Hay River strike may force N.W.T. communities' meeting to move

The Northwest Territories Association of Communities may have to move its annual general meeting due to the ongoing strike by municipal workers in Hay River.

The meeting is scheduled for May 7-10 at Hay River's arena, but the arena has been closed because the town's employees are on strike.

Sara Brown, chief executive officer of the Northwest Territories Association of Communities, says they can't hold the meeting behind a picket line.

"We have a couple of different plans we are working on but it doesn't just impact the association," she said.

"It impacts everybody who's coming to the meeting. They are coming from all over the territory."

All 33 communities in the NWT belong to the association and Brown said the annual general meeting is usually well attended.

Brown said they are considering alternative venues, such as the K'atl'odeeche First Nation Reserve, and they will have to make a final decision by late this week.

Hay River's municipal employees went on strike Feb. 9.