Whitehorse Daily Star

February 7, 2007

• Multimillion-dollar tourism initiative unveiled With fanfare and jubilance, details of a new multimillion-dollar, a Yukon River tourism business was unveiled Wednesday at the Yukon Transportation Museum.
• Concerns about lease were considered: YTG Even without a legal obligation, the Yukon government did indeed consult with and took into account the concerns of the Little Salmon-Carmacks First Nation when it granted an agricultural lease on Crown land north of Carmacks.
• Department's woes not unique, committee told According to witnesses appearing before the standing committee on public accounts in the legislative assembly today, marketplace trends and competition are major factors in the shortfalls highlighted in the Auditor General of Canada's report on the Department of Highways and Public Works.
• Youth asked to name pup If it's a name that starts with the letter T, it could be soon be associated with an RCMP puppy.
• College students will help ensure athletes are well-fed The presidents of Yukon College and Northern Lights College have signed an agreement enabling culinary arts students to help deliver food services at the Canada Winter Games' athletes' village.
• Physiotherapists to be regulated The Yukon's physiotherapists will be the first health professionals to become regulated under the Health Professions Act.
• Quest champ plans surprises on the trail 'If (Hans Gatt's) going on what I did last year, he's already going to be second,' says two-time Yukon Quest champion Lance Mackey. 'I've got things up my sleeve this year that nobody's going to expect.'
• RV park to spread out The Hi Country RV Park is going to expand.

February 6, 2007

• Agricultural lease issue lands before Supreme Court The Yukon government had a duty to fully consult the Little Salmon-Carmacks First Nation when it approved an agricultural lease on Crown land near Carmacks, Yukon Supreme Court Justice Ron Veale heard this morning.
• Department posts job vacancies There's no link between an internal call to fill two senior positions within the Department of Highways and Public Works and the recent auditor general's report, a department spokeswoman said today.
• Speakers to talk about marijuana use It might only be a joint, but territorial prevention consultant Sandy Bowlby wants Yukoners to know there are harmful effects that come with it.
• Capital's population hits 24,000-mark Whitehorse's population topped the 24,000-mark in 2006, according to the Yukon Bureau of Statistics.
• Latest tax increase is closer to reality In line with the 2007 municipal budget, city council is set to implement a five per cent tax hike.
• Parking fines to rise In line with the passing of the 2007 municipal budget, the city is set to amend its traffic bylaw to raise parking fines.
• Parking thieves will feel pain Stealing someone's parking spot is about to get a lot more expensive in Whitehorse.
• Can-can dancers asked to welcome guests After being rejected to perform at the 2007 Canada Winter Games cultural festival, the Yukon Sourdough Rendezvous can-can dancers have been asked to greet visitors flying into Whitehorse for the Games.
• Kenyon conferred with range of federal ministers Economic Development Minister Jim Kenyon says he is continuing to advance the Yukon's development agenda through his involvement with the Pacific Northwest Economic Region (PNWER).
• Land tenure review may take more time: CYFN Completing a joint review of the land tenure policy for big game outfitters by March seems optimistic, says Andy Carvill, the grand chief of the Council of Yukon First Nations (CYFN).
• Minister is unfazed by how power line work is unfolding Energy Minister Archie Lang says he's not concerned that Yukon Energy is putting out design tenders for a transmission line extension that has yet to be approved.

February 5, 2007

• Power tool used to drop into restaurant Pizza, wings and beer aren't on the menu after all for the thief or thieves who took a number of gift certificates on Saturday night after breaking into the Pizza Hut restaurant.
• Major tourism project set to be announced The unveiling of a new Yukon River tourism business involving the private sector and four Yukon first nations is scheduled for Wednesday afternoon.
• Power line plan will be studied, Lang vows Yukoners can soon expect to see the government order an official hearing into the proposed $35-million to $40-million power line extension, says the Minister of Energy, Mines and Resources.
• Business owner miffed by sole-sourced contract A Yukon company is taking issue with territorial government officials' decision to sole-source a $50,000-contract for the Canada Winter Games athletes' village to an Outside company.
• Report analyzes concerns about batch plant proposal A report outlining and responding to concerns raised by city residents over a proposed McLean Lake concrete batch plant proposal is out.
• Lack of hangars hurting tourism, council is told A local pilot seeking to build a hangar on his 19-by-17-metre property cannot do so when the law requires him to have more than 24-by-24 metres of space.
• City may outlaw ashtrays placed in certain areas The city is looking to update its smoking bylaw by banning ashtrays.
• Dogs shot during man's visit here A Ross River man was forced to say good-bye to his dogs after he returned home from a trip to Whitehorse to discover the animals had been shot while he was away.
• Woman faces drug charges after search A local woman is facing a charge of trafficking cocaine along with two charges of drug possession after Whitehorse RCMP executed a search warrant on a home on McIntyre Drive on Saturday.
• Premier is in Ottawa Premier Dennis Fentie is in Ottawa this week to meet with the federal Environment Minister John Baird and Jim Prentice, the federal minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development.