Articles by Francis Tessier-Burns

Featured, News, Politics August 26, 2020

MLAs say Nokleby’s innapropriate behaviour central to her losing cabinet seat

Nokleby says 'gossip, hearsay, rumours and bruised feelings' led to her dismissal.


With her mask dangling from one ear, Katrina Nokleby fled the floor of the Legislative Assembly. For two hours, Nokleby listened as her fellow MLAs criticized her performance and demeanour as minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment, and Infrastructure. A week after Premier Caroline Cochrane stripped Nokleby of her portfolios,…

Featured, News, Politics August 19, 2020

Katrina Nokleby now minister without a portfolio

Nokleby was stripped of her portfolios on Thursday afternoon.


Premier Caroline Cochrane says she has lost her confidence in Katrina Nokleby’s “ability to fulfill her responsibilities” as minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment, and Infrastructure. The premier removed Nokleby’s responsibilities on Thursday afternoon, saying she hadn’t seen any improvement in Nokleby’s performance since the spring. Asked for specifics on…

Community, Featured, Industry, News, Politics August 18, 2020

New agreement gives Tłı̨chǫ businesses first crack at infrastructure project within traditional territory

The agreement also ensures minimum labour requirements.


A recent agreement between the Tłı̨chǫ and territorial governments is said to ensure Tłı̨chǫ businesses will get first dibs at infrastructure project within Tłı̨chǫ lands through direct-negotiate contracts. The agreement comes after the Tłı̨chǫ Government criticized the Government of the Northwest Territories for how it handled contracts for the Rae…

Education, Featured, News August 13, 2020

GNWT looks to give polytechnic more independence in restructuring

The territorial government has recently proposed a new governance model for the upcoming polytechnic, offering the institution to operate further at arm’s length. 


Aurora College’s relationship with the territorial government has been “detrimental to the growth and development” of the college. This statement comes from a discussion paper published by the Government of the Northwest Territories on its proposed governance model for the upcoming polytechnic university. The paper adds the relationship has also…