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Friday, November 25, 2016
Two safe after plane crash
Two pilots are safe after a crash landing about 17 kilometres outside Fort Simpson on Wednesday morning.
An eight-seat Wolverine Air Piper PA-31 was returning to the village from Nahanni Butte after dropping off its passengers, including Dehcho Grand Chief Herb Norwegian and Dehcho Process ministerial special representative Anne Marie Doyle. A preliminary report on Transport Canada's website indicates the pilots declared a fuel emergency at 11:37 a.m. and both engines failed shortly after. During the landing, part of the right wing broke off and both propellers were damaged. No injuries were reported.
- April Hudson and Shane Magee
Bardak removed from John Howard Society
Lydia Bardak says she was shocked to be fired from her job as executive director of the John Howard Society of the Northwest Territories after 12 years.
A Nov. 14 letter to her indicates the society that advocates for effective and humane responses to the causes and consequences of crime wants to go "in a new direction."
She believes her dismissal may have been tied to tardiness in filing paperwork previously, though she said she was making strides to correct the issue. Brad Carlson, a society board member, declined comment.
- Shane Magee
RCMP warn of scam
The RCMP is warning the public of an ongoing e-mail scam. The e-mail claims to be from the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA), and provides a link for a tax refund. Clicking the link may result in the victim giving up personal or banking information, or paying money for bogus fees. The RCMP warns recipients should contact the CRA directly before providing any information.
- Jessica Davey-Quantick
Toboggan hill open
The annual toboggan hill along 51 Avenue opened this week for the winter. The City of Yellowknife tweeted last week that the hill was to open on Nov. 23. The opening means the avenue is closed to local traffic and completely closed between 55 Street and 56 Street.
- Shane Magee
Thursday, November 24, 2016
Cantung Mine worker wins human rights bid
The Northwest Territories Human Rights Adjudication Panel has ruled in favour of a Nova Scotia man who claimed he had been fired by North American Tungsten Corporation Ltd. due to a disability.
Harry Atkins, the man in question, filed a discrimination complaint against the company after a Feb. 26, 2011 incident at the Cantung Mine site.
Atkins suffers from a heart condition. On that date, he was not feeling well and went to the medic at the mine site, who sent him to the nearest hospital in Whitehorse.
There, he was deemed to be healthy and was released, but North American Tungsten refused his request to return to work.
Atkins, who now resides in Nova Scotia, alleged North American Tungsten's refusal was on the basis of his heart condition.
A representative of North American Tungsten did not appear for the human rights hearing, according to the panel's decision. Instead, their court-appointed legal representative filed documents indicating the company's poor financial situation.
According to the decision, the panel ordered the company to re-instate Atkins' employment and pay him for all lost wages or income within 60 days.
The Cantung Mine site is currently considered abandoned.
A request for comment to Alvarez & Marsal Canada Inc., which is North American Tungsten's monitor, received no response.
+LEDs still available in Fort Simpson
After a successful LED bulb swap during Fort Simpson's annual bazaar on Nov. 19, the Arctic Energy Alliance still has some bulbs left over.
Teresa Chilkowich, the Deh Cho community energy co-ordinator for the alliance, said residents can drop by her office at Dehcho First Nations to pick up their bulbs on Nov. 25 between 3 and 5:30 p.m.
GNWT assumes responsibility for monitoring sites
The Department of Municipal and Community Affairs will be monitoring ground water at the existing and historic landfill sites near Fort Simpson, according to a letter from the department's regional superintendent Mike Drake.
In his letter, dated Oct. 30, Drake states the GNWT has been tasked with identifying and accounting for all Commissioner's Land parcels that are potentially contaminated.
Both the existing and past landfills used by Fort Simpson are on Commissioner's land.
Drake stated remediation work will be the responsibility of the GNWT.
Society blames village for $17,000 in damages
Fort Simpson's Historical Society has spent $17,000 so far on repairing water damage to its new heritage centre due to flooding.
The society believes the village is responsible for the flooding, according to a Nov. 14 letter Martina Norwegian, president of the society, wrote to the village.
The flooding occurred after the society requested an account cancellation for water service to an adjacent lot. Acting senior administrative officer Ann O'Hare said water wasn't shut off because there is a difference between cancelling and discontinuing an account.
Stepping up to the net
Youth from across the Deh Cho are practising hard for the upcoming four-on-four indoor soccer tournament in Fort Liard.
The tournament, which is now in its third year of running, will be from Nov. 25 to 27.
Age categories include U14, U16 and U19.
Fundraiser Friday
The East Three Secondary School senior volleyball teams are raising money to help cover the costs of their trips to the Spike It! volleyball tournament in Yellowknife last month.
The teams will be holding a BBQ fundraiser at the Royal Canadian Legion from 5:30 – 8:30 p.m. on Nov. 25.
Three charged for impaired driving
October saw three people charged for impaired driving, according to the Inuvik RCMP's monthly report to city council.
The detachment also issued one 24-hour roadside suspension.
During Thanksgiving weekend, the RCMP participated in a road safety strategy called Operation Impact 2016, during which 16 tickets were issued and one impaired driver was arrested and charged.
Last month, the detachment also laid charges in five domestic violence investigations. Assaults in October 2016 were up to 33 from 20 during the same month last year. There were four break and enters, bringing the year's total to 32. Total calls for service and total violations were up slightly last month compared to October 2015.
GNWT releases salary information
Salary ranges for all public employees in the Government of the Northwest Territories are now available online.
Previously, salary information was available only through public job descriptions and ranges. Now it contains specific job titles and has been centralized on the Department of Human Resources website.
"Openness and transparency are priorities for the 18th Legislative Assembly and this initiative accomplishes that," stated Minister of Human Resources Robert McLeod in a news release.
Disclosure of names, specific pay and bonuses will remain confidential under the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act.
Deadline approaches for tourism funding
Organizations could receive up to $200,000 in community tourism infrastructure funding, but the deadline to apply is fast approaching.
The program provides funding to community governments and non-government organizations to support new and innovative tourism infrastructure projects in and around their communities, according to a GNWT press release.
Its purpose is to increase the attractiveness of NWT communities to visitors, enhance community tourism, increase the use of communications technology in tourism products and more. Costs can include capital costs, communication infrastructure, planning studies, site development and more.
The Community Tourism Infrastructure Contribution Program (CTIC) provides funding to community governments and non-government organizations to support new and innovative tourism infrastructure projects in and around their communities.
To apply, contact your regional Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment or Tourism and Parks office. Applications must be submitted before Dec. 5.
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