News

Environmental groups and coastal First Nations say a major economic agreement announced this week between British Columbia and the federal government protects the North Coast tanker ban, but leaves new concerns about a possible southern oil pipeline route.

The Village of Fort Simpson reported that at approximately 7:00 pm last night wildfire FS016, which caused the evacuation order for the community earlier this week, burned around the tank farm at the Wrigley turnoff.

Housing NWT says modular homes, constructed as five duplex buildings, valued at $150 million are scheduled to arrive in Ulukhaktok in early August. The units were loaded onto a Marine Transportation Services vessel to depart Hay River on July 6. The housing units will make a journey across the Great Slave Lake, down the Mackenzie River to the Arctic Ocean, over a distance of more than 2,200 kilometres.

NWT Fire reported last evening that only two new fires had been identified in the territory.

The territorial government says water testing is underway after recent findings of bacteria, including E. coli recently detected at Fred Henne Territorial Park. Public swimming, wading and shoreline play at the main beach area have been temporarily restricted in the meantime.

Alberta’s proposed new oil pipeline would be built along a southern route to the B.C. coast through a partnership with Trans Mountain Corporation and Pembina Pipeline Corporation.

Canada and British Columbia announced a broad agreement that would preserve the oil tanker moratorium on the north coast and ensure B.C. would see economic benefits if Alberta’s proposed pipeline project goes forward.

FS016, the wildfire burning near Fort Simpson, has still not entered the town and continues to burn adjacent to it, but NWT Fire says there is still the threat of further growth.

Yellowknife RCMP are asking for public assistance to locate a suspect who is wanted in connection to alleged assault.