The Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) has clarified its role in relation to the federal Assault‑Style Firearms Compensation Program (the buyback program). The program will be administered by the Government of Canada in the Northwest Territories. The GNWT's priority remains focused on community safety and effective policing.
The GNWT is working to provide residents with more laws to protect property, report problem residences that are used for illegal activities, seize assets from traffickers, and deter crime. The GNWT is developing new Civil Forfeiture legislation and Safer Communities and Neighbourhoods (SCAN) legislation and inviting the public to complete two online surveys and attend in-person and virtual meetings to provide feedback and have an input to ensure that these new laws meet the needs of NWT residents.
Jay Macdonald, Minister of Justice, issued the following statement in response to Prime Minister Mark Carney’s recent announcement on building safer communities.
“The Government of the Northwest Territories welcomes Prime Minister Mark Carney’s announcement that the federal government will table amendments to the Criminal Code next week to strengthen bail and sentencing provisions for violent and repeat offenders. These proposed reforms respond to concerns that Northerners have been voicing for some time about the impact of crime and safety in communities.
The Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) is proposing to create a new Trespass Act and gathering public feedback on the development of trespass legislation.
Currently, all provinces have trespass to property legislation in place covering private lands in general, however, the three territories do not.
The Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) is reviewing the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act (the “ATIPP Act”).
The ATIPP Act gives individuals the right to access and correct their personal information that is held by GNWT departments and public bodies designated under the ATIPP Regulations and sets out when a GNWT department or other public body may collect, use, and disclose personal information. The ATIPP Act also provides for an independent review by the Information and Privacy Commissioner of decisions made under the Act.
The Builders’ Lien Act and its supporting regulations are now in force as of September 1, replacing the Mechanics Lien Act. The new legislation has been put in place to address current construction practices and to protect contractors, subcontractors, workers, and suppliers on construction projects.
Minister Jay Macdonald has announced that Yanik D’Aigle has been appointed as the Public Trustee of the Northwest Territories, effective June 9, 2025. Mr. D’Aigle takes over from Ms. Erin Wagner, who served in the position since last year.
The National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls highlighted the need for legislation related to missing persons in Canada. The GNWT is committed to responding to the Calls for Justice from the National Inquiry and has developed legislation to further support missing person investigations.
The GNWT has now drafted regulations needed to bring the Missing Persons Act into force.
These regulations prescribe details related (but not limited) to:
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Mr. Speaker, it is my honour to announce the establishment of the Bobbi Hamilton Memorial Award for Outstanding Community Achievement. The Department of Justice is establishing this award to recognize individuals who demonstrate the principles that Bobbi embraced in her daily life.
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Mr. Speaker, the 20th Legislative Assembly has made the safety of the residents and communities of the Northwest Territories one of its priorities. Many of us have witnessed and been affected by an increase in criminal activities, particularly the drug trade. Successful public safety efforts rely on trusting relationships between the RCMP and our residents.
