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Friday, June 12, 2015
Fire ban back on
A burning ban is back on in the city as of Thursday afternoon due to extremely dry conditions according to a Tweet from the city's official account.
A ban had been in place May 25 to June 3 but was lifted after weather conditions allowed.
- Shane Magee
MLA pleads guilty to assault
Deh Cho MLA Michael Nadli pleaded guilty to a charge of assault causing bodily harm in territorial court in Yellowknife yesterday. He was arrested and charged on April 5 after an incident in Fort Providence where the victim was taken to the health centre. Nadli's bail conditions have also been changed so that he can now live in Fort Providence as well as Yellowknife. Nadli is to be admitted to an alternative justice program in August and will be back in court on July 23. There is a publication ban on revealing the name of the victim.
- John McFadden
Lethbridge cops probe RCMP cell incident
Yellowknife RCMP has asked Lethbridge police to investigate after a use of force complaint against an officer was filed. In a news release, the Mounties stated the complaint alleges improper use of force by an officer during a prisoner search in the RCMP cell block on Jan. 7 of this year. The officer under investigation is not named. Police haven't said when the complaint was filed. It is the second probe this year by Lethbridge police into a use of force complaint against Yellowknife RCMP. The status of an investigation into an incident at the Mac's gas station is unclear.
- John McFadden
Public invited to comment on new fracking regulations
A public engagement meeting on fracking regulations will be held in the Multiplex gymnasium June 15 from 6 to 8 p.m. The GNWT is enhancing filing requirements for fracking in the NWT. If approved, they will be part of the made-in-the-North regulatory system and have four new requirements: baseline surface and groundwater information, public disclosure, measures to address air quality and enhanced reporting. A meeting will be held in French on June 16 at the Yellowknife Inn at 6 p.m.
- Meagan Leonard
Thursday, June 11, 2015
Fracking debate continues at legislative assembly
On June 4, the legislative assembly defeated a motion to hold a plebiscite on Nov. 23 to ask whether hydraulic fracturing should be permitted in the NWT.
Deh Cho MLA Michael Nadli was one of three members who voted in favour, arguing the people of the NWT should have a voice to express their concern.
His defeat came two days after Nahendeh MLA Kevin Menicoche tabled a Liidlii Kue First Nation band council resolution calling for a moratorium on hydraulic fracturing in Liidlii Kue traditional territory, as well as a resolution from Dehcho First Nations (DFN) calling for a ban on fracking in DFN traditional territory.
GNWT focuses on transportation
On June 3, the Department of Transportation released its longterm transportation strategy for 2015 to 2040.
Transportation Minister Tom Beaulieu said in a statement that the department spent the last year gathering public input through an online survey, MLA interviews and speaking with stakeholders, aboriginal leaders and the public.
The first phase of the transportation strategy will involve a Transportation Report Card, to be completed in the fall of 2015. That will provide a benchmark to measure future success.
Gerry Antoine to lead LKFN as chief
Gerry Antoine has been elected as the new chief of Liidlii Kue First Nation (LKFN).
Antoine received 93 votes, surpassing the other two candidates for chief; Arnold Hope received 67 votes and Olinto Beaulieu received 61 votes.
LKFN's new sub-chief is Kele Antoine, who received 189 votes.
The remaining candidates received the following votes:
- Katherine Nahanni received 181 votes
- Kristen Tanche received 180 votes
- William Cli-Michael received 177 votes
- Hilda Tsetso received 175 votes
- Allen Grossetete received 174 votes
- Loraine Moses received 137 votes
- Eric Menicoche received 135 votes
- Ernest Cazon received 134 votes
- Peter Corneille received 115 votes
Health centre set to open in Ft. Providence
After two years of construction, the new health centre in Fort Providence will finally hold its grand opening on June 16, which is expected to reflect aboriginal culture and tradition.
Keys to the $11-million facility, which is much larger than the old health centre, were handed over to the Deh Cho Health and Social Services Authority on April 27.
Deh Cho MLA Michael Nadli said he wants to ask his constituents to "claim a sense of ownership at the new health centre," and said he wants to see the government work collaboratively with Deh Cho residents on programming and services.
Minister of Health and Social Services Glen Abernethy said the public administrator of the Dehcho Health Authority is already working with the community to ensure the facility meets the cultural needs of residents as well as health needs.
"I am also moving to re-establish wellness camps in the Deh Cho so we can continue to get input from residents of the communities in a more effective manner," he said.
Abernethy said he also wants to implement interim wellness councils in the Deh Cho to provide guidance and advice going forward until the new health authority begins in 2016. At that time, interim councils would likely be made permanent.
Fire danger back up to extreme
No new fires have been reported in the Deh Cho for at least 48 hours, but the fire danger remains extreme for Wrigley, Fort Liard and Fort Simpson, despite rainfall in the Fort Simpson area.
The GNWT Department of Environment and Natural Resources (ENR) said in its latest update that a total of 29 fires have been reported in the Deh Cho region.
Of those, five have been declared out, two are under control and 22 are receiving response.
No communities are currently threatened by fires. A structural protection expert is working with crews to protect values at risk, according to the department.
A lightning-triggered fire 75 km east of Jean Marie River on May 28, which had grown to 1,100 hectares as of June 4. ENR has dispatched an Incident Command Team to suppress the fire; the team has set up at Redknife Camp. The fire is being managed by four incident command personnel, five Type 1 fire crews and 23 Extra Fire Fighters as well as two helicopters.
At last update, 60 per cent of the fire's perimeter had been secured and air support from tanker groups was available.
Assault and break-in
Inuvik RCMP are investigating a violent break-and-enter in which the resident was assaulted and restrained.
According to a news release from the RCMP, an unknown male entered a residence on Boot Lake Road at about 2 a.m. on June 3.
"After entering the residence, the suspect entered the bedroom and assaulted the lone occupant and restrained them. No further assault took place, as the occupant was able to fight back against the suspect, who then fled the residence," stated Const. Elenore Sturko in the release.
Police searched unsuccessfully for the suspect, described as a heavy-set male, possibly wearing a leather coat and or leather gloves. The address wasn't released.
Inuvik RCMP are still actively engaged in this investigation with the assistance of the NWT RCMP Forensic Identification Section from Yellowknife, Sturko said.
Aboriginal phys-ed trek
An Ontario man is starting a bike ride from Inuvik to Point Pelee in Ontario to raise awareness for aboriginal health, activity and physical education.
Don Patterson said his intention is to ride from as far north in Canada as he can via road to mainland Canada's southern-most point at Point Pelee.
He's hoping to leave Inuvik at midnight on June 20, at the conclusion of the Midnight Sun Fun Run.
MLAs tour European fibre link
A delegation from the Northwest Territories is heading to Europe to promote what the Mackenzie Valley Fibre Link has to offer to international clients and customers.
The delegation includes Premier Bob McLeod, Finance Minister Michael Miltenberger and Municipal and Community Affairs Minister Robert C. McLeod, MLA Robert Hawkins, the chairperson of the Standing Committee on Economic Development and Infrastructure and officials from the federal and territorial governments, states a news release.
"The MVFL will enable real-time communication between the Inuvik Satellite Station Facility (ISSF) and southern Canada, making it an ideal location for supporting polar-orbiting satellite operations," said Miltenberger. "As the MVFL moves toward scheduled completion in mid-2016, the next step is to start securing agreements with international clients looking to take advantage of this new state-of-the-art communications link."
"Inuvik is one of the best places in the world for receiving data from satellites in polar orbit," said Robert McLeod, who is the Inuvik Twin Lakes MLA. "Investing in the MVFL will make the ISSF more attractive to the international aerospace and scientific communities, helping create a local high-tech industry that will create new jobs and opportunities for our people."
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