NWT
The GNWT is launching public input sessions across the territory as it prepares to overhaul two acts regulating oil and gas exploration and development in the NWT. The NWT's Petroleum Resources Act and its Oil and Gas Operations Act are set to be amended with a focus on modernizing and making the processes more accountable to the public, stated a news release.
Upcoming hearings are in Norman Wells on March 26, Inuvik on March 27, Yellowknife on April 9 (English) and April 10 (French), and Hay River on April 12.
– Tim Edwards
Town to seek more time to finish work
Hay River
The Town of Hay River will seek an extension for Porritt Landing dredging, which has to be done by the end of the fiscal year on March 31.
At the March 6 meeting of the Public Works Committee, councillors were told the work would not be done by that date.
"We're never going to get it by March 31," said Earle Dumas, the town's director of projects and planning, of the $21,000 dredging project. Dumas said the project could be done by boating season.
The funding is from the Small Crafts Harbour Program of the Department of Fisheries and Oceans.
"If we don't have the funding in place then we can't do the work," said Deputy Mayor Donna Lee Jungkind. "So we'll have to see if there's any way that we can get an extension."
– Paul Bickford
GTC to launch Taii Trigwatsi in Aklavik first
Aklavik
Aklavik will be the first Gwich'in community to get the Gwich'in Tribal Council's (GTC) Taii Trigwatskii program starting April 2018.
The Taii Trigwatsii program is an eight-month-long training program that teaches participants Gwich'in traditional knowledge, life skills, adult basic education, workplace essential skills and entrepreneurship.
The GTC signed an agreement with the Government of Canada to launch the Taii Trigwatsii program in all four Gwich'in communities.
Those who are interested in participating can attend an intake session between March 19 to 23 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day at the Sam Arey Curling Club.
– Samantha McKay
Funding for NWT infrastructure
Hay River
On March 7 in Yellowknife, the federal government and the GNWT announced the signing of a bilateral agreement to provide more than $570 million over the next decade in federal funding for infrastructure projects under the Investing in Canada plan.
The projects will be cost-shared with the territorial government, municipalities and other partners.
The federal government is providing up to 75 per cent of eligible expenditures in the territories and for projects with Indigenous partners.
– Paul Bickford