Caroline Wawzonek, Minister of Finance and Minister Responsible for the Public Service, and Lesa Semmler, Minister of Health and Social Services, issued the following statement today regarding public service modernization and efforts to strengthen the health and social services system.

Minister Caroline Wawzonek:

“The Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) has been undertaking a comprehensive, multi-phase modernization of the Public Service Act to ensure it continues to meet the needs of a modern workforce and a modern public service.

The Minister of Health and Social Services, Lesa Semmler, is seeking nominations for vacancies on the Regional Wellness Councils for the Beaufort-Delta, Dehcho, Fort Smith, Hay River, Sahtu and Yellowknife regions.

The role of the Regional Wellness Council is to ensure residents from across the Northwest Territories have an opportunity to provide input into the territorial health and social services system. The councils help inform policy and programming decisions across the territory.

The Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) is reaching out to any Internationally Educated Nurses (IEN) who are currently residents in the NWT but not licensed to work in their trained profession as a Registered Nurse or Registered Psychiatric Nurse.

The illicit drug landscape is changing rapidly—here in the Northwest Territories and around the world. During initial surge response to opioid overdoses in the NWT, the Office of the Chief Public Health Officer engaged with many community and Indigenous leaders regarding the information needed to support community response. One gap identified was general knowledge around the newer types of drugs that are entering the NWT.

The Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) has released updated NWT Cervical Cancer Screening Guidelines. As a key part of these updated screening guidelines, the GNWT has switched from using Papanicolaou (PAP) tests to human papillomavirus (HPV) tests.

HPV is a vaccine-preventable infection that can cause cancer. Not all HPV strains cause cancer, but there are high-risk HPV strains that can cause cells to change into cancer cells and should be monitored.

NORTHWEST TERRITORIES (March 25, 2025) – The Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) is now accepting nominations for the 2025 GNWT Accessibility and Inclusion Award.

This annual award recognizes the outstanding contributions of an NWT resident who has helped improve accessibility and promote inclusion for persons with disabilities across the territory.

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Mr. Speaker, our government is committed to making long-term care accessible for seniors and Elders whose needs can no longer be met at home. We recognize the importance of helping residents remain in their homes and communities for as long as possible. However, when home and community care services are no longer enough, long-term care plays an important role in providing the necessary support.

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Mr. Speaker, Substance use, and addiction continue to have a big impact on people across the Northwest Territories. Addiction is closely tied to our shared history of colonization, the legacy of residential schools, and the trauma and mental health challenges that have followed. The Government of the Northwest Territories understands these deep-rooted connections and is committed to supporting Northerners on their path to recovery.

Minister of Health and Social Services, Lesa Semmler, issued the following statement today regarding the court approved plan for tobacco compensation:

"Today, I am pleased to announce a resolution in our efforts to recover money for our health care system from the tobacco companies that sold cigarettes in Canada. The Chief Justice of the Superior Court of Ontario has approved a plan that represents the largest resolution of its kind in Canadian history and the third largest ever globally.

The Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT), in partnership with the Salvation Army and the City of Yellowknife, announces the official opening of a new transitional housing program for addiction recovery in Yellowknife. This program provides a safe, sober living environment for individuals returning from treatment, helping them rebuild stability and reintegrate into the community.