Dust up at shane thompson legislature tim mercer Witnesses allege legislative assembly clerk Tim Mercer got into physical altercation with Lands Minister Shane Thompson

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Curling glory relived

Volume 49 Issue 16 friday, may 15, 2020 75 CENTS ($1.00 outside city) Cruising into the weekend

Comment: steps toward mining recovery

School's out

Simon Whitehouse/NNSL photo Yellowknifers have begun to emerge from winter hibernation as the spring has finally for summer: arrived give or take a few snowflakes and chilly weather. On May 14, some bikers and scooter riders were spotted at the parking lot of St. Joseph School, including Angus Bea- classes to ton, 15, left, William MacKay, 14, Mitchell Elliott, 15, and D.J. Doyle, 14. remain virtual

$1.00 outside Yellowknife Publication mail Contract #40012157 "It will need to put out every lifeboat it can to weather this storm."

7 71605 00100 5 Managing editor Mike W. Bryant warns that the GNWT is supported by taxes generated by the private sector, page 14. 2 yellowknifer, Friday, May 15, 2020 news Yellowknifer, Friday, May 15, 2020 3 Clarification An article ("Hundreds still coming to NWT despite Covid travel restrictions") and an editorial ("Is the new normal here?") in the May 6 Yellowknifer contained information about the number of vehicles Schools will remain crossing the Deh Cho Bridge. The article and editor- ial should have stated that vehicle traffic across the bridge includes local traffic and the information does not provide a complete picture of how many vehicles are coming into and leaving the territory. Yellowknifer has received additional information on vehicle border closed, leaders agree crossings. Also, Air Canada has since discontinued flights into Yellowknife. Stay tuned for a follow-up story and apologies GNWT pandemic recovery plan permitted schools to open for any confusion caused by the original article and editorial. by Simon Whitehouse include "the absence of teachers in many Metro Huculak, superintendent of Yellow- Northern News Services communities, strong concerns from local knife Education District No. 1 said he echoes Education boards across the territory governments, and an immediate shortage of some of its sentiments. News have agreed not to open schools for the rest the equipment required to maintain safety "We are going to continue with our of the 2019-2020 school year, the GNWT under the CPHO's recommendations." e-learning and delivery of packages to sup- Briefs said in a news release on Thursday. Most schools are also skeptical they port students and plan effectively with our "Due to the many complex operational could implement the elabor- colleagues for a fall start, Two charged as accessories to challenges faced by schools at this time, ate risk management plans whatever that will look like." alleged murder of Yk woman education leaders have decided not to reopen required by the GNWT to Simon Cloutier, Chair of Police have arrested and charged two more schools for the remainder of the 2019-20 reopen before the end of the Commission scolaire franco- suspects in the death of Brenna Menacho. school year," the release said. "(They) agreed school year. phone des Territoires du Menacho, 22, was found dead in Yellow- to take a co-ordinated, territory-wide approach "I am encouraged by the Nord-Ouest said the school knife May 6. to determining if schools will reopen." recent recommendations of boards analyzed their cap- On the afternoon of May 13, the NT RCMP The news follows a period of confusion the NWT Chief Public Health acity to reopen and deter- major crimes unit arrested and charged 24-year- earlier in the week when education super- Officer regarding the safe mined that they wouldn't, for old Jordan Nande, from Fort Liard, and 21-year- intendents, the public and MLAs said they operation of schools during the sake of safety of students old Lisa Brule, from Yellowknife with murder were surprised that the GNWT approved the the time of Covid-19. I under- and staff. – accessory after the fact, according to RCMP opening of schools after they were closed in stand the many challenges "Taking the necessary spokesperson Julie Plourde. late March due to the Covid-19 pandemic. faced by our Education Bod- time to plan for a well- Devon Larabie, 27, of Yellowknife was pre- The government's Emerging Wisely plan ies across the territory, and thought-out re-entry in the for relaxing Covid-related restrictions states support their unified decision fall is our priority. That being viously charged with murder. He will appear in metro hukulak court next in June. that schools can open in the first phase of to focus efforts on planning said, we will continue to sup- "Our investigators have been working dili- recovery, which might start as soon as Friday. for the fall while supporting port our students via our con- gently to reach the progress so far. We remain Circumstances differ greatly across the continued learning for all NWT students for tinuity of learning plans until the end of in contact with Ms. Menacho's family and will communities and regions of the territory the remainder of the 2019-20 school year," June," he said. continue to do so in this difficult time," Insp. when it comes to capacity to reopen schools, said R.J. Simpson, Minister of Education, The remote learning programs of schools Alexandre Laporte, officer in charge of Yellow- the release said, and challenges that would Culture and Employment (ECE). in the NWT are ongoing and there are about knife RCMP, said in a news release. make a swift reopening of schools difficult Commenting on the GNWT release, six weeks left in the school year. Menacho was reported missing May 6. Yellowknife RCMP were alerted to a residence in the area of Forrest Drive and Franklin Avenue that evening, where they found her deceased. Both Jordan Nande and Lisa Brule have Premier won't block been remanded for court appearance scheduled for May 19. None of the charges against any of the individuals named have been proven in court. – Craig Gilbert commercial evictions Woman, 38, charged with assault with a weapon Chamber asked for halt May 1 A woman faces an assault with a weapon charge following an incident in Yellowknife by Simon Whitehouse to sit in the Centre Square Mall. We are typically the fallout commences a little later Tuesday night, say police. Northern News Services also well aware of the programs available to in the month. Yellowknife RCMP responded to a call at a The Government of the Northwest Ter- businesses. However, as indicated multiple She explained that commercial landlords residence in "the area of Franklin Avenue and ritories will not provide a temporary mora- times in our letters, small businesses are not often tend to enter a lease agreement with a Forrest Drive," just before 11:30 p.m. torium on commercial evictions despite a in a position to incur further debt load." tenant that states that rent has to be paid by There, officers found a 29-year-old man with plea from the NWT Chamber of Commerce. The NWT Chamber of Commerce, the the fourth business day. non-life-threatening injuries. On May 1, the chamber sent a letter Press Secretary and Premier's office didn't "If the rent is not paid on the fourth busi- Paramedics on site attempted to treat the undersigned by the Canadian Chamber of make copies of the Premier's letter public as ness day, the landlord will remind the tenant man's injuries, but he "declined medical atten- Commerce and several provincial chapters. of Wednesday evening, nor was the Premier that they have until the 10th business day," tion," RCMP said in an email to Yellowknifer In it, they asked for a temporary halt to com- available for comment. she said. Wednesday morning. mercial evictions as federal funding support Comeau said in an interview on Wednes- During that time, the landlord has the Police arrested and charged a 38-year-old – the Canada Emergency Rent Relief Assist- day that the response has left the chamber ability to change the locks or apply for evic- woman in connection with the incident. ance – is rolled o