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Is the deck stacked against local retailers? Apparently not while people are decking the halls. But Christmas is a temporary, although sharp, spike in local shopping.

Online shopping, seemingly lower price points elsewhere, citizens routinely tripping south, where they do their shopping, and returning with filled action packers ... One might imagine a Yellowknife without a single retail outlet.

But that's not the case. Besides the ubiquitous Wal-Mart, we have clothing stores, electronic stores, furniture stores, stationery stores, and a book store.

In last week's Yellowknifer, Judith Drinnan said "use it or lose it" in relation to local shoppers and local stores.

"I am a bricks and mortar store and should my sales drop to a certain level, there won't be a bricks and mortar store."

This statement would throw responsibility onto the shopper. And, fair enough.

There isn't really anything that a person needs that cannot be found here, ergo bought here. But those are needs, not wants.

There is a difference, which throws the responsibility back onto the retailer. Buying and consuming aren't just about needs in this world. And that's where local shops can step up, by providing consumers with what they want.

Drinnan herself noted that in response to the many assaults on retail businesses over the years - such as online shopping - she has focused, over the years, on special orders. In other words, she provides personal service and she provides customers with what they want. She has adapted her business to her context.

This is precisely what James Croizier, owner of Ogre's Lair Family Game Shop says in today's story on page 21 ("City sidewalks, busy sidewalks").

"A lot of people ignore the issue of online shopping, but that's to their own detriment and eventually it could put someone out of business. You have to compete with online options," said Croizier.

And he should know. His is one specialty business that has been operating, in various locations, for more than 10 years.

A successful city requires a commitment on the part of everyone.

It's not enough to say that shoppers need to buy locally. Retailers need to provide Yellowknifers with consumables they want, at affordable prices.

That is something to remember after the Christmas sugar rush.

In previous editorials, Yellowknifer has called on Western Arctic MP Dennis Bevington and his New Democratic Party to offer up practical economic policies for the North, as opposed to broad partisan attacks on Prime Minister Stephen Harper's Conservative government.

Bevington's plan to tackle the personal income crunch in the North with a 50 per cent increase to the Northern Resident's Tax Deduction is a good first step towards addressing the high cost of living in the North. Bevington also wants a 'Third Zone' that provides a tax credit to residents in small NWT communities which suffer high rates of poverty and dismal incomes.

When asked to comment on Bevington's plan, former Liberal candidate Joe Handley pointed out high income earners would enjoy most of the increased benefit.

Handley's right but that need not be a fatal flaw if Bevington and NDP policymakers can devise a way to keep that money in the North.

Otherwise, as happens now, working professionals in the communities would use their travel benefits to spend the lion's share of their disposal income shopping down south on vacations and business trips.

Any effort that reduces the cost of living in the North and keeps the savings in the North will boost the Northern economy by attracting workers, increasing transfer payments and possibly by holding the line on ever-increasing costs.

That's why we applaud Bevington's proposal and invite the other parties to build on the proposal rather than bury the effort in partisan rhetoric.

The fact is, regardless of one's own feelings toward sports, hockey resonates loudly with Canadians and their willingness to open their wallets for everything from TV channels, to satellite radio and Internet programming.

And they also open their wallets to purchase almost anything connected to the NHL brand.

That's why ad rates are so high during NHL broadcasts -- especially during prime time hours and the playoffs -- and why the league, itself, will adjust scheduling to accommodate U.S.A. networks (hence those annoying 1 p.m. starts for some playoff games).

It's also the reason why the NHL's dumping of TSN (Bell Media) to ink a 12-year, $5.2-billion deal for its Canadian national broadcast and multimedia rights with Sportsnet (Rogers Communications) was a lead story for every media across the country this past week.

The deal is a huge blow to TSN, which, after this season, will be left with only the (lucrative) world junior championships and regional broadcasts of games featuring the Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, Ottawa Senators and Winnipeg Jets.

The agreement marks the first time TSN will be without national NHL broadcasting rights since 2002.

The CBC, although putting on a brave face, is also a mammoth loser in the NHL's decision, despite still being committed to 320 hours of NHL programming in prime time during the next four years.

While the public broadcaster does get to keep Hockey Night In Canada (HNIC), all revenue from the show will go to Rogers.

The prestige associated with HNIC, and the ability to hawk its own programming during the broadcast are the only benefits to CBC in retaining the show.

In fact, Rogers will assume total editorial control of HNIC in the coming year.

That means the future of such Saturday night stalwarts as Don Cherry and Ron MacLean is now in doubt, and the ultimate direction the broadcast takes will be up to Rogers decision-makers.

In many ways, however, the NHL's switch to one national broadcaster should prove itself good for fans.

With Rogers having national rights to all games -- including every round of the Stanley Cup playoffs and exclusivity to games featuring Canadian teams on Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday -- the deal guarantees the end of blackouts.

One thing that remains to be seen is what happens to the crown jewels of TSN's hockey team, Bob McKenzie and Darren Dreger.

McKenzie, a former editor-in-chief of The Hockey News, has more than one-half million followers on Twitter and is regarded as a definitive source by hockey experts.

Dreger is one of the most connected reporters in the game and is often the first with breaking news on the NHL.

It would be another win for hockey fans, and the network, if either decides to join the Sportsnet crew.

Cherry, on the other hand, is a national icon who has burned a lot of bridges during his run on HNIC's Coach's Corner.

And while there's no doubt many fans would shout their approval if Cherry were dropped, millions more would view it as sour grapes on the part of Rogers.

However it all turns out, TSN's slogan of hockey lives here has been left practically homeless.

As a plume of contaminated water is carried from Alberta up the Athabasca River and into the Slave River, we can't help but wonder why the territory has, for decades, failed to negotiate a transboundary water agreement with our southern neighbours.

In 1997, the wheels were set in motion to generate an agreement when the governments of Alberta, Saskatchewan, B.C., Yukon, NWT and Canada signed the Mackenzie River Basin Transboundary Waters Master Agreement. That agreement, in part, set the path for negotiating bilateral agreements.

A decade later, in 2007, the GNWT signed a memorandum of understanding with Alberta that outlined the general guidelines that would form an eventual bilateral agreement.

Today, as we near the end of 2013, when a government website indicates it aims to have the agreement ratified, signatures have yet to be penned to such a document.

At this point, even if it is signed in the next month, it might be too little too late. The NWT has failed to create a way to have a meaningful say in development over the past two decades years that has directly affected our waterways. The Obed Coal Mine spill is just the latest incident that brings into question our water safety and the effects on the fish, wildlife and people who rely on this essential resource caused by pollution from another jurisdiction.

If an agreement is signed, it should do more than create a feel-good policy that commits the territory and the southern provinces to working together. It should give the NWT real power to fight upstream development that could negatively affect our water. It should also provide our government more power to fight for compensation from Alberta companies that contaminate our water.

Ultimately, any water agreement should strongly favour us. Being the downstream neighbour, we are at the mercy of Alberta-based industry.

The NWT has no shortage of volunteers and people who go above and beyond to help make the territory a great and vibrant place to live.

Whether it's putting in extra time to coach team sports, passing on knowledge of traditional crafts, volunteering as firefighters - the list goes on - these people all deserve recognition.

Recently, two Northerners were given national honours for the work they do in very different fields.

Hay River's Floyd Daniels was named Softball Canada's volunteer of the year.

With 40 years of coaching, playing and time dedicated to NWT softball as a board member and volunteer, he should have 40 such awards on his mantle.

Angie Fabien, Fort Resolution's Chipewyan language instructor, was honoured with the 2013 Prime Minister's Award for excellence in teaching. She has been referred to as a champion of the Chipewyan language.

These are just two of the hundreds of people who work to make our communities better. Every year, a handful of them receive awards recognizing their efforts.

Although they might not do it for the accolades, as Daniels said, it is sometimes nice to be recognized. Although not all of these great people will receive an award, we can at least honour them with our gratitude.

Last week's outrageous decision by the World Trade Organization (WTO) to defend the European Union's (EU) trade ban on seal products from Canada, based on "public morality," reminds us of a visit by a representative of the Queen to Rankin Inlet a few years ago.

Michaelle Jean was the governor general in May 2009 when she embraced Inuit culture by using an ulu to cut a piece of prized seal heart and eat it raw - a custom normally reserved for important guests or the most revered elder in the community.

Jean got it. Those who criticized her, and those who support the EU ban on seal products, don't get it. And that, we submit, is the most troubling aspect of the WTO's decision. Those behind the stance just don't get that questions about public morality go both ways. On that day in May, Inuit leaders, elders and hunters would have been offended had she not accepted the invitation to try this delicacy - the best part to eat from the seal.

Jean recognized the importance of the seal hunt to the Inuit, that all parts of the seal hunt are used to full advantage, whether it be for food or clothing. Further, there is an overabundance of seals to the point that they are considered a pest in some communities, such as Pond Inlet, where seals are known for stealing fish right out of the nets set by local people.

The WTO has agreed, but chose to ignore, that Inuit seal hunters have been treated unfairly, even though the seal hunt is done in a sustainable and respectful manner.

The ban on the export of seal products to the EU from Canada has had an enormous impact since 2009, with the demand for sealskin severely diminished and the price collapsing. That is not so much the case on the relatively small domestic market, where sealskin products, such as mitts and coats, are expensive and highly prized.

Nunavut politicians are rightfully calling on Ottawa to pursue an appeal against the WTO's ruling.

Jean had it right when she told reporters, after eating the seal heart, that many people have lost sight of the origin of what they are eating, and that she recognizes seals are a good source of the vitamins and nutrients that Inuit have relied upon for thousands of years.

Much work can be done to educate people outside Nunavut that the harvesting of seals by Inuit is actually more humane than raising animals in captivity then slaughtering them in a factory setting, as is the norm in the production of beef, pork and poultry products. In fact, the seal hunt is, in reality, less harmful to public morality when compared to the harvest of other animals, quite the opposite to the basis of the WTO's ruling.

If all goes according to plan, it won't be long before TerraX Minerals will begin to conduct exploration work at its Northbelt property.

The property, however, is within close proximity to Vee Lake - near the trapping grounds of several Yellowknives trappers. Fred Sangris, a trapper and former Ndilo chief, said those hoping to use the land - whether it be for mineral exploration, snowmobiling or cabin-leasing - should communicate with the trapping community. This land is, after all, their long-time stomping grounds, and they should therefore have some input into how the land is used.

TerraX has made a good first step by maintaining communication with the Yellowknives Dene First Nation (YKDFN) during its progression in developing the property. In fact, there have been more than 20 interactions between the two parties, according to TerraX's strategic adviser David Connelly. The First Nation was contacted before TerraX even set foot on the property.

It would be best of those at the helm of TerraX to continue this working relationship, and it wouldn't hurt to also include the trapping community as well, as it is these trappers who are most likely to see any impact from the use of the land. Connelly has already said he wants this meeting to take place, so the company is on the right path.

Any company looking to do exploration in the North would be wise to follow this example. Just take a look at North Arrow Minerals to see what happens when you don't consult local First Nation groups when setting sights on mineral exploration. In 2009, the YKFDN, along with the Lutsel K'e band, eventually took the Vancouver-based mineral exploration company to federal court for not consulting with the groups in the process of developing the land to explore for lithium deposits.

As Dettah chief, Ed Sangris, said at the time, the YKDFN is not against mineral development - it just wants to be consulted with first.

When all was said and done, after the matter reached federal court, North Arrow saw its land use permit taken away by Justice Michael Phelan in 2010. The First Nation groups also saw a tidy sum of money - $80,000 worth - paid out as a result to cover fees and costs.

So, TerraX should continue on the path they have started for itself, lest it wants to follow in North Arrow's costly footsteps three years ago.

Northern tourism is getting a boost through Air North's new route connecting Whitehorse, Yellowknife and Ottawa this spring. This will give tourists - specifically from Germany - a faster way to come to the North.

There will be benefits for Yellowknife, according to Brian Desjardins, executive of NWT Tourism, by working with German-based Condor Airlines to promote the North and add the Northwest Territories to their travel plans.

While having a private business step up to promote tourism is always a positive, it shows the local and territorial governments have plenty of catching up to do in terms of promoting Yellowknife and the NWT on the international stage. There is already a fly-in-and-drive RV package offered by B.C.-based Fraserway RV that takes tourists from Whitehorse to Yellowknife. It is marketed as a scenic adventure drive, and nine German tour groups have said their clients favour it. Unfortunately, there have been concerns over the lack of advertising and signage within Yellowknife for those tourists to help them find services and lead them to points of interest. Despite this, the company said they will focus on that package, adding Air North's new route is sure to bring more tourists.

The city and government should be doing more to work with these companies who are investing heavily in promoting the North as a tourist destination. More government backing will help the NWT get a stronger foothold in the fiercely competitive international tourism industry, which, in turn, will bring more revenue to the North's economy and hopefully bring more awareness what the Northwest Territories is really like.

National Addictions Awareness Week (NAAW) has come to a close for another year.

While there are many days, weeks and even months that are devoted to specific issues or causes, NAAW is a particularly important one in the North. Addictions of various kinds are a significant challenge for a large number of people in the NWT. Residents who don't have addictions themselves are often affected, either directly or indirectly, by other people's dependencies.

The importance of NAAW in the North can be judged by the number of events devoted to it. Almost every community in the Deh Cho held at least one event last week specifically for NAAW. Some communities had a complete week full of events.

People use NAAW to draw attention to addictions, to provide support for those struggling with addictions and to promote healthy lifestyle activities. NAAW can also importantly be used to highlight the successes that local people have had in overcoming addictions.

People who have struggled with addictions and are currently living addiction free lives are among the most valuable resources the Deh Cho has for dealing with addictions. Who better is there for an addict to turn to for help or advice than someone who has dealt with the same challenges, maybe linked to alcohol or drugs. Former addicts may also have advice on how to prevent young people from becoming addicted.

During NAAW week, older students in the schools in Trout Lake, Nahanni Butte and Fort Liard heard from one recovered addict. Brad Firth of Inuvik shared his powerful story of living as a crack cocaine addict on and off for 20 years before turning his life around, focusing on a goal and becoming an ultra marathon runner.

Firth openly answered students' questions ranging from whether he ever went to jail to how far he has run and what his diet looks like now. Only the students themselves can say what lessons they took away from Firth's talk, but he provided a real example of what drug abuse can lead to and that recovery is possible.

Every Deh Cho community should make the celebration of people who are succeeding in fighting addictions a key part of their NAAW celebrations. Their experiences provide both cautionary tales and hope for the future.

As you will see by this week's guest comment, my editorial in the Oct. 24 edition of the Inuvik Drum about the ongoing energy problems hit a few nerves, and deservedly so.

To see what I'm talking about, read Mayor Floyd Roland's letter, which I highly recommend. It includes one of the more concise summaries of the town's position on the problems at the Ikhil well I've run across, and includes a nugget or two of information that many people here might not be aware of. I know I wasn't and I commend him on that effort.

That's the second formal complaint I've received about that column, along with several verbal nods of approval from various people.

The two complaints both came from official sources, one being the town, and another coming from a representative of Inuvik Gas. The compliments came from private citizens, including one person who said, "It was the best editorial he's seen in the Drum in 30 years."

Fortunately, I've been at this game of reporting too long to let either sentiment go to my head. My philosophy as a reporter has always been that if someone isn't angry with me, I'm not doing my job. I also subscribe to the old proverb that I cover the news "without fear or favour."

The ultimate compliment might be if everyone is angry with me, so long as I have all the facts. That's a sign of a job well-done and most likely in a very even-handed way.

But getting such enthusiastic thumbs-up from one side and complaints from the other is an indication I missed the mark on being fair in that editorial on Oct. 24. Keeping that in mind, I will strive to do better in the future.

It's an excellent reminder that logic and the facts should rule when it comes to journalism, and that was in somewhat short supply in this instance.

As I said in the original column, I'm not advocating mob rule, I had no intention of inciting one and I would have been wiser to have left any reference to it out.

On a more positive note, my understanding of this ongoing saga, which has been going on for approximately 10 years, has been improved by the discussion the column sparked.

As Roland notes, there are no easy solutions to this situation. Inuvik is caught up in a classic capitalistic conundrum, where it's not financially feasible to simply go out and drill another well.

Like it or not, and many people don't, market forces are at play here that trump the social and human cost of our energy problems.

The town and Inuvik Gas continue to look to find a solution, which is not easily at hand. Nor do I, at this point, have any particularly brilliant suggestions on how to fix it. When I criticized how the town and Inuvik Gas have handled the problem, I entered the realm of the armchair quarterback, which was not proper.

If I'm going to sling a few barbs at people, I should extend the courtesy of offering up a solution to the same scrutiny, which I didn't.

Since discussion is at the heart of both democracy and journalism -- that is, after all, one of the reasons why we have a Letters to the Editor section -- I always look forward to hearing from the public.

We welcome your opinions. Click here to e-mail a letter to the editor.