Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Mar 11/02) - Friday was a day legislators took pause to acknowledge the critical, and often thankless, role women play in the North.

"Northern women have long been the voice of social justice and for peace in our homes and communities," said Premier Stephen Kakfwi.

A number of MLAs took the opportunity to recognize the role their wives have played in their political lives.

Finance Minister Joe Handley singled out one woman, his wife, whom he "entered into a negotiated, sole-sourced contract with 36 years, six months, 15 days and about 20 hours ago" for special recognition.

Better licensing service coming

New drivers in remote communities will soon have less of a wait for their licences and vehicle registration.

Transportation Minister Joe Handley announced Thursday that as of April 1, offices in Deline, Fort Good Hope, Fort McPherson, Fort Providence and Tuktoyaktuk will be able to issue permanent drivers licences and vehicle registrations.

Currently, temporary documentation is issued until permanent licences and registration are processed at regional centres.

Handley said the department plans to bring the service upgrade to Aklavik, Holman, Tulita and Fort Resolution "in the near future."

Small community committee

The effort to get the government to address what Tu Nedhe MLA Steven Nitah described as "Third World" conditions in smaller communities paid off last week.

On Wednesday the assembly agreed to establish a new special committee to address the needs of non-tax-based communities.

The special joint committee on non-tax-based community affairs will host two territorial conferences on the issue. Under its terms of reference, the committee will provide an interim report to the legislative assembly in the fall and a final report no later than February 2003.