent hike - is out of touch with reality.

Reality being that: Yellowknife's population has been stable since 2004 and yet 20 staff positions were added in that time; NWT industry is based on diamond mines that now show little promise of expanding, and will eventually expire; the cost of living has recently hit new highs, causing people to leave; the economy is expected to go into recession.

The city's current proposal is based on the assumption that the NWT capital will continue to grow as it had earlier this decade, when diamond extraction replaced gold mining.

At the heart of the proposal to increase taxes is an increase in salaries for unionized city employees - excluding firefighters and municipal enforcement officers. City workers' pay and benefits were negotiated while the good times were still rolling, prior to this economic downturn.

While covering the rising cost of living is fair, we'll now watch closely to see if city management expects to stay in lockstep with union wage hikes for city staff. It is management's responsibility to keep costs from ballooning, whether that means keeping the workforce in check or keeping salary expectations within reason. Councillors should also be wary of seeking any increases in stipends or benefits at this juncture, including the replacement of three-year-old laptops.

Continuing to hike taxes in a time when the economy is stagnant and recession looms will only make Yellowknife a less viable place to live, and lead to the city's decline.

Where the government has largely failed in trying to foster a meaningful secondary diamond industry, private enterprise has shown that interest in setting up shop in Yellowknife still exists.

Crossworks Manufacturing opened a new diamond polishing and cutting plant downtown Yellowknife in July but the grand opening ceremony was held earlier this week. Employees there are processing diamonds from De Beers Canada's Snap Lake mine. There is also a possibility of working with other mines, such as Diavik, in the future. We encourage the suppliers to work with the local cutters and polishers.

To get started, Crossworks hired nine trained Vietnamese diamond polishers and trained two Yellowknifers to join them. Itay Ariel, chief operating officer of the HRA Group of Companies, Crossworks' parent company, said the company prefers to hire locally when possible. Dylan Dix, the company's marketing director, hinted there may be some staff expansion as the plant becomes more automated in the future.

Aurora College used to offer a diamond cutting and polishing course. Are those grads already employed in the industry? Do they want the jobs? Regardless, future training should begin here at home to ensure the company's word is held true.

The diamond mines, which have high standards when it comes to Northern hires, should demand the same benchmarks are met by the companies that process their gems.

It was with more than a little interest I followed the recent debate in Iqaluit on the need for an animal protection act in Nunavut.

I spoke about it with some people in Rankin Inlet and they were unanimous in their contention that Nunavut is still not ready for such a move.

While they respected the efforts of those trying to make such an act a reality, they said too many Nunavummiut still view dogs as simple animals, not loved family pets.

The discussion took me back about five years.

I was still a have-boots-will-travel editor in those days, and spent a lot of time walking around with my camera bag slung firmly over my shoulder (not as mundane as it sounds in 70-kilometre winds).

That year filled with me anger and pity concerning a certain dog in Rankin.

Now, understand, I am a dog person and, other than my time in the military, there has always been one in my life since childhood.

I became aware of the dog during my treks around the community in those days.

The poor animal was always tied on about three feet of rope, and was forced to eat and sleep in its own urine and feces.

Because it barely had room to turn around, let alone walk or run, its hind quarters barely functioned.

During the coldest times of the year, it had a very hard time even standing up.

Knowing dogs, through no fault of their own, can get cross existing like that, I approached it the first few times with extreme caution.

I spoke softly to it and made my mannerisms as non-threatening as possible.

For the first 10 times, or so, I tossed the Beggin' Strip (bacon flavoured dog treat) a bit away from the poor dog so it wouldn't have to take it directly from my hand.

I cannot imagine any living creature getting more enjoyment out of something than what that dog derived from those treats.

I got in the habit of carrying a sandwich bag with a few of the treats inside my parka or jacket pocket so I'd always have one when my travels took me near the dog.

Eventually, it grew to trust me and would gently take the treat from my hand.

The image that haunts me is from a particularly cold winter day when the dog saw me coming down the road.

It struggled to its feet to meet me and, as I revealed the treat, managed to wag its tail in appreciation, although I could see even that simple act was causing it discomfort.

Then, for the first time since our ritual began, it feebly licked my hand a few times before taking the treat and settling down, best it could, to enjoy its one simple pleasure in life.

Shortly thereafter, the dog was gone and I still regret never having known its name.

I still catch myself glancing toward the tiny area that was my friend's entire world every time I drive past.

I never asked anyone who kept that dog, because I didn't trust myself to remain civil if I ever ran into them while out and about.

When I did query a hamlet official about the situation, the response was nothing could be done because there was no animal protection or similar act in Nunavut.

Simple animals that don't deserve protection? I had a good friend once who would beg to differ.

The Deh Cho Drum building is currently undergoing renovations. The project has given me a chance to see some local tradespeople at work, while also offering me some first-hand experience with the shortage of these important people.

Within the trades is currently a lucrative place to be situated. Skilled tradespeople, as anyone who has ever needed one knows, are in high demand and short supply.

The first challenge, as I'm sure many people can attest to, is getting the necessary tradesperson, whether it be a plumber, electrician, carpenter or someone from other trade variety to your house or business in the first place. Their list of job requests can be long and you might have to wait a while to reach the top.

Once they do arrive, unless the job is quick, they often have to leave again when a building with a more pressing problem arises. With any luck they'll return shortly to finish your job.

Fort Simpson is in a relatively good position when it comes to having local businesses that cover the basic necessities. A qualified electrician has even recently opened a new business aimed at completing smaller projects.

In the less populated communities in the Deh Cho the wait times are longer because tradespeople often have to be brought in.

Trout Lake is taking an interesting measure to address the need for tradespeople. By offering an adult education program the Sambaa K'e Development Corporation is hoping to have more local residents enter trades apprenticeship programs.

Many community members have the necessary skills but haven't been able to get the official paperwork because they get hung up on the trades entrance exam, said Rick Phaneuf, the general manager for the corporation.

The corporation is willing to pay its staff to attend classes for an hour a day if they are interested in furthering their education. If residents can obtain their trade ticket they will benefit and so will the community, said Phaneuf.

The Deh Cho could benefit from more initiatives like this one.

There are lots of jobs in southern Canada to attract tradespeople making it hard for Northern communities to convince people to set up shop here. The Deh Cho needs to be proactive in training homegrown tradespeople.

It all starts with parents encouraging their children to consider the trades and schools offering the necessary programs. Those who are already in the workforce can benefit from adult education opportunities.

If the Deh Cho wants shorter wait times on trade-related projects the work needs to start here.

The people of this region have been fortunate to have such a high quality of doctors and medical support.

This month, we say goodbye to one of our local heroes, Dr. Mike Mulherin. He leaves us to continue his practice back home in Nova Scotia and be with his family.

After speaking with Mulherin for a short time on the day he left, it's obvious this decision was not an easy one to make, after spending 11 years in our community and raising a family here.

Like most people who come North for a new experience, Mulherin said he planned to be here for a year or so, then continue on his path in life.

A year became two, which became five and so on.

One thing is for sure, with the recent departure of one of our staple doctors, Inuvik will soon feel a crunch unlike anything in our 50-year history in this location.

For years, Mulherin and Braam Dr. de Klerk have been the solid foundation that our hospital, has grown on. The people of this region have grown to love and depend on these men.

Now de Klerk stands at the helm of the hospital and he's concerned that doctors will be hard to find and even harder to keep in our region.

One thing is for sure, the people of this part of the Territories have gotten used to a high level of service from our hospital. I would hope that anyone brought North for our medical needs would strive to maintain that hard work.

I recently spent a week in the hospital with our new baby girl and I can tell you from first-hand experience that place is a well-oiled machine.

The nurses work hard to ensure a comfortable yet professional environment, with all levels of employees working their hardest to keep the ship afloat.

So, where does our community go from here? Can we appeal to the regional health board to bring a good supply of doctors to the North?

I think the problem lies in attracting people to our part of the country. It can be a hard sell. We're asking someone to leave their home for an unknown new place.

All we should be thinking about is keeping the North as happy a place as it is now.

It is because of the people in our community that our long-time doctors have stayed so long.

It wasn't the decayed, asbestos-ridden hospital that kept Mike Mulherin in the North to raise his kids. It sure wasn't the aging clinic building either. It was our families and our lifestyle that led him to settle down in this place.

So next time you're in the hospital, be welcoming and go over and above your duty to make the visiting doctors feel comfortable. Maybe they'll be a part of our lives for years to come.