The Commissioner of the Northwest Territories has designated Pauline de Jong as Regulator of Oil and Gas Operations under the Oil and Gas Operations Act upon the recommendation of Executive Council.

Since devolution on April 1, 2014, the Regulator is responsible for regulating oil and gas operations in the onshore NWT, excluding the Inuvialuit Settlement Region and retained federal lands. This appointment has been made to separate the administrative function of the Regulator from elected office and ensures the Regulator’s independence.

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.

The top priority for the Government of the Northwest Territories  (GNWT) is the health and safety of Northwest Territories (NWT) residents, and we are taking proactive measure to be prepared to respond to COVID-19 as the situation evolves.

There are currently no cases of COVID-19 in the NWT, and the risk of acquiring the virus in the NWT and Canada remains low at this time.

Check against delivery 

Good afternoon, I’m here to talk to the residents of the Northwest Territories about COVID-19.

Earlier today I was absent in the house, and session, to participate on a call from 11 o’clock to 1 o’clock with the Prime Minister and all Premiers across Canada. All Premiers are concerned about COVID-19, and we are all taking precautionary measures to limit the spread and associated impacts throughout Canada.

Ministerial Activities Advisory for the week of December 17-23, 2019

Ministerial Travel

Please note that travel schedules may change with little or no notice. This schedule is accurate as of December 16, 2019.

Mr. Speaker, as the Minister Responsible for Youth, I am proud to speak today about one of our most successful youth initiatives, the NWT Youth Ambassador Program.

From November 14^th to the 18^th of this year, the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs hosted the NWT Youth Ambassador Program orientation and training event in Yellowknife. I was pleased to attend this orientation along with the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs, the Honourable Ms. Chinna.

Ministerial Travel

Please note that travel schedules may change with little or no notice. This schedule is accurate as of November 25, 2019.

·         Shane Thompson is attending the Tuyeta Celebration on November 26 in Fort Good Hope, NT.

·         Paulie Chinna and Diane Thom are attending Board of Management meetings December 1-4 in Vancouver, BC.

·         Caroline Cochrane is attending the Council of Federation for Canada’s Premiers December 1-2 in Toronto, ON.

The Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) has announced the names for buildings in Fort Simpson, Inuvik and Yellowknife.

The office building in Fort Simpson at 9902 – 98th Avenue has been named the Chief Baptiste Cazon Building to honour the respected Fort Simpson Elder and Chief of the Łíídlįį Kų́ę́ First Nation from 1955 to 1974.

The office building at 106 Veteran’s Way in Inuvik has been named the Kigiaq Centre. This name, meaning “Beaver Centre”, and honours the traditional Inuvialuktun name for the area around Inuvik, Kigiaqvik, or “place of beavers.”

Ministerial Travel

Please note that travel schedules may change with little or no notice. This schedule is accurate as of August 26, 2019.

• Alfred Moses is speaking at the Grand Opening of Transfer of Six Renovated Houses on August 30 in Kat’lodeeche First Nation, Hay River Reserve
• Louis Sebert and Wally Schumann are speaking at the Grand Opening of Fort Smith Correctional Complex, Women’s Unit on August 30 in Fort Smith.

Meetings and Appearances

Mr. Speaker, today there are increasing numbers of women leaders who are working at the local or regional level for the betterment of our communities. But only a handful of women have ever taken seats in this Legislative Assembly. 

Mr. Speaker, it’s time to change that.  Our governing bodies should be representative of the populations they serve, and women make up half of our population. We need more women in political leadership at all levels, but especially here in this House.