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.

Check against delivery

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.

The Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) is now accepting applications for the 2025 Trapper Mentorship Program. Started in 2022, this program helps NWT residents learn how to trap by pairing them with experienced trappers who teach them important skills.  Successful new trappers will get a starter kit worth about $1500, while mentors will receive $2000 to help cover their costs.

On August 28, the Government of the Northwest Territories and Government of Nunavut signed an updated Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on caribou cooperation between the two territories. This MOU shows a commitment to work collaboratively to manage shared populations of caribou herds.

The new MOU includes:

The Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) has released the What We Heard report following public and targeted engagement on the draft 2025–2029 NWT Climate Change Action Plan.

A possible case of anthrax has been identified in a bison carcass located on the west shoulder of Highway 3 at kilometre 164.

Laboratory results are currently pending. However, given a preliminary investigation in the field, this is being treated as a suspected anthrax case, and an Incident Management Team has been mobilized.

Response activities:

The 2025 intake for the Adam Yeadon Memorial Scholarship is open for applications. 

The Adam Yeadon Memorial Scholarship is awarded to Northwest Territories full-time post-secondary students enrolled in diploma, degree or other approved training programs related to forestry or wildfire management to support northern students interested in pursuing an education in these fields.  

The scholarship was established in 2024 after Adam’s passing in the line of duty during the 2023 wildfire season. 

The attached release is being distributed on behalf of the Conference of Management Authorities.

Bears are active in the NWT. We’re reminding everyone that avoiding bear encounters starts with you. Residents can take quick and easy steps to be bear safe this season.

Don’t invite them in! 
Avoiding encounters starts with not inviting bears to your home, cabin, or community. Attractants are almost always the cause. Negative encounters are more likely when bears are in populated areas, and if bears get habituated to human food and garbage, they are more likely to stay close to people and less likely to stay in the wild.