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Are the NWT's three diamond mines failing to live up to their obligations when it comes to hiring Northern workers?

On paper, the answer would appear to be yes. According to 2011 statistics from each of the mines and the GNWT figures, target employment rates for Northern residents were between eight and 24 per cent below what was agreed to in the socio-economic agreements.

Since the numbers were revealed, the mines have been criticized for not doing enough to meet those targets. However, the NWT Mine Training Society - tasked with preparing territorial workers for mine jobs - believes the population can't provide the bodies necessary.

In December, the NWT Bureau of Statistics reported there were 24,400 people in the territory's workforce. Although 1,800 were listed as unemployed, Hilary Jones, general manager of the mine training society, says that does not translate into 1,800 potential miners.

These days, 90 per cent of mine workers need trades and technology training or some other type of specialization. Employees also must be available to work away from home for two-weeks at a time, which eliminates the large number of single parents in the NWT - 2,330 in 2006 - who are unable to commit to that kind of time away from home.

Jones adds those issues combined with communities such as Aklavik, which are far from a designated pickup locations - meaning employees would have to pay costly airfares to get to work - and competition from other employers, makes finding the necessary workers in the North difficult.

According to the mine training society's annual report for 2011/2012, 20 training courses, ranging from underground mine training to heavy equipment operator, were offered to more than 100 potential new employees. The vast majority of training participants completed the courses. Many of the courses also had waiting lists because they were over enrolled.

Next year, Jones said the society plans to offer additional programs but she admits more can be done and the society is hoping for additional funding to make that happen.

On the wish list is $100 million over the next five years for a pan-territorial mine training society. Funds would come from the federal government with matching funds from industry, territorial governments and aboriginal governments.

Unemployed or underemployed workers also have a responsibility to seek the available jobs, especially as agreements have been signed to virtually guarantee work, provided the necessary training has been achieved. And once they get those jobs, new employees must be committed to keeping them by adhering to workplace schedules and rules. Increasing the number of Northern pick-up points to smaller communities would help.

Our small population might make meeting the targets difficult but with more investment in training and improved access, we can improve the number of Northerners benefiting from the mines.

The death of Kenojuak Ashevak is truly a great loss.

As an artist and as a mentor, she was an inspiration to a generation of Inuit artists.

She created wonderful works that not only drew from her own mind but from her culture as well. Her work brought aspects of Inuit culture to the eyes of an international audience. It is because of artists like Ashevak that Inuit art is as world renown as it is today.

Her popularity, and the popularity of other Inuit artists, such as musician Tanya Tagaq who has performed her unique and otherworldly brand of throatsinging to rapt audiences around the world, have created a market for products of Inuit culture. They've helped build a world in which aspiring Nunavummiut artists can succeed.

Ashevak leaves behind a legacy of beautiful artwork, and also a legacy of trailblazing in the art world for Inuit artists.

She has stoked the fire. In honour of her passing, carry her torch and make your own mark.

Lack of housing is one of the biggest issues facing the territory, and the Nunavut Housing Corporation has the mountainous task of doling out what units it has to as many people in need as possible.

With the pressures of an increasing homeless problem on one hand and a lack of housing and requirement to keep its budget balanced on the other, the housing corporation does not get much love.

Last week, Nunavut News/North published a success story of two Pond Inlet men who worked with the system to get off the streets and into a shared home. Having no success applying for single-bedroom dwellings, the men realized more two-bedrooms units were available and decided to bunk up. Though the housing corporation would have undoubtedly made these units with families in mind, they did not shy away from letting individuals apply to share the home.

People in other communities should take note of this solution. The housing corporation's manager of policy and planning, Tim Brown, said homelessness is becoming increasingly visible in Nunavut communities.

This has shown that when applying for housing, the best option might not be to apply for what you immediately need, but work with the housing corporation and others looking for homes to work with what's available.

It also shows that adjusting policies can help an organization achieve its goals, in this instance getting Nunavummiut into suitable housing.

Nobody likes having to pay taxes and the prospect of another tax on booze won't be well received by some.

That said, the idea of the city introducing a tax on beer, wine and spirits as a means to boost efforts to lessen the damage done by people with addictions in Yellowknife's downtown has some merit.

Mayor Mark Heyck was warm to exploring the idea after looking at a recent proposal by a municipal councillor in Swan River, Man., who wanted to introduce a bylaw which would impose a three per cent tax on booze to pay for community policing initiatives.

Heyck sees a tax on alcoholic products as a way to diversify the city's revenue stream, which he says is too dependent on property owners.

He isn't saying the city will adopt a tax on booze, but other municipalities across Canada are looking at the idea and he thinks Yellowknife should have the discussion, too.

We're not talking about an excessive burden on alcohol consumers here. A three per cent tax would add about 45 cents to an average six-pack of beer and about 55 cents to a mickey of hard liquor. It would generate about $1.2 million annually, based on the amount of booze sold in the capital city for the 2011-2012 fiscal year, enough to cover the cost of maybe three more RCMP officers. Increasing the presence of police in the downtown core may help reduce public intoxication, a rampant problem, and associated crime.

Yes, the government already collects substantial taxes from liquor. That revenue goes into general coffers and the GNWT is strained to cover rising expenses related to health, education, transportation and other sectors.

There isn't enough left over for hiring additional police officers, so that's where those who consume alcohol come in, even if problems from over-consumption only exist among a small percentage of drinkers.

The extra money generated wouldn't have to go to strictly to policing, either. City council would do well to look at supporting those agencies dedicated to helping those with addictions as well as those impacted by the issue. Of course, for this to get off the ground, the city would have to work with the territorial government to make changes to the NWT Liquor Act and set a mechanism for collecting the tax and distributing the funds.

The Dene Ko Day Shelter, run by the John Howard Society, could put more funds to good use, as could the Centre for Northern Families and the Salvation Army.

It's a problem with far-reaching consequences, and a three per cent tax on alcohol isn't too much to ask to help combat it.

The Idle No More movement has gathered a following in the Deh Cho.

The first event in the region was a march held in Fort Simpson on Dec. 10. Quickly planned, the event attracted approximately 30 people.

Building strength, a second event in the village on Dec. 21 brought together approximately 55 people to a fire feeding ceremony, which led into a longer march. In both cases, the participants, aboriginal and otherwise, were primarily from the village.

The most recent event in the region, in Fort Providence on the weekend, was even larger and gathered wider interest. Participants say more than 100 people from multiple communities gathered by the Deh Cho Bridge to demonstrate on Jan. 5.

There are a few interesting aspects about the movement. First is the speed at which it has spread across the country and even other parts of the world from its roots in Saskatchewan in November. Second is the way it has drawn together both aboriginal and non-aboriginal people. Third is the way that different people involved in the movement have different understandings of what it is about and emphasize different aspects of it.

The most interesting aspect of the movement, however, is where it is going.

One common theme at many of the Idle No More events that have been held is the call to repeal the contentious omnibus bills including C-45 and C-38 that have affected a wide number of issues including treaty rights and environmental protection. The movement, however, is about more than that.

It's also about honouring and fulfilling indigenous sovereignty and changing the way the Canadian government interacts with aboriginal governments and their treaty rights. The support that Idle No More has found in the Deh Cho may be traced, in part, to the fact that getting the federal government to recognize, respect and act appropriately to treaty rights is something First Nations groups in the Deh Cho have struggled with for a long time, often to great frustration.

With that comes the realization that Idle No More has some very broad goals and, as a result, it may be hard to tell if real progress is being made and to sustain the level of involvement and enthusiasm in the movement.

Do changes in the relationship between Canada and First Nations peoples need to be changed? Absolutely. Will Idle No More successfully lead to those changes or will the movement gradually lose momentum? That is the real question and part of what makes Idle No More so interesting and something we'll undoubtedly hear more about as the new year unfolds.

The cold nights and endless days of darkness have been draining.

At times it has felt almost impossible to roll out of bed, get dressed and venture outside the comforting warmth of the house.

But it's a time of renewal. The sun is back, it's 2013 and everyone is feeling fresh from the holidays.

In the spirit of the new year, many of us have likely challenged ourselves to make a change. Perhaps you've convinced yourself this is the time to lose weight, exercise more or get better organized.

Personally, I'm working on breaking myself out of the winter rut. It's easy sometimes to just stay inside and stare at a TV, but I want to brave the cold and get out there because Inuvik has a lot to offer.

This past weekend, for instance, the town lit up with the Sunrise Festival. There was the Taste of Inuvik, a free pancake breakfast, outdoor activities at Jim Koe Park, fireworks and an impressive bonfire for all to enjoy.

The event reminded me how great this town is and how wonderful it is to get out and interact with everyone. It spurred me to want to do more and it was easy to find more ways to get involved.

This weekend alone, Inuvik is hosting well-known Canadian singer Lights, the energy fair, the Beaufort Delta Regional Council meeting and the German Space Agency.

There is much more to do than attend special events, as well.

There is the Inuvik Ski Club with its large network of groomed trails, free skating at the Midnight Sun Complex, and lots of athletic clubs to join.

Then there is the more touristy stuff.

Over the holidays I ventured out to the Arctic Chalet for some dogsledding and it reminded me that there is a reason tourists do tourist things – they're fun!

It was such a thrill being pulled by three gorgeous white huskies as they raced along small paths carved throughout the forest.

Meanwhile, the Northern lights will continue to take my breath away until the day I die.

The point is, it's easy to stay cooped up in the house, but if you do you're missing out. There is an endless list of things to do, so let's get off our couches and get out there.

I challenge you to rediscover Inuvik.

In a manner of speaking, Prelude Lake Territorial Park is a victim of its own desirability.

Nestled on a Precambrian shore a short half-hour drive from the city, it is the premier camping site around Yellowknife.

Visitors have access to a 17-km long lake filled with attractive islands, pristine water and tasty lake trout. The sheltered, sandy terrain above the lake provides a perfect location for the park's 63 campsites and an ideal staging point for two idyllic hiking trails.

Granted, Prelude Lake is a relatively busy place when compared to other Ingraham Trail locations. Not only does the campground have the highest average daily occupancy rate in the territory at 61 per cent, there are 32 full-time private residences in the park in addition to 100 or more seasonal cabins also dotting the landscape. But in the great scheme of things, considering the congestion and hassle one encounters in other parks south of the 60th parallel, the situation at Prelude is far from being a woebegone state.

Still, the GNWT is at a crossroads when it comes to park access in the Yellowknife area. The Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment has been timidly tackling the need for more camping opportunities during the last several years but it clearly has not been enough. The department's own Prelude Lake draft management plan indicates the daily occupancy rate at the park has jumped by 90 per cent since 2009. The GNWT has been aggressively promoting NWT parks to tourists - not a bad thing - but Yellowknife residents remain by far the largest user group at Prelude Lake, and the two other area parks at Long Lake and Reid Lake. This leaves city dwellers frustrated when it comes to the growing demand for limited camping opportunities.

Over the last four years the government's response has been to take 40 popular, full-season campsites - used almost exclusively by Yellowknifers - and turn them into 80 half-season campsites, ensuring nobody would be happy. Add to that the decision to build another loop of 18 campsites where it was least needed, at Reid Lake Territorial Park - 65 km from Yellowknife. Meanwhile, a plan to build an RV park in or around Yellowknife to relieve tourism pressure on nearby Fred Henne Territorial Park - by far the busiest location, accounting for nearly one third of all 24,323 NWT park visits in 2009 - has long since succumbed to not-in-my-backyard political pressure.

The GNWT's proposal for upgrades at Prelude Lake is long overdue. The plan to add an additional 15 campsites is bound to be controversial to permanent residents who complain the park is busy enough as it is. Other upgrades, however, such as replacing the dock and expanding the wholly inadequate marina parking lot will surely be met with widespread approval.

Yellowknifer would also argue, as it has several times in the past, that the GNWT should add additional campground loops at Fred Henne in conjunction with the construction of the Ingraham Trail bypass route around Giant Mine. This would seem a logical step, which the GNWT has acknowledged, considering that the new road will run next door to the park.

In any event, ITI has chosen this Sunday at 1:30 p.m. at the Tree of Peace Building as the date to hear from the public on its proposals for Prelude Lake. People interested in Prelude Lake park and camping in general should attend this meeting and make themselves heard, or e-mail the government with suggestions if they can't be there on Sunday.

This is an opportunity to let the GNWT know how important it is for Yellowknife residents to have an adequate number of camping sites available at a reasonable distance from the city. Other alternatives, like building a cabin, are not an option due to ongoing land claims.

Hopefully this is the year the territorial government takes Yellowknifers' camping needs seriously and acts on them.

Having a liquor ban in place during the holidays, and crediting it for why people behave themselves, is a mug's game.

The problem with the approach is, of course, some people don't always behave themselves, liquor ban or no liquor ban.

In Rankin Inlet, the RCMP admitted the annual ban on obtaining a permit to order booze from Dec. 21 to Jan. 3 had no effect in slowing down calls to the police.

The number and types of calls the police received during the holiday season didn't change at all.

And it may not change next year or the year after that. Then again, it may.

And, if so, does that mean the import ban is magically effective again?

Of course not, because the import ban has absolutely nothing to do with how people behave during the holiday season or any other time of year.

There's but one group of people in a community who benefit from any type of liquor ban and you can find them under the B for bootleggers. If you believe hamlet council's ban on ordering liquor for a certain period of time truly keeps booze out of your community, you must also believe, by extension, nobody underage drinks in Canada.

It's the law, right?

And it's a law passed by a government with considerably more power than our local hamlet councils. Yet, every weekend, pretty much anywhere in Canada, a percentage of underage teenagers roam around with a snoot full.

Some studies suggest liquor bans can actually set the table for binge drinking.

As the police will attest, people will, in fact, place large liquor orders close to the ban deadline.

Many do it with the intention of having enough to make just a little merry throughout the holiday season.

But booze is no different than anything else. When there's an excessive amount of something, people will use more of it.

Bring the price of bootleg liquor into the picture, and people act more radically.

They mix their drinks stronger, if at all, and drink faster because at that cost, they want their money's worth.

Unfortunately, with hard liquor, that's almost always a volatile cocktail that ends with someone getting hurt and/or getting to wear a shiny new pair of bracelets for a little while during the holidays.

When you look at it from those two perspectives, holiday booze bans don't seem quite so compelling. Good people sometimes make bad mistakes, so there are always exceptions, but police in most jurisdictions, when they're in the mood to be forthcoming with the facts, will tell you they pretty much deal with the same five per cent of the community during the holidays as they do any other time of year.

Some folks just don't get it and they never will.

But the vast majority of people in wet communities are responsible folks who can have a few drinks - and even a couple too many on occasion - and not get on the wrong side of the law or their family.

In the end, whether one wants to accept it or not, it all boils down to human behaviour, and some humans choose to behave badly.

Oh for the cure to dumb behaviour to be as simple as passing a motion!

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