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Wednesday, January 14, 2015
NWT minimum wage set to be highest in country
Effective June 1, the minimum wage in the Northwest Territories will be $12.50 per hour.
Jackson Lafferty, Minister of Education, Culture and Employment made the announcement in Yellowknife on Wednesday. The $2.50 minimum wage hike was selected from out of three recommendations made by a minimum wage committee struck in fall of 2013 to examine a rate increase.
Approximately 1,000 people in the NWT make between $10 and $13 per hour.
- Walter Strong
Teens charged in downtown burglaries
Two teenagers have been charged in connection with a number of downtown burglaries.
In a news release, RCMP spokesperson Const. Elenore Sturko stated that police responded to complaints of a number of thefts in December in the downtown core. The Mounties executed a search warrant at a Yellowknife residence and recovered a large portion of the stolen property.
An 18-year-old female and a 17-year-old man were arrested a charged with 13 criminal code offenses. No names have been released.
- John McFadden
Ambulance not needed after minor mishap
An ambulance responded to the scene of a reported snowmobile accident last Sunday afternoon on Yellowknife Bay, near the snow castle site.
Dennis Marchiori, the city's public safety director, stated in an e-mail the fire division was called by a passer-by about a snowmobile accident involving a rollover. A young woman who was there with her family was not hurt and did not require the ambulance. The snow machine simply rolled onto its side.
- John McFadden
MLAs to review privacy commissioner report
The Standing Committee on Government Operations, chaired by Deh Cho MLA Michael Nadli, will hold a public review of the 2013/2014 annual report of the NWT's Information and Privacy Commissioner.
The meeting is to take place this Friday, Jan. 16 at 1:30 p.m. in committee room A at the Legislative Assembly. The public is invited to attend.
- John McFadden
School open after water woes
Chesterfield Inlet
Victor Sammurtok School was scheduled to reopen this past Monday, Jan. 12, after being closed from Jan. 7 to 9 due to a mechanical problem with its waterpump system.
Blizzard pack a punch
Kivalliq
A threeday blizzard pounded the communities of Arviat, Baker Lake, Chesterfield Inlet, Rankin Inlet and Chesterfield Inlet this past week from the early morning hours of Jan. 7 through until Jan. 9.
The storm closed everything from schools, hamlet offices and government offices to day cares and even retail stores.
The storm also left a ton of people stranded in the south, many of whom had been trying to get back to their community since Jan. 5.
Christmas spirit spreads cheer
Baker Lake
Members of Baker Lake RCMP did their share of spreading a little extra Christmas cheer around their community this past month.
The officers and their families, along with employees of the Department of Family Services, teamed to create 50 food hampers, which were delivered to families in need. Baker's Northern store also partnered in the project.
The Baker RCMP also handed out 1,000 Christmas presents to local children on Dec. 23. The gifts had been donated to the project by local businesses.
For more on the story, please see the Jan. 21 edition of Kivalliq News.
Aglukkaq to run
Kivalliq/Nunavut
Federal Environment Minister Leona Aglukkaq has announced she will run in this year's federal election.
It will be Aglukkaq's third federal election.
The Nunavut MP has endured a fairly tough year, mainly through fallout from the Nutrition North program viewed by the vast majority of Nunavummiut as a failed program.
Rankin residents hit the Peg
Rankin Inlet
Winnipeg had a siren's call for a number of Rankin Inlet residents this past month.
Many of the Rankin travellers took advantage of a few extra holidays to take in an NHL Winnipeg Jets game.
Still others travelled to the Peg to attend the hotticket concert of exCredence Clearwater Revival lead band member John Fogerty.
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