Northwest Territories

The territorial government is introducing a “short-term” cost of living subsidy to offset the rising cost of electricity. While it is unclear how long the subsidy will be in effect, it proposes to offset the increase rates for places like the South Slave facing a 62 per cent rate increase. The cost increases came into effect Feb. 1, following the Public Utilities Board’s approval of an application from the Northwest Territories Power Corporation.

While a school in Jean Marie River is in the clear, a school in Wrigley has tested positive for elevated lead levels in one water fixture. Chief Julian Yendo School and Community Gym in Wrigley showed elevated lead in drinking water. With 27 tested school results announced to date, 22 sites in the N.W.T. have tested positive for elevated levels of lead in some of their drinking water fixtures.

The call for proposals for the $1B Arctic Infrastructure Fund has officially begun. N.W.T. MP Minister Rebecca Alty said the fund will support projects aimed at connecting the North with the rest of the country, while boosting the economy.

Fort Providence RCMP has charged four people as a result of an investigation into a home invasion that occurred late last month.

A first of its kind summit will be held this month focussed on youth empowerment for prevention, action and awareness on gender-based violence in Northern communities.

The Northwest Territories Power Corporation said a planned outage this week could be the beginning of a long awaited return to hydro service for the South Slave.

Nine snow carving teams have just put the final magic touches on their spectacular sculptures for the Interstellar Carving symposium.This is year 10 of the Snowkings’ XXXI international symposium bringing artist teams together from across the territory, country and globe. For four days, from Thursday to Sunday local and international artists laboured amid freezing temperatures to bring their creations to life on Houseboat Bay in Yellowknife.

Yellowknife RCMP arrested a suspect after a tour bus was reported stolen.

Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment Caitlin Cleveland and Sahtu MLA Danny McNeely were among the attendees at last week’s Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada convention in Toronto.