The territorial government is rounding out its emergency alert system with a special website that will contain all active and past warnings.
The GNWT has issued a request for proposals for a website that will broadcast emergency alerts in real time and connect with the national Alert Ready system, which warns residents of emergencies in their area via radio, television and cell phones.
The site will also include a map to show the area affected by an emergency, the severity of the emergency, instructions for the public and a record of past emergencies.
The goal is to establish a virtual one-stop shop for public safety messaging in the territory, Ivan Russell, acting director of public safety with the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs, said on Monday.
"It's a place that the public can go and get the most up-to-date information on what's going on," said Russell.
"Currently we can issue an alert and it will pop up on your TV, but then it's gone. Whereas if you had a website to go to, a public alerting website, all our current alerts would be there."
A live test in May of the Alert Ready system in NWT yielded mixed results, with the notification failing to reach many devices.
– Sidney Cohen
Yukon Tories propose greater resource sharing
In a document outlining policy for the Conservative Party of Canada, its Yukon electoral district office proposes a resoution to pursue 100 per cent resource royalties for the three Northern territories.
The amendment will be considered at the Conservative Party of Canada convention in Halifax this weekend. It suggests seeking further powers through devolution of responsibilities from INAC to territorial and Indigenous governments.
In 2014, the Devolution Agreement jurisdiction over Crown resources and land passed from the federal to territorial government.
The NWT Bureau of Statistics records that revenues from mining exploration make up roughly a quarter of the territory's $4.6-billion GDP. The GNWT keeps 50 per cent of revenues collected from resource development on public land, and the federal government deducts that share from the territory's federal transfer payment.
Yellowknifer will have reaction to the vote on the resolution in the next edition.
– Avery Zingel
Man sentenced for 32nd theft-related conviction
A Yellowknife man with a lengthy criminal record earned his 32nd theft-related conviction after pleading guilty to walking out of a city store last month – wearing a stolen coat.
Jacob Griep, 34, was convicted by Judge Robert Gorin on one count of theft under $5,000 in NWT territorial court Wednesday.
In July, Griep, who has a total of 80 convictions, entered Mark's Work Wearhouse, removing the tag of a $169 coat before putting it on and leaving the store.
Griep was arrested a week later.
Crown prosecutor assigned to Griep's case told the court the defendant's dozens of theft convictions show a pattern of conduct that hasn't been deterred by jail time.
Gorin sentenced Griep to 75 days in jail
He's barred from going within 10 metres of Mark's Work Wearhouse.
– Brendan Burke
Disability council gets trained
The Safe Harbour Day Shelter and Salvation Army were closed Monday for staff training.
NWT Disability Council executive director Denis McKee, said it was the first time staff from both facilities were able to meet together for training.
"(The training was) in relationship to all of our services in regards to all of our services that we provide for the homeless population focusing on harm reduction, addictions counseling and relationships" he said.
The training was presented in partnership with the GNWT.
– Dylan Short
Jail for Reddi Mart store trasher
A Yellowknife man who trashed the inside of the downtown Reddi Mart received a 90-day jail sentence for the angry outburst, and a pair of other offences, in territorial court Wednesday.
Michael Abel, 51, pleaded guilty to two counts of mischief and breaching a recognizance in relation to a trio of separate incidents spanning the course of two months.
The guilty pleas lead to Abel's hundredth conviction, mostly for property, mischief and theft.
He is barred from attending the downtown Reddi-Mart.
– Brendan Burke
New council shouldn't tackle pay dilemma
As changes to CRA taxation rules on municipal officials loom, councillors say the incoming council should not be forced to vote on their own wages.
In a recent memo to council, senior administrative officer Sheila Bassi-Kellett outlined options for refreshing pay practices at the city.
Councillors requested public input on remuneration, but time constraints won't allow for that consultation, said Bassi-Kellett.
Instead, a consultant could deliver recommendations on pay practices directly to council, as the January 2018 deadline for CRA tax reform approaches.
Administration recommended council approve a committee that would study the consultant's findings.
– Avery Zingel