Online first at NNSL.com AWG suspended Volume 49 Issue 98 FRIDAY, MARCH 5, 2021 75 CENTS ($1.00 outside city) Jam fam slams ban on live performance Performers circulate petition calling for public health to allow concerts Simon Whitehouse/NNSL photo Patrick Jacobson, owner of Yk Rocks, left, and Trevor Sinclair, president of Music NWT, pictured here at Top Knight on March 4, are demanding that the Government of the Northwest Territories makes more accommodations for the live music industry in Yellowknife. St. Croix MLA calls Nubian Soul looks to NWT SPCA Sista gets future with experience to business fundraiser in YK 'racist' $1.00 outside Yellowknife Publication mail Contract #40012157 "Anyone receiving a vaccine will also receive an immunization card for their personal records only." 7 71605 00100 5 – Darren Campell, manager of communications with the OPCHO, says there will be no immunization passport, page 4. 2 YELLOWKNIFER, Friday, March 5, 2021 news YELLOWKNIFER, Friday, March 5, 2021 3 Did we get it wrong? Yellowknifer is committed to getting facts and fact FILE names right. With that goes a commitment to acknow- ledge mistakes and run corrections. If you spot an NWT COVID-19 SITUATION AS OF MARCH 2 error in Yellowknifer, call 873-4031 and ask to speak to an editor, or email [email protected]. We'll get a Active cases: 5 347 correction or clarification in as soon as we can. Days since first confirmed case: Confirmed cases: 74 Days since last confirmed case: 8 Recovered cases: 69 Vaccines NEWS Completed tests: 14,681 First doses administered: 15,217 Negative tests: 14,612 Scan for the Second doses administered: 4,558 Briefs latest GNWT Pending tests: 14 Covid-19 statistics Total doses administered: 19,775 Monkey Tree case Source: Office of the Chief Public Health Officer adjourned to March 30 The Monkey Tree Pub will not be bat- tling the Government of the Northwest Ter- ritories over a Covid-19 related summary offenses ticket until later this month. MLA calls for reverse The food and beverage establishment on Range Lake Road had been scheduled to appear in court on March 2, however the court adjourned the case until March 30. The pub remains the only food and recycling vending machines beverage establishment that has received a summary offenses ticket for $5,175. The ticket was issued on Dec. 15 and related to an alleged violation of Covid-19 around Rylund Johnson wants greater access to recycling capacity. Jen Vornbrock, co-owner of the pub, and bottle returns for downtown residents stated that not a lot came out of her court appearance, however she is finalizing her by Blair McBride representation and expecting more disclo- Northern News Services sure of information regarding the case in Environment and Natural Resources the future. (ENR) Minister Shane Thompson said his The Covid Coordinating Secretariat was department is open to introducing recycling asked for comment about the outcome of container deposit machines in Yellowknife. Tuesday's court date, what was discussed Department staff are examining technical during the case. specifications to see if the machines could The Secretariat was also asked if the operate in the extreme weather conditions of GNWT intends to continue using taxpayer the NWT. money to fight a $5,000 ticket and if the Thompson was responding to questions pub remains the only one in the Northwest from Yellowknife North MLA Rylund John- Territories which has been charged. son, who mentioned vending machines into Shelley Browne, manager of communi- which recyclable items are inserted in return cations for the Secretariat declined com- for cash. The machines could be a solution ment due to the issue being before the court. for elderly residents or people with dis- – Simon Whitehouse abilities or mobility issues so they don't have to walk all the way to the recycling depot on Wage top-up program Old Airport Road. Another option is a satellite recycling sta- extended for low-wage workers tion in downtown Yellowknife that feeds the The GNWT announced Thursday that main one. the wage top-up program will be extended "Several years ago I had a conversation until Aug. 31, 2021. with a man in downtown Yellowknife who The program, originally announced as collected bottles – mostly out of the trash – a short-term measure, supports low-wage into a bag, slumped the bag over his back workers by topping up wages between and walked them out to the recycling depot $13.46 and $17.99 to $18 an hour. for the few dollars he earned. It's a common Businesses have been asked to provide sight in Yellowknife to see people walking top-up wages to eligible employees on down Old Airport Road with a bag over their behalf of the GNWT. In return, the GNWT shoulders. compensates the employer by covering their "Our beverage recycling program is one of CPP and EI expenses related to the top-up. the best in the country. But when will some- If an employer chooses not to participate one be able to return recycling in downtown in the program, employees can apply dir- Yellowknife?" NNSL file photo ectly through the Department of Finance’s Thompson said ENR is very supportive of website, or by contacting NWTwagetopup@ piloting automatic deposit machines and the Rylund Johnson is calling for better recycling in downtown, Katrina Nokleby gov.nt.ca. The program, originally in place department is looking into them for the new wants a engineer tech teacher at new polytechnic and Caitlin Cleveland from April 1, 2020 to July 31, 2020, has licensing process for 2022. gives a shout-out to female business owners. now been extended three times. As of the end of Feb. 2021, there are 96 Shout out to YK businesswomen are entrepreneurs the list is extensive: Sarah circumpolar engineering. businesses participating in the wage top-up In a session of the legislative assembly Kalnay-Watson of Let Me Knot, Meaghan "This is a field that could incorporate program and 2,337 individuals who have Thursday where MLAs paid homage to the Peters of Etanda, Sarah Eramus of Eras- traditional Indigenous knowledge as well as benefitted. The cost of the program so far contributions of women, just days before mus Apparel, Charlene Chapple of Haylani permafrost experience and climate change is $2,670,079. International Women's Day on Monday, Kam Apparel, Cheryl Houweling of Kavanaugh, adaptation to vastly improve our understand- – Natalie Pressman Lake MLA Caitlin Cleveland gave a shout Nadja Lennie of Fireside Denture Clinic, ing of cold regions engineering," she said. out to local women in business. Diana Curtis of Diana Curtis Design and Gil- Local engineering firms could provide Applications open for "I'm honoured to know some pretty lian Rivers of PH8 Studio Beauty Boutique." training and mentorship to students, giving incredible people who identify as women," Cleveland explained that people with incentive to young engineers to stay in the Yellowknife Spring Clean-Up she said. "I've met, learned from, worked entrepreneurial spirits challenge the status North. The City of Yellowknife has once again with and loved women who are change mak- quo and are open to change, despite the risks But amid the many national and inter- opened applications for their annual Spring ers, trailblazers, creative geniuses, intellec- and costs of going into business. national research projects undertaken in the Clean-Up initiative. The campaign is open tual rock stars and expert humans." "But it's not about perfection or never NWT, there aren't enough northern-raised to non-profit organizations volunteering to "Monday is International Women's Day failing. Every misstep is a chance to learn, professionals to pursue them. clean up an assigned are of the city between and this year's international theme is Choose grow and get better. Teaching women and Nokleby cited German and Finnish stud- May 17 and May 23. In exchange, the pro- to Challenge. The constituency I serve is girls how to fail, be brave and try again is ies on permafrost and the Inuvik-based Nihtat gram offers $600 to the community group home to great change makers who choose to imperative to the success and future of our Corporation's geotechnical investigation for for their work. Interested organizations challenge." entrepreneurial spirit. the GNWT for a wind study. should apply by 5 p.m. on April 30, through She named Myrna Pokiak, Inuvialuit "Can you imagine the wealth of know- the City's website at www.yellowknife.ca/ artist and entrepreneur; Yellowknife city Train techs at polytechnic: Nokleby ledge that projects like these would bring springcleanup. Organizations are required councillor and Best Movers owner Cynthia On the subject of resourceful, Northern to local expertise? How they could help us to provide ten volunteers to be assigned a Mufandaedza; and Tiarella Hanna, animal spirits Great Slave MLA Katrina Nokleby better understand our own backyard. By space. Groups looking to be assigned more advocate and owner of Happy Pooch Groom- called for the creation of an engineer tech ensuring engineering tech programs are part than one area must have ten different volun- ing and Services. program at the new polytechnic university. of our new university we'll be better equipped teers per area. "One strong commonality between these To lessen reliance on southern techs for to deal with our Northern, remote climate by – Natalie Pressman passionate women is they're business owners. Northern jobs, Nokleby said the new pro- retaining knowledge, expertise and experi- When I think of women I grew up with who gram could train engineers to specialize in ence in the North." 4 YELLOWKNIFER, Friday, March 5, 2021 news GNWT not providing immunization passports: CPHO Territorial government leaving issue up to the Government of Canada, for now by Simon Whitehouse administration and tracking people Northern News Services for later doses.