Pelican Narrows and Sandy Bay will have added 4G wireless capacity in the coming weeks, SaskTel has announced.
The northeastern Saskatchewan reserves are among seven communities across the province receiving a second 850 Mhz carrier by the end of 2014.
Adding a second carrier approximately doubles network capacity, says SaskTel.
“SaskTel understands the importance of providing communications services in rural areas and it will continue to enhance the wireless network to improve the customer experience,” said Kevin Doherty, minister responsible for SaskTel.
Teen homicide
RCMP have ruled the death of a 13-year-old boy in Pukatawagan a homicide.
On Dec. 2, the teen’s body was discovered on an outdoor trail on the northern Manitoba reserve.
The teen was a resident of Pukatawagan. Police are not releasing his name.
RCMP said their investigation continues with no further details available at this time.
Bands not complying
Nearly half of the 14 Manitoba First Nations that had not complied with a new federal transparency law as of Monday were located in the northern part of the province.
Under the law, which came into effect last month, all First Nations in Canada are required to post their audited financial statements – including the salaries of chiefs and band councillors – online.
As of Monday, 48 First Nations had not complied. In northern Manitoba, these included Bunibonibee Cree
Nation at Oxford House, the Fox Lake Band, Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation at Nelson House, the Northlands Band at Lac Brochet, Shamattawa First Nation and York Factory First Nation.
Across the border, Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation, which includes Amisk Lake, had also failed to comply, but Chief Peter Beatty has said the information will be posted when it is ready.
Protest ends
Protesters from the First Nations community of Cross Lake no longer occupy northern Manitoba’s Jenpeg Generating Station.
Employees from Manitoba Hydro, which owns the station, were evicted from their housing complex at the site, located on the Nelson River, on Oct. 17. Workers remained working inside the dam but didn’t have full run of the property.
Cross Lake’s Pimicikamak Okimawin Cree Nation wanted a process agreement signed and Premier Greg Selinger to travel to Cross Lake to see the damages Manitoba Hydro has caused, Chief Cathy Merrick said in a Nov. 5 press release.
A Nov. 28 press release from Pimicikamak said a new process agreement between Pimicikamak, Manitoba Hydro and the Manitoba government has been signed, and the occupation is over.
Checkstops underway
The RCMP’s holiday checkstop program got underway across Manitoba on Dec. 1 and will continue until New Year’s Day.
Police say the focus is on detecting high-risk drivers, including those who are impaired, speeding, not buckled up or driving while distracted.
“Some of your fellow Manitobans are not getting home to their families because of impaired drivers, and the RCMP has made it a national priority to change that,” said Assistant Commissioner Kevin Brosseau, commanding officer of Manitoba’s RCMP D Division.
All RCMP detachments and traffic units in Manitoba are taking part in the campaign through extra checkstops and patrols, funded in part by Manitoba Public Insurance.
Drop the Pop
A pair of northern Manitoba schools are among four recipients across the province receiving grants to support their Drop the Pop challenges.
DR Hamilton School in Cross Lake and Peter Yassie Memorial School in Tadoule Lake received $250 grants from the Manitoba branch of The Kidney Foundation of Canada.
“We are thrilled that principals and teachers from across Manitoba are going to help spread the word to children that it’s important to take care of your kidneys,” said Val Dunphy, executive director of the foundation. “One way of doing this is to cut back on sugar.”
Helping Santa
Mounties are assisting Santa this year by sorting and delivering almost 1,000 toys to children throughout Manitoba as part of the Toys for the North project.
While there are many charitable groups that provide toys for children during the holiday season, Toys for the North is the only major effort to do a similar toy drive for the thousands of needy children who in Canada’s North.
Many children living in remote Manitoba communities will receive toys through Toys for the North.
“To know that we are able to provide a child with a toy, with some holiday cheer, is a great feeling,” said Chief Superintendent Scott Kolody, officer in charge of criminal operations for the RCMP in Manitoba.
Insurance overhaul
The Saskatchewan government is promising better protection for consumers with a proposed overhaul of the province’s insurance legislation.
The Saskatchewan Insurance Act and is the first major revision to insurance regulation in Saskatchewan in five decades.
Proposed changes include, among others, new protections for consumers through standards that identify unfair practices; a streamlined appeal process; permitting insurance agents to adjust insurance claims to a prescribed amount; and requiring insurers to point to specific clauses in a policy where there are limits on the amount payable.
Easier voting
Changes designed to make it easier for Saskatchewan people to vote in provincial elections are now in effect.
Amendments include new homebound voting provisions that allow voters with a disability to have election officials come to their home to take their vote.
Saskatchewan is also now the first jurisdiction in Canada to provide special residence recognition to voters serving in the Canadian Armed Forces.
Active members from Saskatchewan will retain their residency while serving elsewhere. Members coming to the province to serve will immediately be able to vote in provincial elections.
The changes will also establish a permanent voter registry and remove the requirement for door-to-door enumeration. They will further remove restrictions on who can vote at advance polls.
