Yellowknife (Oct 15/03) - Yellowknife's fire department has been recognized for its hard work, winning the 2003 community fire service merit award.

The territorial award recognizes the efforts of the fire department and the entire community for improving the local fire protection system.

Individual fire service merit award recipients for 2003 are Al Kuyten of the Norman Wells fire department and Robert Ansdell of the Tsiigehtchic fire department.

Officially law

The Youth Justice Act passed final reading and was enacted as law in Friday's session of the legislative assembly.

Justice minister Roger Allan said the government must now take an integrated approach to ensuring the new law will work in the NWT.

He said the major focus is on diversion of young offenders rather than incarceration, and added there will be an emphasis on community-based solutions.

"I feel very positive and I think it will work," said Allan.

Left in the dark

Some MLAs are questioning why cabinet changed policy without discussing the idea with the MLAs.

Charles Dent and Brendan Bell challenged minister Joe Handley on the decision to transfer responsibility of 25 housing units from the financial management board secretariat to the NWT Housing Corporation.

Handley said the decision was made in June to meet the housing needs in non-market communities and allow the housing corporation to rent the units to the public on a non-subsidized basis.

Dent and Bell said the idea may work, but said no information was presented to the standing committee responsible for oversight and they will not have an opportunity for input.

Assistance provided

Employment minister Jake Ootes announced Wednesday that the government will assist the workers affected by the closure of Con Mine.

Ootes said his department and Human Resources Canada are working together to provide assistance to the laid-off workers through information sessions.

"These sessions highlight the options available to people for retraining, upgrading, work search skills, student financial assistance, self-employment option, apprenticeship training and training on the job," he said.

MLA Sandy Lee feels that the government should also consider hiring the laid-off workers as clean-up crew at the mine, which she said would make the transition easier.

Voters deserve to know

Great Slave MLA Bill Braden said that candidates who want to be the next premier should shout it out in the upcoming election.

In a news release issued from his office, Braden said that voters are denied the benefit of knowing what their would-be premier's stand is on political issues because the position has always been elected by MLAs behind closed doors.

Braden said that being vocal about the leadership role has never happened before in a territorial election and that by doing so, it would bridge the gap between voters and GNWT leaders.

He said voters and other MLA candidates would have a chance to debate the merits and values of those interested in assuming the position before it is put to a closed-process vote.