Articles by James O'Connor

Featured, Health, News June 4, 2025

Continued bleeding of doctors at Stanton hospital to force longer waits in emergency dep’t

Health authority: 'Please rest assured that your health and safety remain the top priority. Every patient will continue to receive safe, compassionate care.'


The difficult pause between arriving at Stanton Territorial Hospital’s Emergency Department and seeing a doctor is due to get worse as the weather gets warmer. “We understand that these challenges may also mean longer wait times in the ED, and this can be frustrating,” reads a Health and Social Services…

Featured, News, Wildfires June 4, 2025

Tulip Lake Wildfire in full bloom 28 kms east of Fort Smith

Currently no evacuation notices, alerts, or orders related to the 6,545-hectare blaze on the NWT/Alberta border, says NWT Fire


A unified command team consisting of Alberta and NWT – with representation from the Tthebatthı Dënesųłiné First Nation (formerly known as Smith’s Landing) — governments will be responsible for managing the large Tulip Lake Wildfire, 28 kilometres east of Fort Smith. Currently, additional crews, aircraft and other resources are forming…

Featured, News, Politics, Reconciliation June 2, 2025

GNWT to pay ‘bilingual bonus’ for Indigenous languages used on the job

Indigenous representation, involvement, and participation at all levels of the territorial public service is crucial, says GNWT


Employees with the territorial government whose duties involve use of an Indigenous language will be paid a “bilingual bonus” on a preferred language basis, says a GNWT report. Moreover, the GNWT will actively pursue future workers when they are in high school or Aurora College and make it easier to…

Featured, Health, News, Politics May 31, 2025

Likely false alarm over elevated lead levels in drinking water at two city schools

Failed testing procedures ‘compromised the reliability’ of results at Range Lake North, William McDonald schools, says GNWT


Initial water testing in two Yellowknife schools that showed high levels of lead was conducted by unqualified staff who didn’t use national best practices for water sampling, says the GNWT. Elevated lead levels at Range Lake North School and William McDonald School were reportedly noticed after two tests months apart this…

Featured, News, Politics, Reconciliation May 30, 2025

NWT Legislative Assembly sets out five-year reconciliation plan

'Preparing for a future where reconciliation and self-governance are ... foundational pillars of our institution,' says Speaker Shane Thompson


OUR GOAL: Strengthen relationships with Indigenous Peoples in the Northwest Territories, while preparing the Legislative Assembly for a transformational change, ensuring Indigenous worldviews are embedded in governance, operations, and workplace culture for a stronger, more inclusive future. Over the next five years, the NWT Legislative Assembly will be guided by…

Featured, News, Politics May 29, 2025

Jordan’s Principle funding shortfalls fail students with loss of teaching assistants

‘When schools reopen this fall, a crisis of Indigenous education will begin,’ says MLA Richard Edjericon


Significant cuts coming to the Jordan’s Principle program — a federal program that many schools depend on to support their students — are taking a toll on education assistants in some small communities. Tu Nedhé-Wiilideh MLA Richard Edjericon painted a very cloudy picture of what schools could look like when…

Featured, News, Politics May 28, 2025

Residents, downtown homeless campers ‘all have to get along,’ says Premier R.J. Simpson

One city MLA calls for compassion, while other says nearby residents ‘held hostage’ by season’s first encampment downtown


“There’s no legal authority for us to remove an encampment. We can’t go down there with a bulldozer and knock it down. We have to work with the individuals who are staying there … help them find somewhere to stay, whether that’s a shelter, whether that’s a different location that’s…

Featured, News, Politics May 27, 2025

Proposed bill would create most comprehensive workers compensation coverage for firefighters in Canada

'Imagine if you knew that just going to work every day was increasing your risk of cancer and heart disease, yet you do it everything with pride and with love,' says MLA Kieron Testart


Many NWT communities already have difficulty recruiting and retaining their firefighters and first responders, so it’s hoped a private members bill that increases medical insurance will change that. The First Responders Workers Compensation Amendment Act is designed to provide comprehensive coverage for firefighters and first responders, including all cancers and…

Featured, Housing, News, Politics May 26, 2025

GNWT to allow homeless encampments this summer on Commissioner’s land

Temporary tents in surrounding wooded areas are allowed, 'provided applicable regulations and bylaws are followed,' says Housing NWT


After a turbulent summer last year of chasing homeless encampments and the associated illegal activities around Yellowknife, the territorial government will allow tents to be set up on its land. Announcing on the weekend it “is aware” of what appears to be the first encampment of the season, the GNWT’s…