Upgrades to a key funding program, along with a new accreditation for the Hay River fish plant, are renewing momentum in the Northwest Territories’ commercial fishing industry this open water season.

If you fish commercially in the Northwest Territories, the Commercial Fishery Support Program offers fuel rebates, production incentives, equipment funding and training to support you. In addition, the Hay River fish plant is here to give you a consistent, reliable point of sale.

A new survey needs input and feedback from businesses across the Northwest Territories in order to serve you better. The survey will provide the Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) with the information and feedback needed to improve supports, funding and programming available to the territory’s business community.

Due to extremely dry and hot conditions and the increased risk of wildfire, a fire ban is now in effect for multiple Territorial Parks in the North Slave, South Slave and Dehcho regions. This ban prohibits all open fires. The ban is effective immediately and will remain in place until July 30, 2026 for parks in the South Slave region, until July 20, 2026 for parks in the North Slave region, and until August 4, 2026 for all parks in the Dehcho region.

Fire bans are now in effect at the following territorial parks:
 

North Slave

Yesterday, a Court Order placed the Ekati Mine into Receivership and appointed PricewaterhouseCoopers Inc. as Receiver.

Swimming restrictions at the main beach area of Fred Henne Territorial Park are now lifted. Follow-up testing indicated safe levels of bacteria.

Swimming, wading and shoreline play at the main beach area of Fred Henne Territorial Park are restricted while water quality testing is underway.

Routine monitoring recently identified elevated levels of bacteria, including E. coli. Additional testing is being conducted to confirm those results and determine whether levels exceed established Health Canada Guidelines for Canadian recreational water quality.

There is newer information available. Information about fire bans at territorial parks can be found on the NWT Parks website under Fire Restrictions at NWT Parks. You can also follow NWT Parks on Facebook for updates.

--------------------------

Minister Caroline Wawzonek and Minister Caitlin Cleveland issued the following statements today as the 2026 Energy and Mines Ministers’ Conference concluded in Yellowknife, marking the end of the Northwest Territories’ role as co-chair.

Minister Caroline Wawzonek, Minister Responsible for Strategic Infrastructure, Energy and Supply Chains

The link below is being redistributed on behalf of Canadian Intergovernmental Conference Secretariat (CICS):

Joint Statement from Federal, Provincial and Territorial Ministers Responsible for Mines

Regulations are being developed to bring the NWT Mineral Resources Act (MRA) into effect, and your input is needed. The Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT)  is gathering public feedback on the detailed policy intentions, and this round of engagements covers online map staking, blackout period, and temporary restricted areas.

This is the final of four engagements about the MRA Regulations policy intentions which began in 2025.  The full list of engagements include: