Mr. Speaker, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources is responsible for the implementation of the NWT Water Stewardship Strategy, including transboundary water management agreements and water monitoring throughout the Northwest Territories. Together with our partners, we track long-term trends and monitor changes in water quality, quantity and biology.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources is pleased to launch the 2020 Youth NWT Water Stewardship Strategy Multimedia Contest.

Encouraging young people to be involved in water stewardship activities is an important part of the NWT Water Stewardship Strategy. Building awareness among youth on water and stewardship creates informed leaders and decision-makers of tomorrow.

A below-average fire season saw 70 wildfires burn 21,139 hectares across the Northwest Territories (NWT) in 2020—less than half as many fires as last year, and only a fifth of the area burned in 2019.

Wet weather limited the number of fires and the area burned, with most regions of the NWT experiencing more rain than forecasted. The only exceptions were the Beaufort-Delta and the North Slave regions, which experienced higher than average fire risk throughout the fire season.

The Government of the Northwest Territories and the Government of Alberta are pleased to report on the outcomes of the third year of implementation of the Alberta-Northwest Territories Bilateral Water Management Agreement.

The Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) is pleased to announce new and enhanced programs to support harvesters and families going out on the land this fall. These programs reflect the importance of increasing food security through locally-harvested food and are a direct response to the challenges our communities are facing during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Results of water quality monitoring conducted by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources in July indicate this year’s prolonged high water levels have resulted in more suspended sediment than usual in the Hay and Slave Rivers.

As a result of the increased sediment, many metals associated with silt and clay particles were also found at higher than usual concentrations in both rivers for July. In the Slave River, some concentrations of dissolved metals were also elevated, but most were within the range of what has been measured historically in the rivers.

The Governments of Northwest Territories (GNWT) and Canada have resumed long-term water quality monitoring at two key sites in northern Alberta and two sites in the Northwest Territories (NWT). This collaboration reflects the ongoing commitment by both governments to conduct important water quality monitoring at long-term monitoring stations. The quality of water is important for NWT residents and for the sustainability of the Mackenzie River Basin.

The Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) and Tłı̨chǫ Government have submitted a revised joint proposal to manage wolves on the Bathurst and Bluenose-East caribou herd winter ranges.

This summer, Northwest Territories (NWT) residents are encouraged to enjoy the lands and waters of Thaidene Nëné, an area on and around the East Arm of Great Slave Lake celebrated for its rich wildlife and cultural heritage.

Agreement on Protection for the Subsurface of Edéhzhié has been Achieved.

Premier Caroline Cochrane and Dehcho First Nations (DFN) Grand Chief Gladys Norwegian are pleased to announce today that the Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) is indefinitely extending a subsurface land withdrawal for the Edéhzhíe Protected Area. The extended withdrawal will complement this culturally and ecologically important region’s future designation as a National Wildlife Area.