Home » Newswire

Government of Nunavut limits travel exemptions for unvaccinated workers

Iqaluit, Nunavut (September 27, 2021) – Effective November 1, 2021, the Government of Nunavut’s (GN) Department of Health will limit travel exemptions for unvaccinated workers. This includes workers who have yet to receive a second dose of a Government of Canada approved COVID-19 vaccine.

“As vaccines are widely available in Southern Canada, workers now have the option to get vaccinated,” said Dr. Patterson, Nunavut’s Chief Public Health Officer. “Minimizing the number of unvaccinated workers traveling to the territory on exemptions will help reduce the risks of COVID-19 coming to Nunavut.”

Previously, it was possible for workers to forgo isolation in a designated GN isolation location outside the territory, and travel to Nunavut under a worker exemption. As of November 1, 2021, exemptions will only be granted for unvaccinated or partially vaccinated workers under one of two conditions:
1. If there is sudden and severe damage to critical infrastructure or if a replacement is necessary due to unforeseen illness or injury; or
2. If the worker(s) is bearing a letter from a medical doctor indicating they are unable to get any of the Government of Canada approved COVID-19 vaccinations for a medical reason listed on the vaccine’s product monograph.

Unvaccinated or partially vaccinated workers who do not fit either of the two conditions listed above, will not be granted an exemption and will have to isolate for 14 days at a GN Isolation location, prior to being allowed entry to Nunavut.
Workers granted an exemption under one of those two conditions must email an Unvaccinated critical worker and Compassionate travel form to [email protected] and will continue to be required to isolate at home when they are not working.

Applications will be processed within five business days.

There is no change to the exemption process for those travelling for compassionate reasons at this time.

As a reminder, vaccinated workers may now apply for a vaccinated traveller exemption by completing the declaration form and sending it to [email protected] Residents from outside Nunavut must also provide proof of vaccination with their declaration form. Please allow two weeks for your application to be processed and a travel authorization letter to be sent to you.

Anyone who develops symptoms of COVID-19 is advised to call the COVID-hotline at 1-888-975-8601 between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. EST to arrange testing or notify their community health centre right away. Please do not go to the health centre in person, and immediately isolate at home for 14 days.

###

Media Contact:

Chris Puglia
Acting Manager of Communications
Department of Health
867-975-5949
[email protected]

NT5

City of Prince Albert: City Facility Hours for Sept 30th, 2021: National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

September 27, 2021

Prince Albert, Sask. – The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation celebrated on Sept 30th, 2021, has been declared as a new holiday for City Employees. Several City facilities have revised schedules for September 30th, please see the contact information and the operating hours on the city website here.. Please be advised there will be no transit services on Sept. 30th.

The Prince Albert Urban Indigenous Coalition (PAUIC) will be hosting a one hour education session on September 30, 2021 on the topic of residential schools. The pre-recorded session will be approximately one hour and available on the PAUIC website as well as on social media at the start of the day on September 30. Subscribe or watch the City’s events calendar www.paevents.ca for further details.

Also known as Orange Shirt Day, wearing orange on September 30 continues to be a way to honour Indian Residential Schools Survivors. The Indian and Metis Friendship Centre, working with the City of Prince Albert through the Municipal Cultural Action Plan, completed a Call for an Indigenous Artist this year. The chosen artist, Ailah Carpenter, has created an ‘Orange Shirt Day – Every Child Matters’ design uniquely for Prince Albert. This design will be sold by the Prince Albert Indian and Metis Friendship Centre located at 1409 1 Ave East.

-30-

For more media inquiries please contact:

Kiley Bear
Communications Manager
(306) 953-4367

NT5

Media Advisory: Premier Cochrane’s Itinerary for the week of September 26, 2021

Issued September 24, 2021. If there are any changes, an updated version of the itinerary will be provided on September 29, 2021.

Public Events and Meetings

No public events or meetings are scheduled.

Closed Events and Meetings

The following events are closed to the media

September 27

The Premier will be participating in a COVID-19 update with NWT Indigenous leadership.
Internal meetings

September 28

The Premier will be chairing a COVID-19 Committee of Cabinet meeting.
The Premier will be meeting virtually with Consul General of Japan Tatsukuni Uchida
The Premier will be meeting with the Chief Public Health Officer.
The Premier will be participating in an Energy and Climate Change Committee of Cabinet meeting.
Internal meetings

September 29

The Premier will be participating in an Economic Diversification and Growth & Environment Committee of Cabinet meeting.
Internal meetings

September 30

Regular Business

October 1

The Premier will be meeting with the Northwest Territories Association of Communities.
Internal meetings

All meetings and events subject to change.

For Ministerial Media Requests, Contact:

Cabinet Communications
Government of the Northwest Territories
[email protected]

NT5

Mountain Province Diamonds Announces Extension of Revolving Credit Facility, Repayment of Term Loan

TORONTO and NEW YORK, Sept. 27, 2021 – Mountain Province Diamonds Inc. (“Mountain Province”, the “Company”) (TSX: MPVD) (OTCQX: MPVD) announces the extension of its US$25M Revolving Credit Facility, and the full repayment of its US$35M term loan.

The Company wishes to announce that it has completed an agreement to extend by six months the maturity date of its US$25M senior secured revolving credit facility with Dunebridge Worldwide Ltd. (“Dunebridge”), a company which Mr. Dermot Desmond is the ultimate beneficial owner (the “Transaction”). The extended revolving facility will mature on March 31, 2022 and will support Mountain Province Diamonds’ general working capital needs. The interest rate and other features of the facility remain unchanged. In connection with this extension, the Company paid Dunebridge Worldwide Ltd. a fee equal to 2% of the aggregate principal amount drawn under the revolving facility.

As a condition of the extension, the company has made a US$11.5M payment towards the US$33M term loan announced on May 12, 2021. This payment brings the balance of the term loan to zero ahead of the term loan maturity date of December 31, 2021.

The independent directors of Mountain Province, comprised of Ms. Karen Goracke, Mr. Dean Chambers, and Mr. Ken Robertson, all of whom are independent of management and the major shareholder of Mountain Province (the “Independent Directors”), undertook a deliberate and full consideration of the Transaction and concluded that the Transaction is reasonable and represents the best alternative for Mountain Province in the circumstances, having regard to the best interests of Mountain Province and its stakeholders. The Independent Directors have unanimously recommended the Transaction to the board of directors of the Company (the “Board”). The Board has received the recommendations and findings of the Independent Directors, and Mr. Jonathan Comerford and Mr. Brett Desmond having declared conflicts of interest and not attending any part of any meeting where the Transaction was discussed and not voting on the Transaction, have unanimously found that that the Company is in serious financial difficulty and that the Transaction is designed to improve the financial position of the Company, and that Section 5.5(f) of National Instrument 61-101 – Protection of Minority Shareholders in Special Transactions (“MI 61-101”) is not applicable, and approved the Transaction.

Dermot Desmond is the ultimate beneficial owner of Dunebridge, and thus is an insider and related party of Mountain Province. Mr. Desmond owns approximately 33% of the Company’s stock. The Transaction therefore constitutes a “related party transaction” within the meaning of MI 61-101. Mountain Province relied on an exemption from the minority approval requirements of MI 61-101 contained in Section 5.7(e) on the basis of financial hardship. The terms of the Transaction were unanimously approved by the Independent Directors. Mountain Province was not in a position to file a material change report 21 days prior to closing because the terms of the Transaction and insider participation were not yet established by that time, and Mountain Province elected to expedite closing of the Transaction for sound business reasons.

About the Company

Mountain Province Diamonds is a 49% participant with De Beers Canada in the Gahcho Kué diamond mine located in Canada’s Northwest Territories. The Gahcho Kué Joint Venture property consists of several kimberlites that are actively being mined, developed, and explored for future development. The Company also controls 106,202 hectares of highly prospective mineral claims and leases surrounding the Gahcho Kué Mine that include an Indicated mineral resource for the Kelvin kimberlite and Inferred mineral resources for the Faraday kimberlites. Kelvin is estimated to contain 13.62 million carats (Mct) in 8.50 million tonnes (Mt) at a grade of 1.60 carats/tonne and value of US$63/carat. Faraday 2 is estimated to contain 5.45Mct in 2.07Mt at a grade of 2.63 carats/tonne and value of US$140/ct. Faraday 1-3 is estimated to contain 1.90Mct in 1.87Mt at a grade of 1.04 carats/tonne and value of US$75/carat. All resource estimations are based on a 1mm diamond size bottom cut-off.

For further information on Mountain Province Diamonds and to receive news releases by email, visit the Company’s website at www.mountainprovince.com.

Qualified Person

The disclosure in this news release of scientific and technical information regarding Mountain Province’s mineral properties has been reviewed and approved by Matthew MacPhail, P.Eng., MBA, and Tom E. McCandless, Ph.D., P.Geo., both employees of Mountain Province Diamonds and Qualified Persons as defined by National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.

For further information: Stuart Brown, President and CEO, 161 Bay Street, Suite 1410, Toronto, Ontario M5J 2S1, Phone: (416) 361-3562, E-mail: [email protected]; Matthew MacPhail, VP Corporate Development & Technical Services, 161 Bay Street, Suite 1410, Toronto, Ontario M5J 2S1, Phone: (416) 361-3562, E-mail: [email protected]

NT4

Operational Support Funding Available for NWT Businesses

Yellowknife — September 24, 2021

Today the Government of Northwest Territories (GNWT) announced that Northwest Territories (NWT) businesses impacted by recent public health measures can now apply to GNWT’s Support for Entrepreneurs and Economic Development (SEED) Program for assistance with ongoing operational costs.

Up to $5,000 is available to individual businesses that have been impacted by gathering limitations. This short-term funding will help to cover ongoing operational costs such as rent and utilities for businesses that have experienced operating deficits since the outbreak in early August. Applications will be received and evaluated on a first-come first-served basis.

The total amount of funding available for this initiative is $750,000 and will remain in effect until March 31, 2022, as long as the public health measures are in place or until the allocated funding is spent.

Quote

“The GNWT remains committed to supporting businesses of all sizes across the NWT in their efforts to recover from the economic impacts of Covid-19. We remain keenly aware that businesses across the territory are affected by the ebbs and flows of the pandemic and with these latest and most significant outbreaks, it became apparent that the NWT’s small and medium businesses were most at risk. We hope that this relief funding helps provide a buffer over the short-term as we continue to monitor the environment.”

-Caroline Wawzonek, Minister of Finance; Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment

Quick facts

ITI has introduced the SEED Ministerial Directive for the 2020-2021 and 2021-2022 fiscal years to directly respond to the impacts of the pandemic.
One of the core strengths of the existing SEED Policy is that it allows for flexibility and for regional offices to respond to local economic circumstances as well as unique opportunities within their region.
The GNWT has acted to mitigate the economic impacts of this crisis by investing in the economic well-being of NWT industry and businesses through both existing programs and the development of new initiatives. Some of the highlighted programs include:
- the Support for Entrepreneur and Economic Development (SEED) program;
- the new tourism programs implemented by the GNWT over the past year, which include:
  - the Growth and Recovery by Investing in Tourism (GRIT) fund;
  - the Pandemic Relief Extension Program (PREP) for licensed tourism operators;
  - the Supplement for Tourism Accommodation Relief (STAR) Program for accommodation providers who have three or more rooms; and
  - the newest Tourism Relief Investment Program (TRIP) for licensed tourism operators and tourism-related businesses.

Media Invitation – Tabling of the Québec Ombudsman’s 2020-2021 Annual Report

QUÉBEC CITY, Sept. 27, 2021 – Québec Ombudsperson Marie Rinfret is inviting media representatives to a virtual news conference to be held on Thursday, September 30, 2021, as of 11 a.m., when she will release the findings of the Québec Ombudsman’s 2020-2021 Annual Report.

Access to the virtual-only news conference will be via the Teams platform. Journalists wanting to obtain the hyperlink must RSVP online before 4 p.m. on Wednesday, September 29, 2021, at
[email protected]

Journalists registered for the conference will receive a hyperlink to a virtual technical briefing as of 9 a.m. During this briefing, the Québec Ombudsman’s 2020-2021 Annual Report, under embargo, will be sent to the participants. The Deputy Ombudsman for Citizen and User Services, Claude Dussault, and the Deputy Ombudsperson for Institutional Affairs and Prevention, Hélène Vallières, will also be available to answer any technical or content questions.

The Québec Ombudsman’s 51st Annual Report will be available on the protecteurducitoyen.qc.ca website on September 30, 2021, at around 11 a.m. (after the Report has been tabled by the President of the National Assembly).

Virtual news conference
September 30, 2021, 11 a.m.
Mandatory registration before 4 p.m. on Wednesday, September 29, 2021, at:
[email protected]

Access to the Annual Report under embargo
September 30, 2021, between 9 a.m. and 10 a.m.
Only journalists registered for the news conference will have access to the briefing and receive the
documents under embargo.

NT4

Western Copper and Gold Announces Appointment of VP, Environmental and Community Affairs

VANCOUVER, B.C. Western Copper and Gold Corporation (“Western” or the “Company”) (TSX: WRN; NYSE American: WRN) is pleased to announce the appointment of Shena Shaw as Vice President, Environmental and Community Affairs, effective October 1, 2021. Ms. Shaw will be responsible for leading the environmental, permitting and community relations efforts for Western Copper and Gold and its wholly owned Casino Copper-Gold Deposit in Yukon, Canada (the “Casino Project”).

Ms. Shaw is looking forward to supporting the Casino Project through the first ever Panel Review process in the Yukon. She has been managing projects and contributing to environmental assessments across the North for nearly 20 years. Her knowledge and advice will help the company make strategic and effective decisions when planning and implementing Indigenous and community consultation and engagement.

After graduating from the University of Victoria with a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology focusing on First Nations Studies and Geography, Ms. Shaw joined the Yukon Chamber of Commerce with a role in supporting community-based entrepreneurship programs and services. A relocation to Yellowknife, NWT introduced her to the mining industry for the first time when she joined DeBeers Canada’s Snap Lake Project. Following that she embarked on a lengthy career in environmental consulting in Yellowknife and Whitehorse, focusing on responsible development of resource extraction through the environmental assessment and Indigenous engagement processes of large-scale projects in the Yukon, NWT, Alaska and across Canada. Ms. Shaw participated in the consultation and socio-economic impact assessment work for the Kaminak Coffee Gold Project, Victoria Gold’s Eagle Gold Project and the Casino Project, all based in the Yukon. She is deeply familiar with the Yukon Environmental and Socio-economic Assessment Act process and was involved in the Mackenzie Gas Project Joint Review Panel process in the NWT.

Dr. Paul West-Sells, Western’s CEO, stated, “I am pleased to welcome Shena to the executive team at Western Copper and Gold. Her deep experience in First Nations and community relations, and her extensive environmental background will be critical as the Company pushes forward with a comprehensive engagement strategy with our First Nations and local communities of interest and towards the submission of an Environmental and Socio-Economic Statement as the next step towards permitting of the Casino Project.“

ABOUT WESTERN COPPER AND GOLD CORPORATION
Western Copper and Gold Corporation is developing the Casino Project, expected to become Canada’s premier copper-gold mine in the Yukon Territory and one of the most economic greenfield copper-gold mining projects in the world. For more information, visit www.westerncopperandgold.com.

On behalf of the board,

“Paul West-Sells”

Paul West-Sells
President and CEO
Western Copper and Gold Corporation

For more information, please contact:

Sandy Noyes
Director, Investor Relations
604.638.2520 or [email protected]

NT5

Premier’s Statement on Truth and Reconciliation Week

September 27, 2021

Kwe. Teluisi (hello, my name is) Premier Tim Houston.

Throughout the past year, with the devastating news of children’s bodies being uncovered at former residential school sites throughout the country, Canada’s history with Indigenous people has also come to light – to many for the first time.

For there to be reconciliation, we must learn and speak the truth. The trauma brought on by residential schools, past policies and racism still affect Indigenous people and communities.

This year, Sept. 27 to Oct. 1 is designated as Truth and Reconciliation Week in Canada.

The week is an opportunity to reflect on the dark and difficult parts of our shared history with Indigenous people.

The province, through its treaty education partners, is funding and supporting week-long online programming for teachers and students across the country, lead by the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation.

Thursday, Sept. 30, is Orange Shirt Day in recognition of a movement that originated with Phyllis Webstad, a residential school survivor. On her first day at St. Joseph’s Residential School in Williams Lake, B.C., her new orange shirt was stripped from her and never seen again. The message behind the orange shirt is that every child matters.

Sept. 30 is also the first National Truth and Reconciliation Day. Creating the statutory holiday was one of the calls to action the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada made nearly six years ago. Whether it be through quiet reflection, participating in events, or sharing conversation, I encourage you to recognize the legacy of residential schools.

And finally, on Friday, Oct. 1, we mark the 35^th Treaty Day in Nova Scotia, which also kicks off Mi’kmaq History Month in the province.

While the pandemic continues to make it difficult to gather in person, I encourage each of you to make the time to reflect on what it means to be a treaty person, as the culture, language and history of L’nu is shared and celebrated in communities throughout the province.

Wela’lioq (thank you).

Media Contact:

Catherine Klimek
Cell: 902-717-1020
Email: [email protected]

NT5