Two N.W.T. companies charged under the territory’s safety act have set new dates to enter pleas and, in at least one case, proceed to sentencing. 

 Nogha Enterprises Ltd., a construction company based out of Fort Simpson, N.W.T., faces five safety charges from an incident in December 2020. 

Jeremy Dixon, representing Nogha on the case, told the territorial court Tuesday in Yellowknife that someone from the company would be there for the next date to enter its plea. He said that time should be set aside for sentencing as well. 

That matter was put over to June 28. 

The charges are related to an incident that led to Claude Fontaine’s death. 

On Dec. 8, 2020, Fontaine was operating an excavator to dig a pit at a gravel quarry outside Fort Simpson. When the sidewall of the water-filled pit collapsed, the excavator fell into the pit and Fontaine drowned, according to a press release from the Workers’ Safety and Compensation Commission (WSCC) when the commission laid charges. 

Dixon told the judge that Fontaine’s family had called into Tuesday’s appearance and that the court should expect victim impact statements at the next sitting date. 

The Northwest Territories Power Corporation (NTPC) also appeared in court Tuesday morning to put over its plea on safety charges. 

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