The Premier of the Northwest Territories says her government wants to ensure the safety of the arctic expedition team that plans to travel from Yellowknife to the North Pole on wheels.

The Transglobal Car team made national headlines on March 2 when it was revealed that one of their members, a Russian national, had arrived by plane the previous day. That passenger and others involved were fined for violating a Canadian airspace restriction that was adopted on Feb. 27 in response to RussiaSA国际影视传媒檚 invasion of Ukraine.

In a sitting of the Legislative Assembly on March 8, Premier Caroline Cochrane said her government wasnSA国际影视传媒檛 contacted by the team before their arrival: SA国际影视传媒淭he first time we got notice was when the Minister [of Infrastructure] found out that they were at our airport,SA国际影视传媒� she said.

Once the GNWT did become aware of their arrival, SA国际影视传媒渁s a basic courtesy [we] tried to figure out what exactly their plans were, because the North is a harsh environment,SA国际影视传媒� said Cochrane.

SA国际影视传媒淲eSA国际影视传媒檙e not worrying about what theySA国际影视传媒檙e here to do as much as weSA国际影视传媒檙e worried about their safety. We live in a harsh environment, so we want to make sure that they have plans, that they have the proper equipment, that they have the proper vehicles, clothing, et cetera, to be able to do this expedition.SA国际影视传媒�

Although the Transglobal Car team doesnSA国际影视传媒檛 need a permit for their expedition, Cochrane said their all-terrain vehicles were inspected and found to not be highway safe, meaning they will instead need to be hauled on a trailer.

Despite the alarm caused by the planned expedition, Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment Caroline Wawzonek said the GNWT wants to promote these kinds of expeditions: SA国际影视传媒淭his is obviously a place we like to promote for exactly the kind of exploration opportunities that we all know exist here,SA国际影视传媒� she said.

She said the Northwest Territories Film Commission had been in touch with the expedition team about documenting their journey in order to SA国际影视传媒渂ring greater attention not only to our film industry, not only to the great folks that we have in Northwest Territories in this sector, but then the other opportunities that come with it,SA国际影视传媒� said Wawzonek.

Great Slave MLA Katrina Nokleby met with the team and shared photos of the team and their vehicles on social media on March 6. SA国际影视传媒淚 think this was just very much a perfect storm of bad events that led to this situation happening, and I donSA国际影视传媒檛 think anything was ill intended, but rather just maybe ignorance of what was needing to be done,SA国际影视传媒� she told the Assembly.

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