The North

In tonight's newscast, Natasha Bulowski at the federal budget reveal in Ottawa walks us through the big news for the NWT. What's the deal with the Mackenzie Valley Highway funding? What does the Nutrition North expansion look like? Is there money for schools through Jordan's Principle? And did northern mining get any kind of boost?

Also tonight, the NWT's health authority will keep a public administrator (rather than going back to a board) but the identity of that administrator will change. Plus Lumi director Jen Walden joins us after her movie screened at the Yellowknife International Film Festival.

Ottawa correspondent Natasha Bulowski joins Ollie Williams to unpack a big budget for the NWT. The Mackenzie Valley Highway would be fully funded if this budget passes and there's an expansion of Nutrition North – but there are also gaps in places like education and mineral exploration tax credits. Here's what we found.

In tonight's newscast, a contractor cleaning a Fort Smith's high school's ventilation ducts finds an apparent recording device and police open an investigation.

In other news, we look ahead to Thursday's federal budget with the help of NWT Teachers' Association president Rita Mueller and former NWT premier Bob McLeod. Two pieces of territorial public safety legislation passed their last real hurdle before becoming law, and – even without any snow – Yellowknife's ski club is prepping for the new season.

In tonight's newscast, the search for a missing Yellowknife 70-year-old ends in the discovery of a body. Police say no foul play is suspected.

Also tonight: former health minister Lesa Semmler has a new job, Northern United Place celebrates its 50th anniversary, a Yellowknife band is surprised to find itself playing Iceland, and Inuvik looks set to get a Tesla Supercharger.

In tonight's newscast, police ask for help finding a 70-year-old woman who was last seen near a Yellowknife hiking loop on Sunday.

Also tonight: Yellowknife's new mayor and council are sworn in, we look at what abolishing the Indian Act might mean in the NWT, the new leader of the Union of Northern Workers describes some changes he wants to make, and ice thickness tests are coming as Yellowknife lakes freeze over with no snow on the ground – a November rarity.

Sadeè Walden stars in It's Her Call, a documentary that gets its first screening at the Yellowknife International Film Festival this month. It follows the NWT 16-year-old's work toward becoming an elite-level hockey referee. She joined Ollie to talk about her ambition and the film, which airs on CBC in February.

Also in this episode: Bran Ramsey joins Clams 'n' Moose to discuss putting together this year's film festival lineup, and Leela Gilday is in studio with Cabin Radio's Sarah Erasmus as she prepares to release new music alongside brother Jay.

In tonight's newscast, the GNWT loses in the Federal Court of Appeal as it continues a years-long campaign to have CN repair the rail line between Enterprise and Hay River.

Also tonight, RCMP think they've found the person responsible for a string of vehicle break-ins in Yellowknife, three candidates come forward for the Inuvik Twin Lakes by-election, it's an early start to flu season in the NWT, new election rules are on the horizon and a teenage Yellowknife hockey ref is the star of a new documentary.

In tonight's newscast, the IRC's delegates vote to keep Erwin Elias as chair after an investigation into unspecified allegations concludes.

Also tonight: the disease killing NWT hares, the territory's new "anti-SLAPP" legislation, a telecom roadmap for Canada, investment in Canadian AI, and actor Patrick Stewart passes away.

Two experts join Ollie to explain why dead snowshoe hares are showing up in parts of the NWT – and what makes this different to anything scientists have seen in Canada before.

Also in this episode: Jean Marie River's new chief talks about his hope that others can follow in his footsteps by coming home to the community, and a senator explains why he's proposing a new way of approaching foetal alcohol spectrum disorder.

In tonight's newscast, we join union members and MLAs at a rally outside the territorial legislature with mediation over a new GNWT collective agreement due to start in January.

Also tonight, two young, Indigenous northerners present to senators in Ottawa about healthcare, the Indian Act and how to make southern universities better places for northern youth. Plus we have the latest on a deadly train crash in Spain, the Bank of Canada's decision to hike interest rates and the gel developed in Calgary that's helping to save lives in Ukraine.