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There are likely few people in Yellowknife who would begrudge the city in its desire to tackle crumbling roads, sidewalks and sewer lines.

For a municipality, this is job number one. Residents don't have to venture far to find evidence of the city's so-called "infrastructure gap" either, a shortfall the city predicts will reach $74 million by 2016. Downtown streets are in particularly poor condition as are many others in residential areas throughout the city, and in Kam Lake industrial park.

Never mind the infrastructure people can't see - the water and sewer lines, which the city's 2012 budget states need to be addressed "immediately." If that's the case, then let's get busy. No one wants Northland Trailer Park's desperate infrastructure conditions to become the new city norm.

That the city wants to borrow $20 million to help address the mounting problems should be kept in perspective. The city has actually proved itself a rather able manager of debt in recent years. In 1995 the debt load was at a daunting $29.6 million. Over the last 12 years or so, however, impressive efforts have been made to bring that figure down to $1.7 million. If not for this latest request to borrow $20 million, the city's debt would be at less than $300,000 by 2021.

Council's decision to avoid a referendum on the issue, as recommended by administration, is a little more complicated. City hall must be wary of looking like it's afraid of the people, particularly after voters rejected the city's request to borrow up to $49 million in a referendum last year to finance a district energy system that would have heated downtown buildings but nowhere else. The situation became even more troublesome when less than one week later administration faltered by attempting to do away with future referendums in general.

Thank goodness residents had the good sense to reject the district energy borrowing, otherwise we might have been saddled with upwards of $60 million in debt now that the city is pleading it is in desperate need of aging infrastructure replacements.

Whatever one thinks of district energy, required repairs of crumbling roads and sewer lines are a greater priority.

There is also the issue raised by city councillor David Wind, who insists the city is reaping what it sows by not putting enough resources into certain public works projects. There is certainly evidence to support this. City spending in general has more than doubled since 2000 to nearly $79 million in 2011, while spending on roads and sidewalks, for example, has remained largely static. It's an especially egregious situation this year as only $700,000 has been set aside after $2.8 million was budgeted last year. The city contends its inability to cover the road rehabilitation shortfall is due to a decision in 2005 to reduce its reliance on long-term borrowing.

Whether borrowing is approved or spending priorities are re-ordered, it's an issue council needs to follow closely, as should anyone else contemplating a run for office this fall.

A trio of Canadian Forces personnel in Fort Simpson this week could be the harbingers of something much larger.

The trio, decked out in green camouflage, were visiting the village as part of a fact-finding mission to determine if Fort Simpson would be well-suited and willing to host part of a Canadian Forces exercise next February. If chosen, between 300 and 500 soldiers could be stationed in the village for approximately two weeks.

The personnel would be part of six units that would be located in a number of communities in the territory during the exercise. Fort Simpson should ensure it is one of the chosen communities.

There would be multiple positive benefits for the village if it hosted part of the exercise. One of the most obvious ones is economic.

Although the exercise would be self-sufficient, there would undoubtedly be a steady stream of people in uniforms going in and out of the local stores searching to add a little variety to their field rations. The Canadian Forces would probably also have to enter into contracts with the village or other local businesses to provide potable water to their campsite and other necessary services.

Aside from the economics, there would also be training and cross-cultural opportunities. The aim of the exercise is for the Canadian Forces personnel to learn how to survive, live, move and operate in the North in winter conditions.

This is an area that residents of the Deh Cho have untold generations of experience in. It would be wonderful to see some of the soldiers paired with community harvesters to learn traditional ways of survival in the absence of supply lines and individual meal packets. Undoubtedly the experience would be an eye-opening one for many of the soldiers.

Training opportunities would also be extended to the Fort Simpson Royal Canadian Army Cadet Corps. Interacting with a large exercise would probably empower the corps, which is already has a strong presence among the village's youths.

Last, but not least, the exercise would also give residents something to look forward to during a month when there is little else besides snow and cold weather. A family day would allow residents to interact with the Forces and sports competitions may be arranged between soldiers and local teams.

Responsible agencies such as the Village of Fort Simpson, Liidlii Kue First Nation and the territorial government need to take appropriate steps to welcome the Canadian Forces and make sure this opportunity doesn't slip away.

Organizing a festival with outdoor qualities is always a gamble, especially during the transitioning time of year where weather can vary from clear blue skies to blizzard conditions or hypothermia-inducing frostiness.

This year, the Muskrat Jamboree was dealt a poor hand weather-wise. From Friday to Monday afternoon – almost the entire length of the festival – the sun was blocked behind a low ceiling of clouds, which cast flurries at the riverbank to be tossed about the tented area by a cutting wind. The temperatures didn't waiver, sitting around -35 C with wind chill for the entire weekend.

The crowds were thin at the river, with people huddling for a coveted spot beside one of the few woodstoves set up in certain tents at the site. For some events, like a foot race on Saturday afternoon, MC Vince Sharpe's voice bellowed from the stage, imploring jamboree-goers to enter.

"You could walk the race and still get a cash prize!"

Although attendance was down – with many Inuvik residents peeking out their windows and weighing the guilt of skipping out on the festival with the risk of frostbite – those who did brave the less-than-ideal outdoor conditions did so heartily, wearing smiles. Young and old from the community bundled up and headed to the river, because that's what this weekend is all about: taking part in community games and visiting with friends.

If there was a time when some felt like they'd had enough, as they shuffled from one tent to another, making sure to keep warm by constant movement, all it took was one look at the stage and see MCs like Teddy Rogers conversing with the crowd, keeping everyone informed of the schedule of events and standing on stage hour after hour, maintaining his energy.

It was in the evenings, toasty warm inside the Midnight Sun Complex, that the full strength of the community came out. Several hundred people sat around the community hall watching the drum dancers call out their song. The energy of the crowd reached its high point when two-and-a-half-year-old Liam Dillon came to the forefront to dance, as thunderous applause erupted as the little dancer threw his arms up in the air on the last beat of the song. The frosty climate outside was forgotten as 30 people bounded around the hall, swinging from each others' arms in a jig, their faces flushed from laughter and physical exertion.

Depending on Mother Nature is always a gamble, but events go on. The tireless volunteers who oversee the jamboree kept the show going no matter what – rain, snow, or shine – and that should be applauded as well.

A coroner's report released Friday details the final hours in the life of 29-year-old nurse Tara Osmond, who died after a Halloween party in 2009.

Osmond had binged on a toxic combination of alcohol and multiple drugs.

To describe such self-destructive behaviour as "partying" would be to mask the driving force often concealed behind drug and alcohol abuse - mental illness. The coroner's report stated that Osmond had a history of depression and was prescribed the anti-depressant drug Citalopram, which was found in her system, along with alcohol, narcotics, tranquilizers and an antihistamine, during a post-mortem toxicology screening.

Few people who suffer from depression and addiction perish so publicly. Instead, poisoned livers fail, hemorrhaging hearts shut down, or people find quicker means to quietly end their lives in relative obscurity.

As we look for lessons from Osmond's death - as we do from the violent death of Karen Lander, shot by RCMP on March 14 after painful struggles with addiction and mental illness - we should remember the extent to which Yellowknife residents are affected by mental illness.

Many people in our community self-medicate with alcohol and any variety of drugs to numb themselves and to forget their silent struggles with depression and other afflictions. Their substance abuse and emotional suffering are publicly displayed under the guise of a good time at parties and pubs.

The deaths of Osmond and Landers are shocking, providing sensational fodder for conversation, debate and gossip. Those who wish to learn from the tragedies should keep talking about the mental-health struggles these women shared in common, because if we discuss the issue we can keep exploring sober solutions.

We should strive to prevent more deaths in the future among our family, friends, co-workers and neighbours by ensuring mental-health issues remain on the minds of policymakers - including further discussion on the need for increased resources for mental health and addictions treatment - while insisting that society reach out and extend support to those who need it.

The ice on Yellowknife Bay is starting to melt as the power of the changing season takes effect.

While fondly recalling the good times from the 17th edition of the Snowking Festival, and next door at the successful Long John Jamboree, we can look forward with anticipation to the long days of sunshine ahead.

Daytime temperatures are increasingly rising above freezing. Icy blasts of wind are being replaced by warm gusts from the south.

Dripping water is demonstrating Mother Nature's creative side as icicles form artistic wonders.

Traffic is restricted from using ice roads, the Tibbitt-to-Contwoyto winter road has once again served its purpose to supply mines northeast of the city.

Friday will be the first time this year that Yellowknife will surpass 14 hours of daylight, with sunrise at 6:40 a.m. and sunset not happening until 8:42 p.m.

Soon enough the snow-covered streets will clear, the puddles will evaporate, grass will sprout and gardeners will move the plants they started indoors into rich outdoor soil. It's almost time to put the parkas away, store the Sorels and break out the T-shirts and shorts, golf clubs and boats.

As the sun grows stronger, people's spirits soar.

Pity those poor sods in the tropics who never experience a radical change in seasons. Because here in Yellowknife, just as people embrace and celebrate the wonders of winter, so to do they make the most of the long days of summer.

We're not afraid of change, especially when it is the season.

Too many people still view those who don't fit a stereotype as oddities to be ridiculed or ignored.

Fanatical lovers of arts programming, for example, still despise the fact Hockey Night In Canada is aired on what they consider to be a national broadcaster because of its federal funding.

It's actually quite strange to see those who define themselves by their intellect wilfully ignoring the fact the program brings in the cash for the station to be able to air the programming they love.

You see, the majority of pseudo-intellectuals decided long ago that never the twain shall meet when it comes to jocks and brains.

To them, if you love to play and watch sports, you have difficulty following the most basic of discussions (wait, what was I talking about?).

They see sport lovers as a collective group of Don Cherry wannabes, and someone like Ken Dryden is a human aberration at best and an abomination at worst.

They often giggle when Dryden speaks, believing he loses the sports aficionados seconds after his introduction.

Cherry's long-time sidekick, Ron MacLean, is also seen as an aberration because he eats, drinks and sleeps sports, yet is highly intelligent and spends much of his spare time (gasp) reading material far removed from sports.

In his book Cornered, MacLean uses books and essays he's read as segues into his own experiences.

He effectively notes people won't always back you, even if they know you're right. They'll side against you if you're mindnumbingly boring, arrogant or allknowing.

I had deep respect for MacLean before I read his book, and that grew when he referenced a piece written by Anne Wortham (an African-American associate professor of sociology).

I was already familiar with Wortham's take on black victimhood versus black individual responsibility.

While the short piece, obviously, focused on AfricanAmericans, most of its points can be applied to others.

Wortham often discusses the differences between real and perceived victims – and how the latter use their status for personal or political gain by scaring into silence those who would debate them (playing the race card).

It's a discussion readily applicable to the North, where perceived victims, using status as an advantage, outnumber true victims.

Perceived victims are often identified by their use of half-truths.

Those who use the perception of victimhood as a tactic will tell you African-Americans account for nearly half the American prison population, even though they only represent about 13 per cent of the entire population.

What they don't mention is about 90 per cent of African-Americans never spent a day in jail in their lives.

Like a vindictive arts lover with no use for sports, they use the fear of being labelled to silence the majority and perpetuate the stereotype.

The perception of victimhood is a dangerous game.

It slows acceptance, denies self-sufficiency, revives racism, fuels reverse discrimination and feeds the sense of entitlement.

It favours none, benefits few and hurts many.

Hopefully, someday, the majority will realize those who wield and yield to its power are the true oddities who should be ridiculed or ignored.

Poor management, myopic foresight and simplistic thinking by the NWT Power Corporation might have devastating results for the territory.

If the NWT Public Utilities Board approves an application to increase power rates by nearly 30 per cent over the next four years, it will severely hamper communities, families and eventually the NWT as a whole.

The GNWT is reviewing its policy of only conducting reviews on the power system every five years to avoid such large increases in the future, but we are at the stage of too little, too late and the consequences may overwhelm the pocketbooks of residents and businesses alike.

A third of the expenses driving the rate increase is going toward repairs and replacement of existing infrastructure; half of that cost is earmarked for the Bluefish Dam, 20 km north of Yellowknife.

Where is the power corp.'s capital replacement plan? How were funds not set aside earlier to help cover these costs? Allowing equipment to fall into such disrepair and then calling on the public to cover $70-million worth of costs all at once is inexcusable.

The fact fossil fuels have increased 57 per cent over the past five years and are expected to contribute an additional $10 million to expenses between now and 2015 should have come as no surprise.

Planning for alternative sources of energy might have offset future costs. Instead we have chosen the path of forking over the money to cover the ever-rising cost of diesel. Hydro power and biomass solutions -- such as wood pellets systems -- are proven alternative energy sources which have saved the NWT millions in diesel expenses.

Power won't be the only extra burden as rates rise. People can expect the cost for food, taxes, goods and services and rent to also increase as governments and businesses are forced to pass on the extra expense to consumers.

The result will increasingly force people to choose between utilities, food and rent -- a predicament that already exists for many families. Eventually the cost of living will simply drive people from the territory along with their federal transfer dollars, forcing more tax increases and rate hikes as revenue falls.

The lack of planning is evident in the urgency of the power rate application. Not only has the power corp. requested an interim increase in advance of the application's approval, the deadline to register as an intervener was only a week after the application was made public.

Some community leaders have already stated they will intervene and others will hopefully take up a similar cause.

Another solution must be found or the only power we're going to have to worry about is making sure the last person out of the NWT turns the lights out.

Legendary Northerner Mike Krutko died late last month but his memory will live on not only through members of his family but his memoirs -- Mike Krutko's Amazing Adventures.

After 97 years of life in the North, he became somewhat of an icon in the NWT, especially in the Beaufort Delta and Fort McPherson.

As our elders die, a piece of the North's history goes with them.

Over the years projects have been initiated to record the stories of our older generations, in both print and film. Continuing that important work is vital to ensuring their stories and lessons remain with us well into the future.

Take the time to listen to an older member of your family and record or write down their stories. You never know when you might want to recall a certain tale or piece of advice, and the day will come when they won't be there to remind you.

A lifetime of history lives in the minds of our grandparents and great-grandparents, and that knowledge is invaluable. We should all find ways to hang on to it before it is too late.

Iglulik has divided itself over whether it wants to keep or force out its head nurse, who has worked a decade in the community.

Two opposing petitions, one of which was tabled in the legislature last month, have been the recourse taken by the community in airing its frustrations with the level of health care residents receive. Should this really be the length a community has to go to in order to be heard?

With the dissolution of regional health boards and the creation of the Nunavut Department of Health during division, the government may have created a body easier to budget and keep cost effective, but it lost an avenue for patients to air grievances they may have with the system.

Amittuq MLA Louis Tapardjuk tabled a motion last month for the government to review its patient complaint process - the motion narrowly passed, with chair Johnny Ningeongan casting the tie-breaking vote - and he told media afterward that the patient complaint gap has not been filled since the boards' demise.

Health Minister Keith Peterson sympathized, but opposed the motion, saying his department was just too swamped to undertake such a review at this point. This is understandable, since the health department is one of the GN's more overburdened arms.

However, the situation in Iglulik illustrates the need for a proper, speedy and accessible complaints process. Dividing a community and turning the issue of staffing and services into practically a popularity contest should not be necessary before an issue is addressed.

There are many factors to consider when these issues arise. Are conflicting personalities at the centre of the dispute? Are staff becoming scapegoats for lack of resources, or are there actual management issues degrading the health services being provided?

These questions will not be answered by looking at which petition has a longer list of signatures. These issues need to be discussed by the department and Nunavummiut accessing health care.

Perhaps an ombudsman's office or complaints board is needed.

A body to hear complaints would not only give patients an avenue to air grievances and problems the government may be unaware of, it would also be a measuring stick for determining how well the department is run and where priorities should be when setting policies and budgets.

The resources to run the review MLAs have asked for may be scarce, and the task may be daunting for a department bearing a lot of pressure at all times, but these are necessary growing pains for the GN, and the department must find a way.

The motion has passed, and it is a worthwhile one.

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