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Mr. Speaker, barren-ground caribou are a vital part of the culture, traditions, and livelihoods of Indigenous peoples across the Northwest Territories. They are also an important indicator for the health of our northern ecosystems.
Funding for the Interim Resource Management Assistance (IRMA) Program is being boosted by the Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT). The is an effort to strengthen Indigenous governments and Indigenous organizations’ capacity to participate meaningfully in land and resource management processes.
The IRMA Program supports Indigenous governments and Indigenous organizations without settled land and resource agreements to engage in a broad range of activities, including engagement and consultation, and capacity development.
Environmental work is advancing at six NWT airports to investigate the presence and extent of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), and to inform future actions.
The GNWT has released the new population estimate for the Bathurst and Bluenose-East barren-ground caribou herds. These estimates are based on calving ground surveys conducted in June 2025, combined with herd composition surveys completed in late October 2025.
2025 Population Survey Results:
Bluenose-East Herd:
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Mr. Speaker, the Government of the Northwest Territories is committed to sound environmental stewardship and the sustainable development of natural resources in the North. As part of this commitment, and in accordance with the federal Mackenzie Valley Resource Management Act and several land claim agreements, the government is responsible for facilitating and publicly releasing an Environmental Audit every five years.
The Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) wants your input on developing remediation options for the Canol Trail, Miles 0-8.
The Canol Trail is a 355-kilometre historic route that follows a World War II-era pipeline used to transport oil from Norman Wells to Whitehorse. After it was decommissioned, it left behind a legacy of infrastructure and cultural significance, along with environmental impacts.
The Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) has released the Knowledge Agenda: Northern Research for Northern Priorities 2025. It is a five-year plan that identifies the territory’s most important research needs and sets a clear path for collaboration with research partners.
The 2025 Northwest Territories Environmental Audit has noted the improvements in the GNWT’s work. The Audit is a legislated independent review that takes place every five years.
The Audit examines how effectively the NWT’s environmental regulatory system is working, assesses how environmental information is used in decision-making, and evaluates progress on cumulative impact monitoring. It also examines the adequacy of responses to past audit recommendations.
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Mr. Speaker, the Territory’s 2025 wildfire season was a challenging one. With 201 wildfires and nearly 1.4 million hectares burned, this was one of the most-active wildfire seasons in Northwest Territories’ history.
I want to acknowledge the tireless dedication, personal sacrifice, and incredible teamwork of our staff. Wildfire crews showed up day after day to protect our territory. These efforts deserve the recognition and appreciation of this House.
The Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) has released the 2024 Northwest Territories Forest Health Report. The report offers a comprehensive overview of forest health conditions throughout the territory. It highlights the significant impacts of prolonged drought and notes a general decline in forest insect and disease activity compared to previous years.
