Thursday 20 June 2013

2014 #NWT Explorers' Guide Call for #Tourism #Photos

Call for Tourism Photos of the NWT

The Northwest Territories Tourism and Kellett Communications is working on the 2014 Explorers' Guide along with the next issue of the Sportsmen's' Guide and the Meeting Planner Guide.

We are reaching out to all photographers that have spectacular, awe-inspiring and captivating images for use in all of these Guides. We want to show the world just how truly amazing and remarkable our beautiful territory is.

We are looking for images that illustrate the essence of the NWT Tourism's 5 iconic directions; Lakes & Rivers, Parks & Wilderness, Culture & People, Aurora & Winter and Northern Realities. We are looking for any images that are specific too:

- northern lights
- fishing & hunting
- cultural traditions
- local community events and festivals
- outdoor adventures
- parks, lakes and rivers
- road travel
- we would like a mixture of people in and out of the shots as well

Help us show the world the spectacular spirit of the North.

For more information on contracts and submissions, visit http://spectacularnwt.com/photographers or contact Jen Luckay at jluckay@kellett.nt.ca

Deadline for submission is July 24, 2013. If you haven't already, a completed Photographer Registration form (http://spectacularnwt.com/photographers) is required for your photographs to be considered for purchase.
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Wednesday 19 June 2013

#YZF #NWT Ramble and Ride Call for performers

Ramble and Ride Call for Musicians
Calling all musicians, storytellers and performers!

It is that time of year again and the organizers of the Old Town Ramble and Ride are seeking interest from musicians and performers for the annual festival.
The Ramble and Ride is a festival put on by the businesses, artists and musicians of Old Town. Specifically, it is a chance for all Yellowknifers to ramble (walk) and ride (bike) down the hill to take in Old Town's unique character and culture. The goal is to hold an eco-friendly festival that allows every member of Old Town to promote their business or talent through a variety of events.
Ramble and Ride 2013 will host at least two stages as well there will be opportunities for musicians and performers to present their work in various establishments and businesses in the Old Town.
The festival is scheduled to take place on the Civic Long weekend. Kicking off on the Friday night, August 2 and wrapping on Sunday, August 4 in the evening.
Musicians and performers might have the opportunity to perform more than once.
If interested please email Nicole Garbutt at rambleandrideyk@gmail.com with your expression of interest, which days would be best for you and a description of your group (eg. Number of people, instruments, special requirements ect.)
Nicole Garbutt
2013 Festival Coordinator
rambleandrideyk@gmail.com
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Friday 14 June 2013

ACCESSIBILITY OF HEALTHY FOOD IN CANADA’S NORTH: APTN NATIONAL NEWS AND CURRENT AFFAIRS TOWN HALL & broadcast

APTN NATIONAL NEWS AND CURRENT AFFAIRS TOWN HALL: ACCESSIBILITY OF HEALTHY FOOD IN CANADA'S NORTH
June 13, 2013, Winnipeg, Manitoba – Nunavummiut (residents of Nunavut) took to the streets last winter to protest the high price of food. A quart of orange juice sells for $13.96 in Pangnirtung, a tub of margarine costs $11.99 in Inuvik and residents of Iqaluit pay as much as $12.95 for 4 litres of milk. Even food banks in the territory have struggled to keep food on their shelves. Instead of getting better after the territory-wide protests, all signs seem to say the cost of food will continue to rise. Many Nunavummiut are frustrated and wondering just how they are going to keep feeding their families.
On Thursday June 20 Nunavummiut are invited to join APTN National News host Cheryl McKenzie, as she visits Iqaluit to ask: What should Canada be doing to provide nutritious sustainable food in the North at a fair price? If you're in Iqaluit, join our studio audience to share your stories, concerns and solutions with Canada and the world.
WHAT: APTN holds a special town hall in Iqaluit on food security for the North WHEN: June 20, 2013
Doors open at 6:15 p.m. ET. Please note doors close at 6:45 p.m. ET WHERE: Arctic Winter Games Arena
To reserve seats in advance: Email news@aptn.ca. Admission is free
Special guests will include Leesee Papastie, creator behind the Feeding my Family Facebook page and protest movement; Jack Anawak, vice president of Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated; The Honourable Monica Ell, MLA for Iqaluit West; Reverend Mike Gardener; and Ron Elliot, MLA for Grise Fiord, Resolute Bay and Arctic Bay.
The 90 minute town hall will be broadcast later on June 28 at 7 pm ET on APTN North.
Leading up to the town hall, APTN National News will air a special Perspectives series on Feeding Your Family beginning June 25.
http://www.scribd.com/doc/147854284/APTN-NATIONAL-NEWS-AND-CURRENT-AFFAIRS-TOWN-HALL-ACCESSIBILITY-OF-HEALTHLY-FOOD-IN-CANADA%E2%80%99S-NORTH
ABOUT APTN:
September 1, 2012, marked the 13-year anniversary of the launch of the first national Aboriginal television network in the world with programming by, for and about Aboriginal Peoples to share with all Canadians and viewers around the world. APTN is available in approximately 10 million Canadian households and commercial establishments with cable, direct-to-home satellite, telco-delivered and fixed wireless television service providers. The network launched its high definition channel, APTN HD, in the spring of 2008. APTN does not receive government funding for operations but generates revenue through subscriber fees, advertising sales and strategic partnerships. APTN broadcasts programming with 56% offered in English, 16% in French and 28% in Aboriginal languages. For program schedule or for more information, please contact APTN at (204) 947-9331 or toll-free at 1-888-278-8862, or visit the website at www.aptn.ca
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For further information about APTN, contact:
Jacqueline Jubinville Manager of Communications APTN
(204) 947-9331, ext. 339 jjubinville@aptn.ca
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SHATTERED GROUND CBC-TV's The Nature of Things on fracking. See it here

SHATTERED GROUND CBC-TV's The Nature of Things. See it here "...With fracking's gigantic appetite for water – water permanently removed from the eco-system – what's at stake may not just be about our supply of natural gas but the one resource none of us can live without: fresh water. ..."
http://www.cbc.ca/natureofthings/episode/shattered-ground.html
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Thursday 13 June 2013

Kaw Tay Whee #school in Dettah is blogging! #YZF #NWT

Kaw Tay Whee school in Dettah is blogging!
This week the Grades 2-4 class is learning how to blog!
Check out what we've published so far:
http://kidblog.org/2-4Class/
When the Grades 5-7 students learned what we were doing, they were excited to take part! Check out their blog here:
http://kidblog.org/5-7Class/
We'd love some feedback! Please consider leaving a comment!
RT @lealamoureux: Check out the blog from the school in Dettah: http://t.co/3OFd8xudFm #yzf #nwt We are mapping the world with it!
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Monday 10 June 2013

Rosenberg International Forum on Water Policy report on The Mackenzie River Basin

The Rosenberg International Forum on Water Policy released this report based on the findings of a 2012 workshop on transboundary relations in the Mackenzie River Basin. The workshop, http://gordonfoundation.ca/news-item/564 which took place in Vancouver from Sept. 5 to 7, 2012, convened several experts in the fields of law, economics and various scientific disciplines with the goal of looking at the legal and scientific principles relevant to creating a co-ordinated basin-wide approach to management. The workshop was co-hosted by the Walter and Duncan Gordon Foundation and Simon Fraser University's Adaptation to Climate Change Team.
http://www.sfu.ca/act.html

The Mackenzie River Basin is Canada's largest drainage basin at 1.8 million sq. km – 20 per cent of Canada's landmass – and is among the most intact large-scale ecosystems in North America. While the Basin is relatively undisturbed ecologically, it is at risk from both a warming climate and extractive and hydrological industries. These large forces of change threaten the Basin's ecology, as well as its role as a homeland to aboriginals and northerners who rely on the land and its resources to provide food, clothing, water and other necessities of life.

Full Title: Rosenberg International Forum: The Mackenzie Basin
Author(s): Rosenberg International Forum on Water Policy
http://rosenberg.ucanr.org/
Published: June 10, 2013
Pages: 43
Download file (2.63 MB)
http://gordonfoundation.ca/sites/default/files/publications/Rosenberg%20Final%20-%20WEB.pdf
Source http://gordonfoundation.ca/publication/662

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Saturday 8 June 2013

BARRY CRAIG's Letter to the Editor on how Ottawa treats the North

"...Re: Rathgeber's resignation sign of rifts in Tory ranks (June 7). I know from experience how the Alberta MP feels about being managed by staff of the Prime Minister's Office.
I was director of public affairs for the Government of the Northwest Territories when the entire NWT Legislative Assembly flew to Ottawa and met with Pierre Trudeau.
Before the meeting, two very young members of the PMO in identical khaki trench coats -- they reminded me of bookends in a children's library -- told me in a flagrantly patronizing manner that I need not worry and they would handle all our public-relations needs.
It was ludicrous, their oozing arrogance but looking like they belonged in daycare. I asked to see their ID.
They flicked open their wallets with all the dramatic flourish of television cops. My response was unprintable but effective.
BARRY CRAIG
Winnipeg
Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition June 8, 2013 A16.."
http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opinion/letters_to_the_editor/identifying-with-angry-mp-210681771.html

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Nunavut Fibre Optic Feasibility Study - Final Report March, 2012

Nunavut Fibre Optic Feasibility Study - Final Report
This Nunavut Fibre Optic Feasibility Study report was commissioned by the
Nunavut Broadband Development Corporation (NBDC) and subsequently executed
by QINIQ INC (on behalf of NBDC) and Salter Global Consulting INC (SGC).
In turn, SGC engaged Ledcor Infrastructure Services and Imaituk Inc. as
sub contractors.
The principal requirements of the study were:
1. To review current and anticipated fibre optic technologies and make
recommendations for suitable deployment in Nunavut.
2. Review the status of arctic fibre network infrastructure, including
proposed expansion initiatives up to 2020.
3. Review a minimum of 3 possible landing points in Nunavut.
4. To review the possible impact of fibre systems on service parity in
Nunavut. This review is also to include the socioeconomic impact of a
mixed telecommunications network in Nunavut, including possible overland
distribution alternatives.
5. Provide recommendations for initiating and financing a fibre network in
Nunavut, including Private Public Partnership (PPP, P3) alternative
PDF of full report
http://www.scribd.com/doc/146547729/Nunavut-Fibre-Optic-Feasibility-Study-Final-Report
Prepared for the Nunavut Broadband Development Corporation (NBDC) March, 2012
http://www.nunavut-broadband.ca/

Friday 7 June 2013

Indigenous Self-Determination in Theory and Practice with Firearms Certification

Indigenous Self-Determination in Theory and Practice Aug 5-11
This land-based intense delivery course will critically explore the Dene struggle for self-determination since the establishment of the Indian Brotherhood of the Northwest Territories in 1970.
Particular attention will be paid in examining the ways in which the Dene have sought to overcome the ongoing effects of colonialism through a variety of means, including efforts aimed at achieving cultural recognition through land claims, self-government and economic development, and by reconnecting and revitalizing the land-based practices and relationships that form the core of many Indigenous peoples' identities and ways of life.
Successful completion of this course will provide students with the ability to critically synthesize relevant course concepts to understand cultural, social, political and economic dynamics in Dene and other Indigenous communities.
Above all, the course will emphasize the importance of revitalizing land-based practices and knowledge as of form of personal and collective decolonization.
With Glen Coulthard, Leanne Simpson, Stephanie Irlbacher-Fox and YKDFN Elder Professors Therese and Modeste Sangris
Info and registration at http://www.dechinta.ca
Read more on Facebook on Flickr  and on Tumblr

Artist Leadership Program for Indigenous artists of the Western Hemisphere or Hawai‘i

"...KEY DATES FOR 2013
Applications must be submitted using the ALP online application by 11:59 PM eastern time, June 15, 2013. Only complete applications received by the deadline will be considered.
Artists selected will be expected to be in Washington, D.C., December 2–13, 2013. Artists' community projects should be completed before June 2014.
WHO IS ELIGIBLE?
Indigenous artists of the Western Hemisphere or Hawai'i who are recognized by their community and who can demonstrate significant artistic accomplishments. The targeted artistic experience will be from mid-career to accomplished artist.
Artists may work in any medium: visual art, media, sculpture, textile and fiber arts, performance arts, literature, etc....."
http://nmai.si.edu/connect/artist-leadership-program/
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Thursday 6 June 2013

Gustav Lindenthal Medal Won By Deh Cho Bridge Project

Gustav Lindenthal Medal Won By Deh Cho Bridge Project

Published on June 6, 2013 at 12:20 PM

The Deh Cho Bridge, one of the world's longest, continuous superstructures, received the prestigious Gustav Lindenthal Medal at this year's International Bridge Conference® (IBC). The award was presented to representatives of Infinity Engineering Group, Ruskin Construction and the government of the Northwest Territories – Canada, at the awards dinner reception.

http://www.azobuild.com/news.aspx?newsID=16865

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Vote for the "Best of Yellowknife 2013" #YZF #NWT


"Best of Yellowknife 2013"
where you have a say in who provides the Best of Yellowknife
Vote for Yellowknife's "Best Local elected official"

Vote for Yellowknife's "Best Local elected official" at http://bestof.hqyellowknife.com/

Vote for Yellowknife's "Best Photographer"
Vote for Yellowknife's "Best Photographer" at http://bestof.hqyellowknife.com/

Vote for Yellowknife's "Best Patio"
Vote for Yellowknife's "Best Patio" at http://bestof.hqyellowknife.com/

Vote for Yellowknife's "Best Other Ethnic"
Vote for Yellowknife's "Best Other Ethnic" at http://bestof.hqyellowknife.com/

Vote for Yellowknife's "Best place to buy wine, beer and spirits"
 Vote for Yellowknife's "Best place to buy wine, beer and spirits" at http://bestof.hqyellowknife.com/

Northwest Territories JOB POSTINGS #NWT #Job #YZF #Sacs Harbour

 
  New This Week:
 
  1. Administrative Clerk - Town of Inuvik
Inuvik ( Date posted: Wednesday, June 05, 2013 )
Posting expires: Monday, June 17, 2013.
  2. Labourers - Town of Inuvik
Inuvik ( Date posted: Wednesday, June 05, 2013 )
Posting expires: Monday, June 17, 2013.
  3. Director of Community Services - Town of Inuvik
Inuvik ( Date posted: Wednesday, June 05, 2013 )
Posting expires: Friday, June 28, 2013.

  Current Listings:
  4. Senior Administrative Officer - Hamlet of Sachs Harbour
Sachs Harbour ( Date posted: Friday, May 24, 2013 )
Posting expires: Friday, June 14, 2013.

Tuesday 4 June 2013

MLA Bob Bromley on fracking activities in the Northwest Territories

The Fourth Session of the 17th Legislative Assembly

NORTHWEST TERRITORIES HANSARD UNEDITED TRANSCRIPT (PDF) MONDAY, JUNE 3, 2013 YELLOWKNIFE, NWT [Excerpts from  pages 11, 24, 25, 26 & 27]
"… MEMBER'S STATEMENT ON ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW OF CONOCOPHILLIPS FOR HORIZONTAL HYDRAULIC FRACTURING (FRACKING) PROJECT

MR. BROMLEY: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Final comments are due today as the Sahtu Land and Water Board decide whether to refer to environmental assessment the proposal by ConocoPhillips to test horizontal, multistage fracking. I'm urging the board to issue direction for a review.

Only last year the board issued a decision referring a similar proposal by MGM to environmental review. In issuing that decision, the board noted that because this is the first proposal of horizontal fracturing in the NWT, significant public concerns have been identified. There is concern regarding the environmental effects of hydraulic fracturing given the controversy elsewhere, and given the potential risks to surface and groundwater, referral to environmental review was warranted. All of these concerns are just as valid and pressing with the ConocoPhillips proposal.

Most importantly, we have yet to set limits and thresholds based on publicly set goals in relation to cumulative impacts. Regulatory mechanisms do not exist to actually enforce those targets, and monitoring enforcement and adaptive management processes on which to base permits and management of unconventional oil and gas exploration and development have not been developed.

More specifically, there are no plans for detailed monitoring or mitigation of greenhouse gas impacts including those directly related to the ConocoPhillips application, ongoing project activities or resulting from combustion of any oil or gas that eventually may be produced. Given the comprehensive and daunting understanding that humankind simply cannot afford to burn 80 percent of the already proven global reserves of hydrocarbons, this is surprising.

Public concern remains high in the Sahtu, territorially and beyond. Several jurisdictions in Canada and globally are realizing greater impacts than predicted and moving to restrict or even ban fracking. Questions remain about financial liability from environmental damage of extractive operations. The public is already paying enough to clean up or stabilize the toxic consequences left behind after inadequate reviews.

Our Ministers of Environment and development repeatedly purport to be environmental stewards. In recognition of the hazards of premature fracking and testing prior to establishing limits and thresholds with plans to limit cumulative impacts, and the monitoring and enforcement mechanisms needed to assure this, have the Ministers urged the board to remain consistent and refer the ConocoPhillips to environmental assessment to protect our people?

I will be asking questions.

MR. SPEAKER: Thank you, Mr. Bromley.[...]

[…] Page 24
MR. SPEAKER: […] The honourable Member for Weledeh, Mr. Bromley.

QUESTION 292-17(4): HYDRAULIC FRACTURING (FRACKING) ACTIVITIES IN THE SAHTU

MR. BROMLEY: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions are a follow-up to my Member's statement earlier to the Minister of ENR regarding fracking activities in the Sahtu and the permitting process.  This Assembly has approached this new and
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controversial form of development, both sides of the House, to achieve better understanding of what fracking means for the NWT. ADI's (sic) recommendations report clearly indicated the need for development of policy and regulatory framework, assembly of data, having thorough information and control before potentially damaging decisions are made.

Is the Minister committed to heeding this advice, living up to his own statements that fracking must be environmentally sustainable in ensuring vital monitoring and management plans are in place before fracking goes ahead? Mahsi.

MR. SPEAKER: Thank you, Mr. Bromley. The honourable Minister of Environment and Natural Resources, Mr. Miltenberger.

HON. MICHAEL MILTENBERGER: Mr. Speaker, the Government is hard at work, along with working with community members, on the whole issue to do with fracking. We have been doing work now for the last six months or so. We have come up with a draft. It is a best practices policy paper which is being shared within governments and is being shared with the regulators. It is going to come back and be shared with committee. It identifies a lot of the critical best practices across industry. We believe that if they are complied with and they are clear, unequivocal and understandable, we will be able to manage and protect the interests and the balance of economic development of this particular practice. Thank you.
MR. BROMLEY: Thank you to the Minister for that response. I am happy to hear that things are progressing on that front, and hopefully they will be coming to committee soon. I guess it won't be until the fall, but it will be after these decisions are being made.

Last fall the Sahtu Land and Water Board referred an MGM Energy proposal for a fracking test well program to environmental review, citing significant outstanding concerns meriting detailed resolution before work went ahead. Today the board is receiving final submissions on whether that same, still valid logic should be applied to the proposal by ConocoPhillips. The Minister has said repeatedly that fracking must be sustainable and based on sound environmental information and regulatory controls.

Does the Minister support the ConocoPhillips application to environmental review and has he communicated his position to the board?

HON. MICHAEL MILTENBERGER: Mr. Speaker, I think we should make the distinction between the two applications. The MGM Energy one and the ConocoPhillips one. The ConocoPhillips application is very comprehensive. It covers a whole host of areas, which is one of the reasons there was a different decision made by the Sahtu Land and Water Board when they looked at the MGM Energy proposal. It didn't have the same depth and level of comprehensiveness as the ConocoPhillips one does.

The Department of Energy, Mines and Resources has coordinated a response to the Government of the Northwest Territories and there has been review by all of the appropriate departments, Education, Social Services, Health, and Environment and Natural Resources.

Mr. Speaker, when we look at the best practices that we are using as our guide, when we look at what ConocoPhillips has put in their application, there is a great linkage there. We are of the opinion that if in fact ConocoPhillips complies with everything that
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they promised plus the extensive list of mitigating measures put forward by the Government of the Northwest Territories, that this project could proceed, in our mind, without any further requirements, other than meeting those commitments by ConocoPhillips and addressing the concerns raised, that we have supplied to the Sahtu Land and Water Board. Thank you.

MR. BROMLEY: I will take that as a no, despite our Minister reporting being environmentally responsible, and that we do not have policies in place and that we have no decisions made on monitoring and follow-up.

There is nothing in their application on greenhouse gas emissions and mitigation management. We are going to support that, going ahead without review. I am very disappointed to hear that.

As I pointed out, we have yet to set goals and limits on cumulative environmental impacts and thresholds. Regulatory mechanisms don't exist. Unfortunately, adaptive management processes on which to base permits and management have not been developed, and there are no plans for detailed monitoring or mitigation of the greenhouse gas aspect of the proposal.

In keeping with his stated commitment, will the Minister recommit to these requirements and the recommendations of the fracking report as minimum first steps before any exploratory or test permit application is approved? Please reconsider.

HON. MICHAEL MILTENBERGER: Mr. Speaker, as a government, we have to balance many things, and we need to balance the environment and economic development and resource development. We have taken the appropriate steps to ensure we have the policy base that work is underway. We are, at the same time, recognizing that the world is not going to stand still and we need to maintain that balance as we catch up with our policy work. We are going to do that. We have looked very carefully, very thoroughly at the ConocoPhillips application and we are, once again, confident of what ConocoPhillips have put in their application in terms of commitments and if they address the concerns, extensive concerns we've put forward to the land and water board that this project is safe to proceed, recognizing that there is still work to be done, that this is a whole area that is new and we are doing a lot of the further detailed work to catch up that is going to allow them to more effectively address some of the concerns the Member has raised.

MR. SPEAKER: Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Final, short supplementary, Mr. Bromley.

MR. BROMLEY: I guess I'll just leave it at this. This government is obviously open for business at any cost. We are always in favour of development and we always fail to protect our people and our land. I think that's a pretty consistent record. So maybe I could just get the Minister to define for me what he sees as balance. Mahsi.

HON. MICHAEL MILTENBERGER: The Member has made a harsh condemnation of the House and, by extension, the Legislature. He's made some sweeping, universal condemnation of this government and the position we take on the balance, the priorities of the 17th Legislative Assembly, the balance between protecting the environment and at the same time balancing that with the need to be able to look at having an economy that is resource-based in this case.

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We are doing that. When you look at the work we're doing across the board as a government on water, on the tools devolution will give us, when you look at the work we're doing on wildlife, on dealing with caribou, when you look at the work we're doing on developing comprehensive policies for tracking that I believe we have demonstrated and will continue to demonstrate our commitment. Alternate energy, the Greenhouse Gas Strategy, we are thoroughly committed and this has been imbedded in our approach as a government. So there is that quest for balance. It's a constant quest, but the Member's sweeping condemnation is harsh. A sweeping condemnation of the government I think is clearly unwarranted. Thank you.

MR. SPEAKER: Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. …"

Monday 3 June 2013

Canadian Medical Association's Dr. Anna Reid on Poverty & Health (AUDIO)

Poverty and Health: CBC North's "Trailbreaker" Loren McGinnis (@LorenMcGinnis) speaks with the head of the Canadian Medical Association, Yellowknife's Dr. Anna Reid about the social determinants of health and what the perscription is for improved health outcomes. (AUDIO)
http://www.cbc.ca/thetrailbreaker/2013/06/03/poverty-and-health/
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#NWT draft Anti- #Poverty Strategic Framework public briefing today



Northwest Territories "Standing Committee on Social Programs"
(Yellowknife) Friday, May 31, 2013 – The Standing Committee on Social Programs, chaired by Mr. Alfred Moses, will receive a public briefing on the draft Anti-Poverty Strategic Framework with Minister Glen Abernethy and Ms. Bronwyn Watters, Chair of the Anti-Poverty Steering Committee. The Committee will be discussing the next steps involved in implementing this strategy.
When: Monday, June 3, 2013
Location: Committee Room 'A' of the Legislative Assembly building
Time: 10:30am – 12:00pm
The media is welcome to attend this meeting.
For more information, please contact:
Gail Bennett, Principal Clerk, Operations
Legislative Assembly of the NWT
Phone: 867-669-2343 or toll-free 1-800-661-0784
E-mail: gail_bennett@gov.nt.ca
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