Minister of Justice Jay Macdonald issued the following statement today regarding the ongoing RCMP response in Fort Smith:
“My thoughts are with everyone in Fort Smith as RCMP continue to respond to this serious and ongoing situation.
“I urge everyone in the area to continue sheltering in place, follow all RCMP instructions and avoid sharing information that could interfere with the police response.
Amendments to the Protection Against Family Violence Act are now in force, strengthening protections for people experiencing family violence and improving access to support across the Northwest Territories.
The Protection Against Family Violence Act provides legal tools to help protect people from family violence and reduce the risk of further harm. The amendments update the Act to better reflect the experiences of victims and strengthen available protections.
Northwest Territories residents are invited to provide feedback on proposed amendments to the Corrections Regulations under the NWT Corrections Act.
The Corrections Act and its Regulations have been in place since 2021 and establish how the NWT Corrections Service operate in the territory. Among other provisions, the Regulations limit the direct supervision of female inmates by male staff members. After four years of implementation, these requirements have created significant staffing and operational pressures within territorial correctional facilities.
A What We Heard Report has been published and is now available following the Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) review of the Residential Tenancies Act. The Act sets out the rights and responsibilities of landlords and tenants, helping to ensure fair and balanced rental relationships.
Jay Macdonald, Minister of Justice, issued the following statement today after the Safer Communities and Neighbourhoods Act was introduced in the Legislative Assembly.
“Every Northerner deserves to feel safe in their home, in their neighbourhood, and in their community.
Today, as Minister of Justice, I introduced the Safer Communities and Neighbourhoods Act, also known as SCAN. This is an important step in our work to support safe communities for Northerners.
Public feedback on two proposed public safety laws, Civil Forfeiture and Safer Communities and Neighbourhoods (SCAN), is now summarized and available through a What We Heard report.
Between October 27 and November 28, 2025, residents across the NWT shared their views through online and in-person meetings, written submissions, and two surveys. The engagement focused on gathering input on the proposed approaches, understanding community concerns, and identifying the safeguards and features that matter most to NWT residents.
Check against delivery
Mr. Speaker, last year the Department of Justice committed to swiftly introducing public safety legislation that would help residents in the Northwest Territories feel safe in their communities. Today, I am pleased to provide an update about how we have delivered on the 20th Legislative Assembly priority to make residents and communities safer.
A new What We Heard report is available, following the Government of the Northwest Territories’ review of the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act (ATIPP Act).
The ATIPP Act gives people the right to access and correct their personal information held by GNWT departments and other public bodies. It also sets out how personal information can be collected, used, and shared. To make sure the Act continues to work well and is easy to understand, it is reviewed regularly.
The Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) has released the What We Heard Report summarizing feedback from residents on the development of territorial trespass legislation. The report reflects strong public support for modernized tools that help protect private property and enhance community safety in the Northwest Territories.
The Missing Persons Act and its supporting regulations and forms have come into force. The new legislation has been put in place to provide additional tools to assist police in investigating reports of missing persons in the Northwest Territories.
