The Government of Northwest Territories (GNWT) provides allowances to help offset the costs of living and working in the Northwest Territories.  Below is a brief overview of allowances paid by the GNWT.

Northern Living Allowance

The cost of living in the NWT might be a little bit surprising if you’ve never ventured this far north.  Some of our communities are very remote and serviced by plane or barge.  These communities have a higher cost of living for groceries, home heating fuel and travel.  The GNWT recognizes this and provides a Northern Living Allowance to help offset these higher costs. 

Nursing Allowances

There are numerous allowances available for nurses and other health care practitioners.  These can include a monthly allowance for uniforms and laundry, level of university completed, CHA/CNA course completion and special clinical preparation. 

Bilingual Allowance

The NWT is the only Canadian jurisdiction that recognizes 11 official languages; French and English as well as nine Indigenous languages (Chipewyan, Cree, Gwich’in, Inuktitut, Inuinnaqtun, Inuvialuktun, North Slavey, South Slavey, Tłı̨chǫ). The GNWT is committed to promoting, preserving and celebrating the territory's official languages through programs, services, and employee benefits. GNWT employees who provide government services in more than one NWT official language may be eligible for a bilingual bonus.

Relocation Assistance

The GNWT offers relocation packages to eligible successful applicants from their existing home community to their new community.