Whitehorse Daily Star

December 6, 2005

• Unpaid debts land Jenkins in court The territorial government is taking former Yukon Party cabinet minister Peter Jenkins to court to collect on his $308,000-plus debt.
• Businessman checks out of plans for airport-area hotel Plans for the creation of a three-storey, 80-room hotel across from the city's airport are dead.
• Ex-librarian files suit A former librarian has filed a Yukon Supreme Court lawsuit against the Tagish Community Library Board.
• Mayor and resident call for apologies from each other In what became a heated discussion, Carole Bookless, the president of the Porter Creek Community Association, and Mayor Ernie Bourassa demanded apologies from one another at Monday night's city council meeting.
• Somebody's not talking to someone' City council, for the time being, has pulled the plug on the Porter Creek greenbelt development.
• Petition urges electoral reform commission A petition asking the territorial government to form a citizens' commission on electoral reform was tabled in the legislature last Thursday afternoon.
• Arts centre, staff officially sign up with Canada Games The Yukon Arts Centre will join the 2007 Canada Winter Games Host Society as a community contributor, officials announced Monday morning. The arts centre will offer not only its facility but also its staff resources to the Games arts programs.
• WCB inviting applications for use of prevention fund The Yukon Workers' Compensation Health and Safety Board has officially announced its plans for a $5-million prevention fund.
• Dumping fees could rise by 15 per cent In a move administrators say will make Whitehorse's solid waste operations 100-per-cent cost recoverable, tipping fees at the city's landfill are set to rise by 15 per cent.
• Canadian hostage had been to the Yukon A Whitehorse couple who are personal friends with one of the two Canadians being held hostage in Iraq have organized a prayer vigil for Wednesday evening.

December 5, 2005

• Don't they talk to each other down there?' In what has become a game of political hot potato, no one seems to be able to explain how there can be three separate plans for the Porter Creek greenbelt.
• Offender ready to reform, board says A repeat rapist who was released from prison Friday after completing two-thirds of his three-year sentence appears ready to change, says a decision by the National Parole Board.
• It's a great feeling,' says NDP candidate Local businesswoman Pam Boyde was acclaimed Sunday afternoon as the NDP candidate for the federal election in the Yukon.
• Victims of Montreal massacre to be remembered tomorrow Women's organizations will host a remembrance vigil Tuesday in the foyer of Elijah Smith Building.
• Scott House owner seeks to add deck A Whitehorse woman looking to have her house designated historically significant is seeking permission to add a deck to her soon-to-be landmark building.
• City ready to take on snow-clearing Whitehorse road crews are in better shape this year than last to handle the city's snow and ice problems, says public works manager Brian Crist. Crist said last Monday the addition of three new sanding trucks and a grader to the city's snow and ice removal arsenal is making things a little easier on his staff.
• Unemployment rate climbed slightly in November: stats After hitting a historic low in September, the Yukon's unemployment rate is continuing a two-month trend as it rises over the winter months.
• Recruitment plan not working, doctor says A government initiative designed to encourage Whitehorse family doctors to take on more patients is not working.
• Two dozen attended open house About 25 people showed up for a city-hosted open house meeting last Thursday to discuss Whitehorse's new zoning bylaw.
• Minimum wage to be reviewed The Yukon Employment Standards Board has informed Glenn Hart, the minister responsible for Consumer and Safety Services, that it will be consulting on the Yukon's minimum wage rate.
• Alternative to mainstream jail explored It began with a powerpoint presentation, and ended in tears.

December 2, 2005

• Characters seek redemption amidst the smoke I can't give you a good reason for not having mentioned Andrew Pyper's latest book sooner than this.
• Comedy arts festival lineup announced Michael Clark, Nakai Theatre's artistic director, took one on the chin for the arts Wednesday.
• Mayor wants answers in land debacle In what has become a political quagmire, members of Yukon's legislative assembly learned the proposed development area in Porter Creek falls smack dab in the middle of land that has been promised to Yukon College.
• Safe crack kits making the rounds In its fight to reduce the risk of spreading HIV and Hepatitis C, Blood Ties Four Directions and the Outreach van began distributing safe crack kits Thursday in Whitehorse.
• Some Yukoners to get energy rebate cheques Approximately 7,000 Yukon households will receive a $150 energy rebate this winter.
• Officials douse incinerator idea Using an incinerator to burn garbage destined for the landfill is not a viable option for the City of Whitehorse.
• Breaches could mean jail time, businessman warned A local business owner who pleaded guilty to two counts of fraud was in Yukon Supreme Court Tuesday accused of breaking the rules of his sentence.
• Awards of excellence honour public service The first-ever Premier's Award of Excellence was being presented to seven individuals and three teams at a ceremony late Thursday morning in Whitehorse.
• I left home at six... and didn't return' In the wake of last week's $1.9-billion funding announcement to compensate former students of Indian residential schools, opinions of first nations people across the territory are mixed.
• Jenkins co-operating with premier in house To accommodate Premier Dennis Fentie's absence next week while he attends the COP 11 United Nations climate change conference in Montreal, Peter Jenkins, the independent MLA for Klondike, will refrain from voting in the legislative assembly.
• Summit examining corrections reforms People who commit crimes are lost and need guidance to get their lives back on track.