Whitehorse Daily Star

November 23, 2005

• Could we handle it if crystal meth came?' Since it's cheap, easy to produce and more addictive than cocaine, many groups in Whitehorse are concerned that crystal meth may be the next drug on the horizon.
• Games set to idle 74 college employees With the planned closure of Yukon College during the 2007 Canada Winter Games, 74 workers are scheduled to go without pay for 11 days.
• Significant Rancheria deal recognized Wally Hyde has been chosen as the Yukon's prospector of the year for doing what prospectors do.
• Awards salute environmental stewardship The annual Robert E. Leckie Awards for reclamation work at quartz and placer mining sites were awarded Monday to Eagle Plains Resources Ltd. and the Gimlex Enterprises.
• Author revisits the Mad Trapper DAWSON CITY There are lots of books about the Mad Trapper out there novels as well as non-fiction accounts.
• YMA's new head plans to carry on predecessor's work The Yukon Medical Association (YMA) will stay on course and address the same issues it has been trying to address for the past several years.
• Yukoners lead the nation in per-capita donations increase The Yukon saw the greatest national increase in the number of people donating to charity in 2004.
• Yukoners boast impressive literacy scores The Yukon has scored the highest in the country in the International Adult Literacy and Skills survey.
• Surgeon here for the long run The arrival of a permanent second general surgeon in the Yukon has increased the number of specialist health services available to Yukoners.
• Group couldn't pay recruit, taken to court An environmental consulting organization in Old Crow is being sued by a woman who moved to the territory for a job, only to find out it had no money to pay her salary.

November 22, 2005

• There was a message sent': Kearns Liberal Leader Arthur Mitchell handily won Monday's territorial byelection in Copperbelt, taking 49.6 per cent of the votes.
• The Big Melt has closed down several roadways Several highways have been closed and motorists are being cautioned about driving on others because of the unusual weather sweeping across the southern Yukon.
• Santa gearing up for his parade Santa Claus plans to paddle up Main Street for his annual parade on Saturday.
• Proposed hotel would contravene OCP City council will be voting on a proposal to build a 1,500-square-metre, three-storey, 80-room hotel that contravenes Whitehorse's Official Community Plan (OCP).
• Disability Awareness Week is imminent City council has declared the week of Nov. 28 to Dec. 3 will be known as Disability Awareness Week in Whitehorse.
• Flexihall's boards need repairs A board system designed to prevent soccer balls from flying randomly through the Canada Games Centre is broken.
• Director promoted to city manager After searching the country for a new city manager, council has found one in Whitehorse.
• Yukoners to attend meeting Premier Dennis Fentie, Andy Carvill, the Council of Yukon First Nations' grand chief, and Tr'ond'k Hw'ch'in First Nation Chief Darren Taylor will bring key Yukon issues to the table at this week's first ministers' meeting on aboriginal issues.

November 21, 2005

• Anti-smoking laws not a YTG priority Member physicians of the Yukon Medical Association (YMA) are embarrassed that the territory is the last jurisdiction in Canada without antismoking legislation, and have called on Premier Dennis Fentie to do something about it.
• Mining took significant boost this year As predicted as far back as last January, hard rock exploration in the Yukon is up over last year significantly.
• Incentives can lure young doctors: YMA There are a large number of people in the Yukon who don't have access to a family doctor, and the territory needs new initiatives to attract physicians to fix the problem.
• Fair wage schedule to rise The Yukon government may have announced a 10.9 per cent increase in the fair wage schedule, but it's 'dragging its feet' on increasing the minimum wage, says NDP MLA Steve Cardiff.
• Pharmaceutical firms out for profit: doctor The Canadian health care system relies too heavily on profit-driven pharmaceutical companies that are not interested in keeping Canadians healthy, says the outgoing president of the Yukon Medical Association.
• Campaign aims to reduce family violence The Yukon government has launched a three-year campaign aimed at reducing violence against women and children.
• Keep shovel handy, public told In line with bylaw requirements set down by the City of Whitehorse, local residents are being reminded to clear their lanes and walkways as a service to their fellow citizen.