Media is invited to join the departments of Environment and Climate Change (ECC) and Municipal and Community Affairs (MACA) for an update on the wildfire situation near Hay River and the K’atl’odeeche First Nation, and the status of evacuation orders for both communities.  

ECC & MACA Minister Shane Thompson, wildfire information officer Mike Westwick with ECC, and Emergency Management Organization (EMO) information officer Jay Boast with MACA, will provide updates and answer questions.

TIME: 10:00am MST

DATE: Thursday, May 18, 2023

A local emergency response is underway in Hay River and K'atl'odeeche First Nation, and the situation is changing rapidly.

Premier Caroline Cochrane and Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs and Environment and Climate Change Shane Thompson issued the following statement today regarding the evacuations of Hay River and the Kátł’odeeche First Nation due to an ongoing wildfire in the area:

“This weekend, an aggressive wildfire forced residents of Hay River and the Kátł’odeeche First Nation to evacuate their homes. The situation is evolving rapidly, and it is critical that residents not return to their communities at this time.

Evacuation Order Hay River – Residents Must Evacuate

An Evacuation Order has been issued notifying residents that due to a wildfire near the community, all residents of Hay River must evacuate IMMEDIATELY.

All residents are asked to please avoid the area until further notice. 

Registration is taking place both at the Hay River Community Centre and the Yellowknife Multiplex. Those requiring assistance leaving Hay River should register at the Hay River Community Centre.

Evacuation Order Kátł’odeeche – Residents Must Evacuate
 

An Evacuation Order has been issued notifying residents that due to a wildfire near the community, all residents of Kátł’odeeche must evacuate immediately.

All residents are asked to please avoid the area until further notice. 

At 9:55 a.m. on May 10, 2023, the Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) – in partnership with RCMP G Division – will issue a live test of NWT Alert as part of Emergency Preparedness Week. NWT Alert is the Northwest Territories’ (NWT) public alerting system. Residents may see and hear the public alert test on wireless devices, radio stations, and cable networks across the NWT.

The Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs (MACA) has determined that the Hamlet of Fort Resolution is experiencing financial and operational difficulties, and has provided the community government with formal notice of the intent to place the Hamlet under Administration.

This notice provides a 30-day consultation period before Administration would take effect. Under the authority provided in section 159 of the Hamlets Act, the Minister has the ability to release council from their duties and appoint a Municipal Administrator.

Municipal and Community Affairs (MACA) Minister Shane Thompson has announced the annual call for applications for the Non-Government Organizations (NGO) Stabilization Fund.

The NGO Stabilization Fund provides special funding to help NGOs that deliver critical GNWT-funded programs or services to the public. The funding is intended to stabilize and develop NGO capacity to manage these programs and services.

The Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) has completed snow surveys and the 2023 Spring Outlook has been released. The technical report is available online.

Check against delivery

Mr. Speaker, the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs is committed to strengthening the Northwest Territories emergency management by improving responses to emergency events and assisting residents and community governments to be well prepared when faced with an emergency. I will outline for Members the lessons learned from the 2022 floods, and how we are applying those lessons to prepare for the 2023 flood risk season.