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Dr. OConnor red suddenly from post in Fort Chipewyan The doctor who raised the alarm about high rates of cancer downstream from the oilsands was let go from his position on Friday. See page 2. Fort Smith secures top spots at Grande Prairie soccer event Fort Smith athletes brought home a haul of medals and top-place nishes from a re- cent soccer tournament in Grande Prairie Alta. See page 20. NWTAC PICKET Fort Smith Fort Simpson and Inuvik skip meetings due to strike. See page 7. Jiggers gather to perform traditional Mtis dance Students from Fort Resolu- tion and Fort Smith joined together for a special jigging concert last week celebrating local traditional dance. See page 19. GNWT announces new funding model for communities The NWT government is looking to ll the scal gap for communities by moving to a needs-based funding approach. See page 6. V IS IT W W W .N O R J.C A A national award winning independent newspaper serving northern Alberta and the Northwest Territories since 1977 1.00 May 12 2015 Vol. 39 No. 2 Alberta NDP win Notley pledges energy reform partnership with First Nations By MEAGAN WOHLBERG We did make a little history to- gether tonight didnt we In the understatement of the cen- tury - or at least of the 44 years of Progressive Conservative rule in Alberta - NDP leader Rachel Notley accepted her new role as premier of Alberta Tuesday night after sweep- ing the former conservative strong- holdtoinstallamajoritygovernment. The New Democratic Party went from just four to 53 seats during the election May 5 sweeping all 19 Ed- monton ridings and taking 14 of 25 seatsinCalgaryalongwithnumerous ridingsthroughouttheprovinceprevi- ouslyconsideredbasesforthePCparty. Newly installed leader of the Wil- drosePartyBrianJeanwillbeheading the ofcial opposition with 20 seats while the incumbent PCs - whose leader former premier Jim Prentice resignedafternarrowlywinninginhis riding - have been denigrated to just 11 seats in the legislature. The Liber- als secured a single seat. An end to boom and bust Notleys NDP capitalized on a splintering in the right sparked rates to phase out coal power and to scale back pipeline lobbying ef- forts focusing instead on expand- ing domestic reneries. Still she reached out to big busi- ness in her victory speech Tuesday our economy and to secure a more prosperous future for every Alber- tanineverycommunityNotleysaid. Together we need to start down theroadtoadiversiedandresilient economy to end the boom and bust roller coaster ride weve been on for far too long. It wont happen over- night.Butwemuststartandwewill. The new premier also said she would be partnering with the rest of the provinces on the need for a national approach to the environ- ment and an energy plan that builds bridges and opens markets instead of giving us a black eye. Though committing to work with Notley the energy sector was quick to roll out dire warnings for inves- tors on Wednesday morning pre- dicting a possible stock selloff and stall of investment in the oil patch duetoanNDP-createduncertainty in the wake of an oil price collapse. See Promises on page 3. by the fall in oil prices with prom- ises of energy reforms that would diversify the resource-dependent economy and give a fair share of future revenues to Albertans. Those promises include a boost to corporate taxes from 10 to 12 per cent to review provincial royalty night pledging partnership and hoping to avoid the corporate back- lash that has sabotaged other NDP governments in Canada. To Albertas job creators great and small in the energy sector and ineverysectorourgovernmentwill be a good partner with you to grow Together we need to start down the road to a diversied and resilient economy to end the boom and bust roller coaster ride weve been on for far too long. Alberta Premier-elect Rachel Notley PhotocourtesyofKeyanoCollege Keyano College instructor Maureen Clarke left and health care aide student Cecilia MacInnis attend a celebration of learning at the schools Fort Chipewyan campus on May 1. For photos of the event and of last weekends Fort McMurray convocation ceremony head to page 10.