Articles by James O'Connor

Featured, Health, Housing, News, Police, Politics June 11, 2024

Shelters are full in Yellowknife, MLA seeks solutions from GNWT

Number of bed seekers has increased and 'capacity is being completely overwhelmed,' says Shauna Morgan


Emergency shelters in Yellowknife are “completely overwhelmed,” with MLA Shauna Morgan saying she’s afraid the system will collapse without solutions being found soon. Morgan is the MLA for Yellowknife North, which includes the Salvation Army complex, which is struggling at over double of its capacity each night. “I would like…

Featured, Health, News, Politics June 11, 2024

Midwives in training question the future of midwifery in the territory

Midwives Association says GNWT did not consult with advisory groups before listing $990K cut in proposed territorial budget


“Unfortunately, it really shows that in times of budget cuts, it is primarily women and children who bear the brunt of it and whose services are usually the first to be reduced,” says Gabby Lamarche, one of two Yellowknife residents training to be midwives. The territorial government plans to cut…

Featured, News, Police June 11, 2024

Drugs and liquor seized after plane lands in Fort Good Hope

Incident comes amid concerns over lack of security screening at Yellowknife Airport for regional flights


A tip led RCMP to arrest a passenger at the Fort Good Hope airport on the weekend, seizing illegal and prescription drugs and bootlegged alcohol. This incident comes just days after a Standing Committee of the NWT Assembly heard concerns about the lack of passenger screening at the Yellowknife Airport…

Featured, News, Politics June 9, 2024

Two Tories talk tough on housing, economy, health-care and Trudeau

Hour-long Saturday night session for Conservative Party members to consider candidates ahead of potential federal election  


Members of the Conservative Party of Canada put off watching the Stanley Cup opening game to sit in a hotel meeting room Saturday night listening to political pitches and answers from candidates for an election that could be over a year away. Former MLA Jackie Jacobson and Kimberly Fairman, executive…

Environment, Featured, News, Politics, Transportation, Weather June 7, 2024

Sahtu economy ‘faces collapse’ without barge re-supply, says MLA Daniel McNeely

Norman Wells and other communities face possible recession; GNWT says 'all-of-government' help is in the works


Historically low water levels on the Mackenzie River forced the territorial government to cancel its Marine Transportation Services (MTS) barges to Norman Wells and Tulita for the 2024 sailing season. Daniel McNeely is MLA for the Sahtu riding. “Right now, businesses in the Sahtu region are in a crisis situation….

Featured, News, Police June 6, 2024

Illegal drugs and deadly violence at ‘crisis’ levels, says Premier R.J. Simpson

The MLA for Hay River North says he also took on Justice Minister role for the ‘deadly serious issue’ of drug dealing in his hometown


Deadly drug deals – either settled with bullets or poisonous mixtures – are a major issue at “crisis” levels across the NWT, says Premier R.J. Simpson. The Northwest Territories has been near to, or at the highest rate of hospital stays due to substance use in the country – more…

Featured, History, News, Reconciliation June 5, 2024

Happy Inuvialuit Day! 40 years and counting …

'We never really ever had a voice until our Final Agreement.,' says Elder Albert Ruben


Wednesday marked the 40th anniversary of the signing of the Inuvialuit Final Agreement, There are six communities within the Inuvialuit settlement region, in the Northwest Territories: Tuktoyaktuk; Aklavik; Sachs Harbour; Ulukhaktok; and Paulatuk; and Inuvik. Inuvialuit also mark the success of the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation and its Development Corporation. The latter…

Featured, News, Politics June 4, 2024

Welfare work requirements are retired by GNWT

Regular MLAs argue for Universal Basic Income, as government tinkers with welfare benefits


The territorial government announced today that improvements to the Income Assistance program and the new Income Assistance for Seniors and Persons with Disabilities program will come into effect July 1. Changes to the regular Income Assistance program include: Aligning benefit levels with the Northern Market Basket Measure; increasing income exemptions…

Featured, Justice, Life Style, News, Reconciliation June 3, 2024

Walking with Pride, with heads held high

The Northern Mosaic Network's 2nd annual Pride Parade attracted hundreds of people on the weekend


Hundreds of people from all walks of life celebrated the 2SLGBTQIPA+ community with floats, music, and pageantry through the streets of downtown Yellowknife on the weekend. Approximately 350 people formed the 2nd annual Yellowknife Pride Parade through downtown on Sunday, as the sun came out after a couple of days…