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Friday, July 31, 2015
Testart quits race for Liberal nomination
The race for the NWT Liberal nomination for the upcoming federal election is now down to two candidates. Kieron Testart has withdrawn from the race and thrown his support behind Michael McLeod. Testart, a former president of the NWT Federal Liberal Association, made the announcement in a news release yesterday.
"Michael has proven his dedication to Northerners and like me shares Justin Trudeau's vision for Canada," stated Testart. Gail Cyr is the other candidate.
- John McFadden
Houseboat community rallies for neighbour
The city is coming together this Saturday night to show its support for Yellowknifer Kimberly Fuller, who lost everything in a devastating house boat fire July 17. YK ARCC and the houseboat community have put together a fundraising event dubbed Kimborama at Old Town Glassworks.
Local band Old Town Sound will provide music as well as open mic performers. A buffet will be provided and a donation is suggested at the door.
- Meagan Leonard
Outfitter charges stayed
Wildlife Act charges against outfitter True North Safaris and its guide David Lafferty were stayed earlier this month. A stay of the charges means a discontinuation of the prosecution. The company, owned by Gary Jaeb, was alleged to have operated outside its permitted zone. Jaeb said he's also licensed as a tourism operator which allows him to work outside the permitted zone. Jaeb told Yellowknifer he plans to meet with officials from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources to clarify the limits of the two licences.
- Shane Magee
Roads closing for event
McDonald Drive and part of Bryson Drive will be closed to traffic from 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. The streets will close for the Old Town Ramble & Ride Festival. Part of Bryson will be closed today from 6 to 11 p.m. Bus stops along McDonald won't be available Saturday. Service on Wiley Road and to Ndilo will be via Ingraham Drive.
- Shane Magee
Thursday, July 30, 2015
Menicoche running
Kevin Menicoche has announced he will be throwing his hat in the ring for another term as Nahendeh MLA.
Menicoche said as he has been travelling around to the different communities within his riding, he has heard encouragement from his constituents to run again.
"Because this would be my fourth term, and priorities change, I'd like to seek a fourth mandate," he said.
Menicoche will not begin campaigning until election rules dictate he can, which will be after writs are issued on Oct. 26. Once that happens, those wishing to be candidates will need to submit a nomination package with 15 or more eligible signatures to their returning officer.
Territory exempts child care benefit
The territorial government announced on July 24 that it will exempt the federal government's retroactive Universal Child Care Benefit (UCCB) payment from being considered income.
The UCCB was recently expanded to include a new benefit for children between the ages of six and 17 as well as increasing payments parents receive for children under the age of six.
However, as a taxable benefit, the UCCB normally must be claimed as income, which would reduce the amount of assistance that could be received by users of the Income Assistance program.
With the territorial government's announcement, the increase will still need to be claimed as income, although retroactive payments will not.
Cable TV being repaired
At around 5 p.m. on July 27, Senga Services announced its head end tower had been struck by lightning and service would be down indefinitely in Fort Simpson.
Senga provides a cable TV service to the community. The company posted on its Facebook page that the damage to its equipment was extensive.
Senga reported no expected timeline on when services would return, and took a damage inventory.
On July 28, the company said they were able to restore most of their cable channels, but the damage to the communications side was still affecting radio service.
Fires dwindle
Fire danger is listed as low across the Deh Cho region currently as cooler weather continues to sweep the area.
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (ENR) has said lightning started a fire 60 kilometres west of Fort Simpson, which is being monitored. Meanwhile, a fire that had threatened Jean Marie River earlier this month has been declared out.
Tuk Highway readiness initiative
The federal government has announced new funding will be made available for an initiative to take advantage of the potential benefits of the soon-to-be completed highway from Inuvik to Tuktoyaktuk.
In a news release on July 28, the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency states that the construction of the highway has set the stage for long-term economic growth and prosperity in the Inuvialuit region.
In order for businesses and the communities in the region to take full advantage of the economic benefits of the project, there will be a need for more diversification.
"A regional approach to readiness for economic opportunities across multiple sectors will play an important role to help ensure businesses and communities are well prepared for the road ahead," states the news release.
The Inuvialuit Community Economic Development Organization will receive a total of $2.845 million to develop community readiness workshops, a country foods strategy and a value-added processing initiative to prepare for the impact the highway is expected to have on the region's economy.
There will also be a support training event and annual workshops to promote essential business skill development and entrepreneurship.
Completion of the $299 million highway is slated for the fall of 2017.
Permafrost scientist remembered
The scientific achievements of John Ross Mackay, a Canadian geographer who gained international recognition as an expert on permafrost, were celebrated during a memorial at the Aurora Research Institute (ARI) on July 30.
According to a news release from the Institute, Mackay was a professor with the University of British Columbia. His research program focused on Paulatuk and the Mackenzie Delta, where he conducted field work and collected data from 1954 to 2011.
Although officially retired in 1981, Mackay continued to conduct field research and teach graduate courses, as well as publishing more than 50 research papers, stated the ARI.
Mackay died in October at the age of 98.
Blue moon on Friday
Although not really blue in colour, the full moon that rises July 31 will be a rare event in astronomical terms.
According to meteorologist Scott Sutherland, a blue moon happens when two full moons occur within the same calendar month.
The last one visible to the Americas was Aug. 31, 2012 and the next one will happen Jan. 31, 2018 according to The Weather Network.
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