Articles by James O'Connor

Featured, News, Weather, Wildfires July 20, 2024

UPDATED: Open flames immediately banned across southern Northwest Territories

There is high to extreme wildfire danger driven by 'extraordinary weather and drought conditions,' says NWT Fire


Any thoughts about having a campfire this weekend across the entire southern half of the Northwest Territories have been extinguished with GNWT fire restrictions implemented immediately. Mike Westwick is the territory’s manager of Wildfire Prevention and Mitigation. “These bans are being implemented due to high to extreme wildfire danger and…

Featured, News, Weather, Wildfires July 19, 2024

Lightning sparks two wildfires near Whatì; Fort Res area still blanketed in smoke

Following a 'strong, successful initial attack' crews have a 'good handle' on fire closest fire the community, says NWT Fire


A wildfire 20 kilometres north of Whatì has forced the diversion of NWT Fire crews from a blaze about 50 kilometres from that lakeside Tlicho community. Weather conditions had influenced Wednesday’s lightning-caused fire ZF026 to grow significantly to the north along the west shores of Lac La Martre. Thomas Bentham…

Featured, Justice, News, Police July 19, 2024

Appeal court rules northern RCMP justified in abusing Inuvik drug dealer’s rights

‘This is not to say police have license to disregard Charter rights in some communities,’ says NWT Court of Appeal.


The illegal drug scourge “in the community of Inuvik, and in the Northwest Territories in general” is so bad, police might be excused if they are a bit loose with a suspected cocaine dealer’s Charter rights. The NWT Supreme Court’s bench has for years expressed frustration and disgust for outsiders…

Featured, Justice, News, Politics July 18, 2024

Decrease in pre-trial custody corresponds with increase of repeat offenders

'Perhaps we've been a bit too lenient at the expense of public safety,' says Premier RJ Simpson


Canada’s premiers have called on the federal government to review its recent changes to bail legislation, as it might not be closing  the revolving door for charged individuals. That was one of the asks from the Council of the Federation at the end of its two-day meeting in Halifax on…

Featured, News, Weather, Wildfires July 18, 2024

Several new wildfires in southern regions, but none pose risk to cabins or infrastructure

Today's overall look at the wildfire situation shows 118 fires so far this season, consuming 103,841 hectares


A dozen new wildfires have been sparked — including six in the South Slave region, and two in the North Slave — but all are fairly remote and pose no risk to cabins or infrastructure, stated NWT Fire. There is no update yet today on the more troublesome wildfires south…

Featured, News, Weather, Wildfires July 17, 2024

Sweltering heat wave feeding two South Slave wildfires

Both blazes south of Fort Resolution and Little Buffalo River overnight ‘have grown considerably,’ says NWT Fire


Hot, dry and windy conditions continue to work against efforts to stomp out two naturally caused wildfires south of Fort Resolution. NWT Fire spokesperson Tom Bentham stated today that after, “an evening of increased fire activity, both fires have grown considerably.” “Today’s objective is to decrease fire intensity with aggressive…

Featured, News, Weather, Wildfires July 16, 2024

NWT Fire claims ‘significant reduction in fire activity’ at Fort Resolution after hard-fought night

However, there remains a risk to cabins, camps and infrastructure in the evacuated Little Buffalo River area


Hot and dry conditions are making it challenging for firefighters and aircraft to bring two wild blazes in the South Slave near Little Buffalo River under control. Winds are currently pushing to the northwest at an estimated 10 to 15 km/h, slowly towards Fort Resolution. Fire SS040, now 13 hectares,…

Environment, Featured, Health, News, Weather July 16, 2024

Nahanni Butte’s water spoiled by the mineral manganese

Infants, children under five, pregnant women should not drink the tap water in a situation that could take months to fully rectify


Infants, children under five, and pregnant women in Nahanni Butte should not drink the community’s tap water due to high levels of manganese caused by a failure at the water treatment plant. Adults and older children are at a lower risk in that Dehcho community, but should still take precautions,…

Featured, News, Transportation July 15, 2024

UPDATED: More ferry fixes throw wrench into territorial highway system

Liard River ferry MV Lafferty is the third vessel this season to be pulled for unplanned repairs


With the MV Lafferty out of service at a key crossing in the Dehcho, the GNWT announced it will conduct what it called “essential dredging work” at the Liard River Ferry Landings between August 15 and September 18. At kilometre marker 457 on Highway 1 just southeast of Fort Simpson,…