Andrew Raven
Northern News Services

Fort Simpson (Sep 30/05) - With the CBC lockout now into its seventh week, residents across the Deh Cho are anxious for the national broadcaster to get back onto Northern airwaves.

Locked out CBC reporters, producers and technicians march outside of the network's Northern headquarters in Yellowknife, Monday. The labour dispute has entered its seventh week and many Deh Cho residents are anxious for the corporation and the union to reach a new contract. - Dorothy Westerman/NNSL photo

"The information the CBC provided is good to have," said Ericson Sanguez from Jean Marie River. "I'm hoping it comes back."

The labour dispute began in mid-August, when management locked out 5,500 reporters, producers, camera people and technicians.

The corporate brass closed CBC North headquarters in Yellowknife, which broadcasts the morning radio show Trailbreaker and Northbeat, its nightly television news program.

The Northern content was replaced with Toronto-based shows and the BBC world news service, leaving most Northwest Territories residents without their main source of daily news.

"Lots of people listen to CBC," said Fort Providence mayor Maggie Levavasseur. "Especially some of the elders whose English is not as good as their Slavey."

CBC North broadcast its morning radio news in several aboriginal languages, something several Deh Cho residents said was important for the older generation.

"There are elders in town who liked to hear their language," said Melaine Simba from Kakisa.

However, the concept of the CBC as a vital link to the outside world was not unanimous. Chief David Moses of Wrigley said residents of his small Mackenzie River community have more immediate concerns.

"People have not complained to me," Moses said. "If the road to Fort Simpson was bad, that would be something I would hear about!"

The lockout has centred on the number of contract workers employed by the national broadcaster.

The union wants more permanent positions while the corporation said it needs a flexible workforce.

Both sides met Monday with federal labour minister Joe Fontana who said he has received an "extraordinary number of complaints" from Canadians.

Fontana said both sides have expressed a willingness to end the dispute, though a settlement did not appear imminent.

An interview request for Jack Vethaak, union head for the locked out CBC workers, was not returned before deadline.