February 2, 2011 - The academic accomplishments of apprentices in the North Slave region are being celebrated at lunch tomorrow in the Yellowknife Fieldhouse. The Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Jackson Lafferty, and Canadian celebrity and professional contractor, Mike Holmes, will present awards to apprentices who have achieved the highest mark in their respective levels of technical training in 2009-2010.

February 1, 2011 - Beginning today, all paper, plastic and biodegradable bags will cost 25 cents in all Northwest Territories (NWT) stores.

“When we think about the three R’s – reduce, reuse, and recycle – it is the first R (reduce) that is the most important,” said the Minister of Environment and Natural Resources (ENR), J. Michael Miltenberger. “This program is a great example of a waste reduction program: the fewer bags that we use mean the fewer natural resources we consume and the less waste we produce.”

January 31, 2011 - The Minister of Finance, J. Michael Miltenberger, will present the 2011-12 Budget Address to the 16th Legislative Assembly on Thursday, February 3, 2011, beginning at approximately 1:30 pm.

Prior to the Budget Address, a lock-up is scheduled for accredited media from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm in the sixth-floor boardroom of the Arthur Laing Building in Yellowknife. Lunch and refreshments will be provided.

January 28, 2011 - This winter, elementary school students from across the Northwest Territories will have the opportunity to try traditional games such as the one-foot high kick and the stick pull.

“We are introducing these games to children at a younger age,” said the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs (MACA), Robert C. McLeod. “We hope to create a passion for the cultural and physically active aspects of the games that will remain with them for life.”

January 26, 2011 - The Honourable John Duncan, Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development and Federal Interlocutor for Métis and Non-Status Indians, the Honourable Floyd Roland, Premier of the Northwest Territories, and Nellie Cournoyea, Chair of the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation, today signed an agreement-in-principle for devolution of lands and resources from Canada to the Government of the Northwest Territories.

January 26, 2011 - Play for Literacy is this year’s theme for Family Literacy Day on Thursday, January 27. The Minister of Education, Culture and Employment (ECE), Jackson Lafferty, encourages families in the Northwest Territories to take time tomorrow to remember that literacy includes more than just reading and writing.

January 25, 2011 - Sport organizations in the Northwest Territories are receiving a boost from the Government of the Northwest Territories’ Territorial Sport Organization (TSO) Support Program. TSOs will be able to expand their programs and services with the funding provided through this program, and ultimately help increase sport participation rates across the territory.

January 24, 2011 - The Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment, Bob McLeod, and Mr. Kevin Menicoche, MLA for the Nahendeh and representing the Standing Committee on Economic Development and Infrastructure, will be attending the 2011 Mineral Exploration Roundup conference in Vancouver, British Columbia today and tomorrow.

January 18, 2011 - The year 2011 has been designated the National Year of Road Safety in Canada.In the Northwest Territories, the Department of Transportation’s (DoT) Drive Alive program will continue initiatives to improve driver, passenger, cyclist, and pedestrian safety throughout the year.

January 18, 2011 - The Regional Minister’s Forum for the Yellowknife, Dettah and N’dilo schools is kicking off in Dettah today, and will wrap-up on Thursday. Discussions will focus on the ASA priorities of early childhood education, family and student supports; Aboriginal language and culture; and literacy. Feedback collected at the Forums will be incorporated in the development of territorial, as well as community specific, education plans.

For more information, contact:

Amy Doerksen
Manager, Public Affairs