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FortSmithtowncouncilapproves2015budgetMountingoppositionfromresidentsaskingforincreasedlibraryfundingcantconvincecounciltoamendtheitem.Seepage6.DearSanta...StudentsfromFortSmithsharetheirletterstoOldSt.Nick.Seepage13.WALKINGWITHOURSISTERSMemorialartinstallationreachesYellowknife.Seepage14.SSDECreleasesLutselKeChipewyandictionaryLikeSantadeliveringpresentstokidsmembersoftheschoolboardvisitthecommunitytohandouttheirnalproductthreeyearsinthemaking.Seepages1011.LearninginstitutefeasibilitystudylaunchesinSahtuAfteralmostadecadeofne-gotiationstheGNWTtakesitsrststeptowardplanningapost-secondaryfacilityintheregion.Seepage7.VISITWWW.NORJ.CAAnationalawardwinningindependentnewspaperservingnorthernAlbertaandtheNorthwestTerritoriessince19771.00December232014Vol.38No.34ByDONJAQUETherecentlyreleasedreportfromtheConferenceBoardofCanadawasoptimisticinitspredictionsfortheNWTeconomyin2015sayinggrowthwilljumpfrom1.5percentin2014to5.3percentnextyearbutIndustryTourismandInvestmentMinisterDaveRamsayiscertaingrowthintheterritorywillexceedthosepredictionsandthensome.Ramsayjustreturnedfromawhirlwindtwo-dayvisittooilcom-paniesinCalgary.HealsometwithanoldacquaintanceTimMcMil-lannewly-appointedpresidentoftheCanadianAssociationofPetro-leumProducersCAPPwhore-signedhispositionasMLAinthegovernmentofSaskatchewantotakeontherole.OnhiswaynorthRam-saystoppedinEdmontontomeetthenewAlbertaEnergyministerFrankOberle.IsqueezedinalotintwodaysquippedRamsay.Ifyouwerehopingformoreoilandgasdevelopmentthenewswasnotthatgood.RamsaymetwithHuskyOilConocoPhillipsandParamountOptimisticoutlookforNWTeconomyResourcesallinvolvedintheshaleoilplayintheCentralMackenzieValley.Theytoldtheministertherewouldbeapause.Thepriceofoilhasdroppedtoolowtosupportthecapitalcostofexplorationinafrontierarea.Couplethatwiththeannounce-mentfromChevrononDecember18thatithashalteditsArcticdrill-ingplansandthingslookbleakfortheNorthernoilpatch.Ramsayhadapositiveviewofitall.HesaidasfarasweknowIm-perialOilandBritishPetroleumarestillmovingforwardwiththeiroilexplorationplansintheArctic.AsfortheCentralMackenzieshaleoilplayhesaidthosecompanieswillbebackwhenconditionsareright.Theyknowtheresourcesarethere.Miningisadifferentstoryespeciallywhenitcomestodiamonds.RamsayisasjollyasOldSaintNickwithafreshplateofhomemadecookieswhenhegetsgoingonthat.HesaidtheA21pipeatRioTintosDiavikminewillstartproductionin2018whichwillextendthelifeofthatminepast2023.SimilarlythenewJayPipeatDo-minionDiamondsEkatimineoneofthebiggestpipeseverdevelopedinCanadawillextendthelifeofthatmineforatleast10years.TheGahchoKueDiamondmineatKen-nadyLakeco-ownedbyDeBeersandMountainProvinceMiningisunderconstructionandsettoopeninmid2016.TotopitallDominionDiamondsrecentlymoveditshead-quarterstoYellowknife.Thatsgoodforustoo.Itsendsagoodmessage.Weareopenforbusinessenthusedtheminister.TheFortuneMineralsNICOgold-cobalt-bismuthmine160kmnorth-westofYellowknife18yearsinthemakinghasnallypassedallregu-latoryhurdlesandisreadytogo.Itwillinvolveconstructionofanewall-weatherroadthatwillconnecttheTliChocommunitiesofWhatiandGametitotheMackenzieHighwaysystem.AmillonsitewillproducebulkconcentratethatwillbetruckedtoHayRiverandshippedbyrailtoSas-katchewanforrening.Thatmineisplannedtolast18years.ThereisalsoactivityatCanadianZincsPrairieCreekMineintheheartofNahanniNationalPark.Ithadgonequietforthelasttwoyearsastheylookedforinvestorsbuttheyre-centlycommencedan18millionundergroundprogram.Ramsayallowedthatsomeoftheregionaleconomiesarestrug-glingandthatnewopportunitiesareneededforthem.HesaidtheNWTgovernmentiscommittedtoacorridoruptheMackenzieValleywithanallweatherroadapipe-lineandthenewberopticlinetoInuvikthatwillsoonbeinstalled.Theconstructionoftheroadbe-tweenInuvikandTuktoyaktukisalsogeneratingconsiderablespin-offbenets.Weneedtokeepinvestinginin-frastructure.HesaidtheGNWTisstillpursuinganincreaseinitsborrowinglimitfromthefederalgovernmentsotheycantacklemoreprojects.LookingintohiscrystalballRamsaypredictedthatsincenextyearisafederalelectionyearalotofcapitaldollarswillowfromthefederalgovernmenttotheNWT.AllinallheisveryoptimisticabouttheNWTseconomicfuture.PhotoLawrenceNorbertThenextNorthernJournalissuewillbereleasedJan.132015withourannualYearInReview.SantameetsTsiigehtchicelderAnnieNorbertwhileattendingtheChiefPaulNiditchieSchoolChristmasConcertheldonDec.16.StudentslearnedalessonaboutthespiritoftheholidayswhileactingoutCharlesDickensiconicseasonalstoryAChristmasCarol.Toseemorephotosheadtopage12.