Northwest Territories businesses making investments to align with the Government of the Northwest Territories’ (GNWT) Emerging Wisely Plan can now apply to the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment (ITI)’s Support for Entrepreneurs and Economic Development (SEED) Program for funding.

As restrictions are eased by the Chief Public Health Officer, and in keeping with the spirit of flexibility, the SEED program can now be accessed to cover costs to businesses such as:

·       Structural changes required to protect employees (i.e. plexiglas shields);

Katrina Nokleby, Minister of Industry, Tourism, and Investment released the following statement:

“Since the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been much interest and discussion about what economic recovery will look like across the Northwest Territories (NWT), and the important role the Business Advisory Council (BAC) will play in that.

“As we begin to move towards economic recovery, it will be critical that we access the experience, talent, and resources of the NWT’s private sector and apply this input to government decision making.

Mr. Speaker, the COVID-19 global pandemic has impacted every aspect of life in our territory.  

The Government of the Northwest Territories has responded to the pandemic in a variety of ways. In addition to the measures taken to protect the health and safety of our residents and communities, our government has acted to mitigate the economic impacts of this crisis on our economy, and to invest in the economic well-being of Northwest Territories industry and businesses.                                                              

The Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) is pleased to announce a new online application system for the NWT Nominee Program effective today.

Check Against Delivery

Mr. Speaker, every June the Government of the Northwest Territories, together with the Northwest Territories and Nunavut Chamber of Mines, and the Workers’ Safety and Compensation Commission of the NWT and Nunavut, mark mining week in our Territory.

The Department of Industry, Tourism, and Investment is providing increased safety funding to commercial fishers working on the Great Slave Lake, Tathlina Lake, or Kakisa Lake.

Up to $10,000 (based on 2019 production) will be made available to individual fishers under the Commercial Fisheries Industry Safety Support Program to equip their fishing vessels with the safety equipment needed to meet both COVID-19 protection measures and Transport Canada’s Fishing Vessel Safety Regulations.

The Department of Industry, Tourism, and Investment will be opening its Northwest Territories (NWT) Parks Reservation system on Wednesday, June 10, 2020 for campsite bookings beginning Friday (June 12, 2020) at 5pm.

This decision is being made in anticipation of a move to Phase II of the Emerging Wisely Plan, the Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) path forward to emerging safely and wisely from the current COVID-19 public health restrictions.

Consumer spending is a key economic indicator of the health of the economy.

The Government of the Northwest Territories wants to hear how COVID-19 has impacted you as a consumer!

This is an opportunity for you to share your experience with the Government of the Northwest Territories to help us better respond to the impacts felt by our residents.

The voluntary 35-question confidential consumer demand survey will provide us better insight:

The Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment (ITI) has  waived tourism insurance requirements and licensing fees for the 2020-21 seasons as another element of short term relief for tourism operators.

Under the Tourism Act, all tourism operators providing tourism services in the NWT are required to have a valid Tourism Operator Licence (TOL) with prescribed support documents including proof of insurance.

A strong local supply-chain for critical Personal Protective Equipment has been secured for businesses and care providers.

NWT Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Kami Kandola has authorized two Northwest Territories manufacturers to create reusable face shields meeting Health Canada specifications for use in public settings in the NWT. 

Poison Graphics of Hay River and ArTech Engrave of Yellowknife each submitted rigorous proposals and specifications which were evaluated and accepted by Dr. Kandola and her public health staff.