NWT
New statistics show there was one opioid overdose in the NWT in 2017, a decrease from five-people who died the year before.The single death suggests the rate of overdoses in the territory are at 2.2 deaths per 100,000 people.
According to numbers from the GNWT Department of Health and Social Services, between 2015 and March of last year 59 people were hospitalized due to opioids.
During that span the NWT also saw 83 visits to the emergency room due to opioids.
The Department of Health and Social Services disclosed the information Tuesday after federal statistics showed 3,987 Canadians died from overdoses in 2017, 34 per cent higher than the previous year.
– Michael Hugall
Feds consult on Indian Act status registration
NWT
Starting in September, the federal government will consult on issues related to registration, band membership and First Nation citizenship under the Indian Act.
The government has put out a call for proposals for community sessions and is offering between $10,000 and $75,000 in funding for events led by grassroots organizations.
The Native Women's Association of Canada is concerned the government will not fully resolve issues of discrimination in the Indian Act.
Funding applications are being accepted until Aug. 17.
– Sidney Cohen
Inuvik drug trafficking case adjourned
Inuvik
Talal Khatib's judge-alone trial, set to take place June 18, has been adjourned.
He was to be tried for two counts of possession for the purpose of trafficking.
The charges are from October 2017 when Inuvik RCMP reported seizing 500 grams of suspected cannabis, 50 grams of crack cocaine, 300 grams of powdered cocaine, more than $25,000 of
Canadian currency and restricted bear spray from Khatib's home.
Khatib was on bail for trafficking charges laid in January 2017 when he was charged for a second time in October 2017.
A new date has not yet been set for the trial.
– Samantha McKay
Parks Canada seeks public input on Naats'ihch'oh, Nahanni parks
Nahanni
Parks Canada is putting out a call for public comments on its draft business licensing policy for commercial guiding in Naats'ihch'oh and Nahanni National Park Reserves.
Comments can be sent in writing, or through an online survey on the Parks Canada website until Aug. 3, 2018.
The policy will define visitor quotas, wilderness preservation and balance commercial and non-commercial uses.
There will be a limit of five commercial licenses, including one reserved for a Dehcho owned company.
One additional license will be available on a trial basis.
Once the review is completed, a consultation summary will be posted online.
– Avery Zingel
GNWT, UNW to enter mediation in October
NWT
A mediator involved in resolving the 1992 Giant Mine labour dispute, which included the killing of nine miners, has been picked to broker a deal between the Union of Northern Workers (UNW) and the GNWT.
Both parties agreed to have Vince Ready facilitate negotiations with the hope of reaching a collective agreement.
Ready has worked on more than 7,000 labour and commercial disputes, according to his website.
Mediation will take place from Oct. 25 to 27 in Yellowknife.
Unionized government workers have been without a collective agreement with the GNWT for more than two years.
The UNW has threatened to strike if the government doesn't increase its wage offer.
The government is pushing for a four-year collective agreement with no wage hikes for the first two years, a one per cent increase in the third year and a 1.1 per cent raise in the fourth year. The
UNW has said it wants an annual three per cent wage hike for the years 2016 through 2018.
"The union is optimistic that a negotiated agreement can be reached with the GNWT," UNW President Todd Parsons stated Friday.
Stewart said the government is also optimistic the two parties will reach a deal.
– Sidney Cohen
Youth Forum accepting applications
Beaufort Delta Region
Northern Youth Leadership is accepting applications for its annual Youth Forum event until July 8.
The forum, which takes place from Aug. 30 to Sept. 6 in Yellowknife, provides an opportunity for Northern youth to share their cultures and discuss challenges they face.
Youth ages 14 to 17 will participate in traditional activities, group discussions and will prepare a presentation to give during the forum and when they return home.
All travels costs are covered by Northern Youth Leadership.
Youth from Yukon, NWT, Nunavut, Nunavik and Nunatsiavut are eligible to apply.
– Samantha McKay