The FireSmart Canada Advanced Home Assessment Program is now available to help Northwest Territories residents become more wildfire resilient.

The program connects motivated northerners with experts to assess what changes could be made to their homes, cabins and properties, today and in the future, to be ready before wildfires happen. The service is offered at no cost.

Assessments were offered in Fort Simpson from June 14-18 and are scheduled in the following communities:

Effective at 5:00 p.m. on June 20, 2024, fire restrictions in the Dehcho region are being implemented prohibiting any open flames on all public and private lands.   

These restrictions are effective through July 3, 2024, and may be extended if necessary.

They apply to following communities and land between them not under federal jurisdiction:

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Mr. Speaker, the 2023 wildfire season was the most challenging ever experienced in the Northwest Territories, and the largest and most impactful in Canada. Driven by severe drought conditions, record-breaking temperatures and periods of extreme wind conditions, both the fire behaviour and fire environment were unlike anything our most experienced firefighters have seen before.

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Mr. Speaker, I rise today to discuss a significant issue affecting the Northwest Territories: the historic low water levels that have been observed over the entire Mackenzie River Basin.

To help offset the costs of participating in land-based experiences like camping, boating, fishing and hunting, and traditional activities, funding through the Take a Family on the Land Program is once again being offered so more northerners can get involved.

Applications for Bison tags are now available for the 2024-25 hunting season.

There are four (4) bison tags for the Mackenzie bison population available to Northwest Territories residents with a Resident Hunting Licence or a General Hunting Licence. Per the Big Game Hunting Regulations, there is mandatory harvest reporting for these tags, which are for males only. See the Summary of Hunting and Trapping Regulations for more information.

Bears are coming out of hibernation in the Northwest Territories (NWT), and there are quick and easy steps residents can take to be bear safe this season.

The NWT is bear country. It’s home to black, grizzly and polar bears. Bears normally avoid contact with people, but if they or their cubs become habituated to human food or garbage, they may lose their fear of humans and will become a problem. 

Regional fire restrictions are being implemented prohibiting any open flames and other activities effective immediately.    

These restrictions are effective through May 17 and may be extended if necessary. They apply to following communities and land between them not under federal jurisdiction:

South Slave:

The following is being redistributed on behalf of the Species At Risk Committee.

Wildfire Community Preparation Day is coming up on May 4, and residents across the Northwest Territories (NWT) are stepping up to FireSmart their neighbourhoods and communities.

A record 13 Wildfire Community Preparation Day projects in the NWT have been chosen for funding by the Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) and the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre (CIFFC), the highest number of successful applications since the program began in 2015.