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Newsbriefs: Friday, May 19, 2017
Denecho King trial date set
Denecho King's murder trial has been set for next spring.
The 24-year-old man is scheduled to appear before a jury on April 9, 2018. The trial is scheduled to last six weeks.
A preliminary inquiry was held between Nov. 21 and Dec. 7 of last year to determine whether there was strong enough evidence for the case to move to trial.
King is charged with the second-degree murder of John Wifladt and the attempted murder of Colin Digness in December 2014.
- Kirsten Fenn
New dates for >spring cleanup
The city's annual spring cleanup event has been rescheduled to May 20-28 because of a slow spring thaw, according to the city.
Each year, groups of people get together for the annual event to clean up different areas of public land. The city generally gives out service contracts for the work and awards $500 for each area that is spruced up.
- Kirsten Fenn
Fire danger high
The fire danger in the Yellowknife region was listed as high on Thursday.
Although no wildfires have been reported in the North Slave, one fire has been reported near Inuvik, according to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. Last year, the fire season kicked off May 14 with a fire near Madeline Lake about 25 kilometres outside the city.
From May 1 a burning permit has been required for fires outside municipal limits unless it's for cooking or heat. Free permits can be obtained from Environment and Natural Resources.
- Shane Magee
Dominion Diamond grants access
Dominion Diamond Corporation announced this month that interested parties, including the Washington Companies - an American group of privately-held companies that had previously expressed interest in a potential buy-out - have been granted access to a confidential data room, after agreeing to confidentiality agreements.
On March 27, Dominion formed a special committee to review options, which could include the sale of the company.
- Jessica Davey-Quantick
Newsbriefs: Thursday, May 18, 2017
Inuvik photographer chosen for exhibition
Weronika Murray was one of three Northwest Territories photographers chosen to have her work shown at the Canada 150 exhibition in the Canadian Museum for Human Rights.
Seventy photographs from across the nation were chosen, four of which were by Murray.
The exhibition will open a week before Canada Day.
RCMP in midst of road safety week
RCMP detachments in the territory are taking part in National Road Safety Week from May 15-22.
During the week, the RCMP is striving to educate motorists in regard to unsafe and aggressive driving behaviours through an aggressive enforcement campaign.
Specific offences such as the lack of seatbelt usage, speeding, distracted driving, impaired driving and aggressive driving infractions will be targeted.
Last year, there were five charges of impaired driving laid, with more than 180 driving infraction charges during the week.
GNWT meets with IRC and GTC
The GNWT held its third intergovernmental meeting of the 18th legislative assembly with the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation last week, while it also held its second intergovernmental meeting with the Gwich'in Tribal Council.
The GNWT and IRC discussed truth and reconciliation, self-government priorities, education, GNWT marine services, final agreement implementation, oil and gas rights in the Beaufort Sea and much more.
With the GTC, the GNWT discussed the territory's climate change strategic framework, implementation of the Gwich'in Comprehensive Land Claim Agreement, contracting processes and more.
Entrepreneurship funding available
The Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment is increasing the amount of funding it provides to entrepreneurs and small businesses in the territory under its Support for Entrepreneurs and Economic Development (SEED) program.
"Our government's commitment to economic diversification is reliant on a foundation of small- and medium-sized businesses," stated Wally Schumann, ITI minister, in a news release. "As these businesses flourish, their success will be reflected in regional economic growth and eventually the sustainability of the NWT's economy overall."
The entrepreneur support stream's maximum contribution will increase from $15,000 to $250,000 and the business intelligence and networking stream's maximum contribution will increase from $3,000 to $4,000.
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