Two cases of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI), otherwise known as bird flu, have been confirmed in common ravens in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, as part of ongoing monitoring for HPAI in NWT wildlife.
Testing identified the H5 strain of HPAI, which is highly infectious among birds. These appear to be isolated cases, and the risk to birds and other wildlife remains low.
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Mr. Speaker, as the 2026 wildfire season approaches, I would like to provide an update on our government’s continued investments in wildfire preparedness and resilience across the Northwest Territories.
Building wildfire resilience means investing in our communities so our people can live safely with wildfire and be ready for emergencies.
Applications are open for the Tundra Science and Culture Camp. This is an immersive, educational program for high-school-aged students, and educators, from the NWT.
The program is delivered by leaders in Indigenous culture and environmental science who collaborate to provide a unique, on-the-tundra cultural and multidisciplinary learning experience. These leaders include Tłı̨chǫ elders, GNWT experts and educators in their fields, environmental stewards, and on-site graduate student researchers.
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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.
