YELLOWKNIFE (July 14, 2017) – Environment and Natural Resources (ENR) Minister Robert C. McLeod has added wood bison to the NWT List of Species at Risk as a Threatened species, in accordance with direction received from the NWT Conference of Management Authorities (CMA) and the Species at Risk (NWT) Act.
FORT SMITH (JULY 12, 2017) — The Government of the Northwest Territories is sending 16 wildland fire personnel to British Columbia as part of the Canadian Interagency Mutual Aid Resources Sharing Agreement (MARS Agreement).
Four four-person Type 1 fire crews left today for Prince George, B.C. to assist in fire suppression efforts in the central part of the province. Three of the crews are from the Dehcho Region and the other one is from the South Slave Region.
YELLOWKNIFE (JULY 11, 2017) — Due to dry conditions, a total fire ban at Fred Henne and Yellowknife River Territorial Parks is being implemented, effective immediately.
The Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment (ITI) is enforcing the ban to coincide with the City of Yellowknife’s open air fire ban. The fire ban will remain in effect until further notice. Follow NWT Parks or ITI websites or social media handles for updates.
Relevant links
Yellowknife (June 27, 2017) – Environment and Natural Resources Minister Robert C. McLeod, acting on behalf of the Northwest Territories Conference of Management Authorities (CMA) released the Inuvialuit Settlement Region Polar Bear Joint Management Plan and the Framework for Action for Management of Polar Bears in the Inuvialuit Settlement Region today.
YELLOWKNIFE (June 5, 2017) – Thirteen new environmental monitoring and research projects awarded through the Northwest Territories Cumulative Impact Program (NWT CIMP) will provided knowledge that will help ensure a healthy environment for Northerners now and in the future.
Mr. Speaker, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources recognizes that legacy arsenic contamination in the Yellowknife region has many residents concerned.
To this end, ENR continues to conduct monitoring, in collaboration with universities and the Government of Canada, on arsenic in water, sediments, soils and fish in the Yellowknife region.
Under-ice water sampling was done by Environment and Natural Resources at seven sites on Kam Lake and three sites on Grace Lake in April.
Delivered May 29, 2017
Mr. Speaker, the FireSmart program is an important tool in mitigating risk and improving community protection in the event of a wildland fire.
Applying FireSmart principles increases human safety, decreases property loss and enhances wildland fire suppression success.
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources continues to encourage communities, agencies, and home and cabin owners to promote and implement FireSmart principles.
Delivered on March 8, 2017
Mr. Speaker, the Government of the Northwest Territories has made a commitment in its mandate to develop a territorial climate change strategy. I am pleased to provide Members with an update on the development of the NWT Climate Change Strategic Framework.
YELLOWKNIFE (March 1, 2017) – The Northwest Territories (NWT) Boreal Caribou Recovery Strategy and the NWT Amphibian Management Plan were released this week.
This action fulfills the Government of Northwest Territories’ responsibilities under the Species at Risk (NWT) Act and follows independent assessments completed by the NWT Species at Risk Committee and consensus agreements from the Conference of Management Authorities (CMA).
Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to provide an update on the progress made on the development of a range plan for the Bathurst caribou herd.
As Members may be aware, cumulative impact concerns were raised during environmental assessments of the Gahcho Kue, Fortune Minerals NICO project and the Jay Pipe project expansion. Each Environmental Assessment recommended that the Government of the Northwest Territories develop approaches for cumulative effects monitoring.
