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4 Wednesday December 9 2015 The Northern Journal is an independent newspaper covering news and events in the western Arctic and northern Alberta. The Northern Journal is published weekly by Cascade Publishing Ltd. Printed at Star Press Inc. Wainwright AB. Publisher................................................................................. Don Jaque 867-872-3000 ext.21 donnorj.ca Editor..................................................................................... Craig Gilbert 867-872-3000 ext.24 newsnorj.ca Reporter....................................................................... Dali Carmichael 867-872-3000 ext.25 reporternorj.ca Comptroller .......................................................Jessica Dell 867-872-3000 ext.20 webnorj.ca Advertising........................................................................... 867-872-3000 ext.26 adsnorj.ca Administration............................................Jeremy Turcotte 867-872-3000 ext.26 adminnorj.ca Production Manager ......................................Sandra Jaque 867-872-3000 ext.22 sandranorj.ca Graphics........................................................Paul Bannister 867-872-3000 ext.27 graphicsnorj.ca Letters to the Editor Policy The Northern Journal welcomes letters to the editor. Letters must be signed and include a phone number so the author can be veried. Names will be withheld on request in special circumstances where the reasons are determined to be valid. The Journal reserves the right to edit letters for length libel clarity and taste. Opinions expressed in letters and columns are not necessarily those of the publisher or editor. EDITORIAL LETTER TO THE EDITOR 2013 CCNA BLUE RIBBON CANADIAN COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER AWARD 2013 C M C A AUDITED Advertising Deadlines Display ad deadline is Thursday at 400 p.m. Classied ad deadline is Thursday at 500 p.m. Email adsnorj.ca Subscription Rates Prices include GST. 47.25 in Fort Smith 52.50 elsewhere in Canada 105 in the USA overseas 164.30. The Northern Journal acknowledges the nancial support of the Government of Canada through the Canada Periodical Fund CPF for our publishing activities. Hello Dear friends family and those we havent had the privilege of meeting. One year ago on Dec. 9 2014 our life forever changed when we experienced the sudden tragic loss of our daughter and sister Alexis. There are no words to express how the loss of Lex has truly changed our lives in taking us to a whole new life of grief and living through our grief. Through each day right from the beginning we have been blessed with an out pouring of support in so many countless ways and for this we are forever grateful. Unfortunately we cannot thank you all individually please know that we appreci- ate the many ways you all have contributed to shining some light on our dark situation and making things a bit more bearable with all the heartfelt gestures of genuine empathy. It means a lot to our family and we cannot thank you enough. God Bless Darwin Pam and Children Alexis Mae Tourangeau July 24 2001- Dec. 9 2014 Family grateful for support Governments that ride their economies like a one-trick pony do so at their peril. For nine years the Harper Conservatives rejected eco- nomic diversity in favour of padding the nest for big oil and corporate interests and when the downturn hit in 2008 Canada bled like a stuck pig - and here we are today struggling. The same thing happened in the NWT. Will that impact the choosing of a new premier NWT citizens will be MIA in the selection of premier as the process unfolds largely be- hind closed doors over the next two weeks but hopefully candidates will publicly present platforms charged with new ideas and inno- vation and invoke energy heshe can bring to the coming four years. MLAs have been given a plan to use by the last assembly and can buy into it ignore it or build on it to create their updated vision of the future for the NWT. That transition plan Shhhhhhhhhh - Were not supposed to know about this was formulated by a committee of govern- ment administrators and ve MLAs but only two of those MLAs were returned to the new government. A plan from the past may be a valuable resource with important information on which to base future decisions but it also has the potential to encumber the assembly restricting it to outdated thinking. The MLAs should pay close attention to that since many are there because change was in the air. The expectations from the electorate are high. The last assembly led by Premier Bob McLeod focused on oil and mineral develop- ment much as the Harper government did federally. After the crash in oil prices and the downturn in the global economy we clearly see that an all-our-eggs-in-one basket ap- proach was awed. It was also a source of disaffection by the electorate. Central to the purpose and benet of elections is a process of renewal. We learn from past mistakes and choose a better path. Does that mean Bob McLeod like Stephen Harper should be set aside in the search for a leader Two other rumoured contenders Jackson Lafferty the past deputy premier and Tom Beaulieu who held two different portfolios in the past government are also interested to be premier. Both were in cabinet so they too have to wear unpopular decisions of the last government including hydraulic fracturing fracking in the Sahtu as well as tens of mil- lions of dollars in power rate subsidies with no attendant plan for investing in alternative energy. Lafferty was criticized as Education minister for implementing junior kindergar- ten in competition with Aboriginal HeadStart programs. Beaulieu was panned for his per- formance in cabinet why he was shifted to a different portfolio. McLeods very expensive group forays to Texas and China seeking in- vestment in petroleum and resource devel- opment were seen as wasteful. Are those po- sitions defensible Each candidate needs to present a platform that not only addresses such issues but offers an alternative vision for the future that inspires MLAs and engages the NWT public. That is quite the challenge. Given it is unlikely the glut of oil will clear markets for at least a decade and de- mand for new mines will be minimal for at least as long due to struggling economies in China and Europe perhaps it is time to seek a new vision. Rather than see the downturn as a problem the NWT could take advantage and develop an entirely new type of economy. Strengthening communities with small scale local developments based on the movement toward green energy and growing food lo- cally should be a no-brainer. Those are not enough by themselves to generate jobs and wealth on the scale needed to foster a ro- bust NWT economy however so what else is there What could work in conjunction with them to provide an overall solution Can one of the premier candidates offer a compelling vision to ll that space Possible choices for premier are few given the large number of new MLAs. The learning curveinassemblyproceduresworkonvarious committees and the considerable demands of their constituencies is very challenging. Their rst year in ofce is more about learning the ropes and gaining condence. Although a few may know enough about the assembly from past lives and have a rm grip on what they plan to achieve any standout newbies are more likely suited to a cabinet post than op- tions for premier. In fact new blood on cab- inet will be essential if the premier is one of the old guard and new directions are to be forged by the government. That leaves only eight veterans to choose from for premier. Which one is the best choice No one person can swing the will of 19 par- tyless MLAs let alone realign a 4-billion economy but whoever ends up at the helm must chart a clear course we can all under- stand and get excited about. Four rudderless years would be a surere road to ruin. New blood on cabinet will be essential if the premier is one of the old guard and new directions are to be forged by the government Dozens of kids of almost all ages including three-year-old Journey gathered at the Fort Smith Community Recreation Centre for Anne Lepines childrens Christmas party Dec. 5. PhotoCraigGilbert