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NWT news briefs: first aid training, guilty plea in Hay River rec centre injury

First aid training coming up

NWT

Free two-day first aid courses will be offered in six communities throughout the NWT over the next two months by the Workers' Safety and Compensation Commission.

As of press time, there was still room in classes in Fort Simpson and Tuktoyaktuk on March 4 to 5 and March 6 to 7, in Fort Smith on March 14 to 15, and in Behchoko on March 22 to 23 and March 24 to 35.

Those interested can register on the commission's website, and each class can take 18 registrants.

There are also classes taking place in Yellowknife and Hay River, but they are full.

– Tim Edwards

 

Jungkind returned as deputy mayor

Hay River

Donna Lee Jungkind was re-elected as deputy mayor on Jan. 30.

Jungkind and Coun. Vince McKay both put their names forward to serve as deputy mayor.

A vote by all six councillors resulted in a tie. The tie was broken by Mayor Brad Mapes, who opted to have Jungkind remain deputy mayor.

– Paul Bickford

 

Guilty plea in on-job Recreation Centre injury

Hay River

An Alberta-based environmental consultant company charged with violating safety laws following a 2016 workplace injury in Hay River, plead guilty to one of six charges brought against them in NWT Territorial Court Feb. 6.

Arctic Environmental Services Ltd, and president Robert Valleau pleaded guilty to failing to provide the "information, instruction training and supervision that is necessary to protect the health and safety of workers."

Specifically, the count to which the accused plead guilty to says the employers failed to provide "instruction not to use a scissor-lift without being trained ..."

On July 26, 2016 an employee operating a scissor-lift was injured during the demolition of Hay River's Don Stewart Recreation Centre.

Arctic Environmental Services Ltd., and Valleau face five other charges under the Safety Act.

Those include, failing to "provide an occupational health and safety program that included an identification of hazards that could endanger workers at a worksite, specifically scissor-lifts," and failing to "ensure that all supervisors had sufficient knowledge of any occupational health and safety program applicable to workers supervised at the worksite."

For the sixth charge, "failing to ensure that work was sufficiently and competently supervised," Yellowknife Clark Builders is also charged.

The Crown indicated numerous charges would be withdrawn following conviction on count one.

The accused will appear in Yellowknife court on May 8 for a facts and sentencing hearing.

– Brendan Burke

 

Health centre gears up for AWG

Hay River

A medical plan has been created to deal with the influx of participants into Hay River next month for the 2018 South Slave Arctic Winter Games.

Erin Griffiths, the CEO of the Hay River Health and Social Services Authority, updated town council on the planning on Jan. 30.

A larger than normal number of physicians will be in town during the games and athletes, coaches and games participants will be cared for at a separate clinic at the Hay River Regional Health Centre.

Griffiths said it will be a well-staffed and well-supported clinic adding the clinic will open on March 16 and will operate until the closing ceremonies. The games will take place from March 18 to 24. Griffiths told council that games participants will receive priority for rehabilitation and diagnostic services, such as X-rays, ultrasounds or laboratory tests.

"The general public may experience a slight delay in service during the games," said Griffiths.

The health authority will be communicating its plans to community residents by the end of February or early March to let them know there may be slight wait times for diagnostic services at the health centre during the games.

Griffiths said the clinic will be located in the ambulatory care area of the health clinic.

The games will have no impact on public access to the medical clinic. Griffiths said that's why additional physician support was hired. There will be seven physicians working in Hay River during the games, up from the usual five physicians in town. She said there will also be two medical residents who are finishing their last year of medical school.

"We had no problem recruiting physicians and additional support for the Arctic Winter Games," said Griffiths.

"They all want to come up and experience the event."

– Paul Bickford

 

Hunter fined, given ban for wasting meat

Inuvik

An Inuvik hunter received a $2,000 fine on Jan. 23 and is banned from hunting in Yukon for three years after shooting caribou near the Dempster Highway in Yukon and leaving the meat to rot.

The incident took place in July 2013, but the hunter failed to attend the original court date. A warrant was issued for the hunter's arrest. The hunter was charged under the Yukon Wildlife Act last week in Yukon territorial court after Whitehorse RCMP finally got in contact with the hunter.

The hunter will be required to complete an education and ethics class before the hunting ban is lifted.

– Samantha McKay

 

Arts groups ask for piece of lottery pie

NWT

Artists and arts organizations are asking to be included as beneficiaries of money raised through lottery ticket sales.

Under the Western Canada Lottery Act, proceeds from lotteries held in the territory go toward physical activity, sports and recreation programs.

However, as the Western Canada Lottery Act is being updated to protect lottery revenues from federal taxation, arts advocates are hoping the government will consider arts programs as eligible for funding as well.

A committee room inside the legislature was packed Feb. 7 with representatives from the arts and sports communities who came to hear and make statements before a standing committee of MLAs about why their activities should be funded through the sale of Scratch 'N Win cards, Lotto 6/49 tickets, and other lotteries.

Caroline Cochrane, the minister of Municipal and Community Affairs, told the committee that lotteries in the Northwest Territories generate about $4.7 million a year in revenue.

Cochrane said she was unwilling to allocate lottery proceeds anywhere other than to the five regional sports and recreation organizations. In the act, the term "recreation" is undefined.

MLA Julie Green asked if Cochrane would consider expanding the definition of recreation to include artistic activities. Cochrane said she would pass on Green's suggestion to the Aboriginal Sports Circle of the Northwest Territories, the Sport North Federation, the NWT Recreation and Parks Association, the Beaufort Delta Sahtu Recreation Association and the Mackenzie Recreation Association.

"They will define recreation and I will stand behind their definition," she said.

More than 270 people so far have signed an online petition started by artist and arts promoter Eli Purchase to amend the lottery act to allow for proceeds to go toward the arts.
Cochrane expects the revised lottery act to come into force this summer.

– Sidney Cohen