Shane Thompson, Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs, announced today that he is taking action under the Emergency Management Act (EMA) to address the urgent need for a temporary day shelter in Yellowknife. The decision was made after several attempts to identify a suitable location to provide this critical service to the city’s vulnerable residents.
Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs Shane Thompson issued the following statement providing an update on progress towards flood recovery in Fort Simpson and Jean Marie River:
“After thorough engagement with flood-affected residents in Fort Simpson and Jean Marie River, replacement homes will be delivered in early-2022.
“Our team has been on-the-ground working with flood-affected residents for months now. What they found was that to deliver on customizations that meet the long-term needs of residents, more time is needed.
Smoking is a leading cause of home fire fatalities. The Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) and the Office of The Fire Marshal (OFM) are concerned about a recent trend related to smoking materials that has been occurring in the NWT. Over the last month alone, structural fires in the communities of Fort Simpson, Fort Smith, Hay River, Inuvik and Yellowknife have resulted in significant property losses and injuries to NWT residents.
Flood-affected residents, small businesses, and community governments in flood-impacted communities will get enhanced disaster assistance to recover and rebuild after unprecedented flooding.
The GNWT will pay for and coordinate repairs to restore private, primary homes to pre-disaster condition.
The GNWT will cover all costs to bring homes back to pre-disaster condition
Today, Honourable Shane Thompson, Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs and Honourable Caroline Wawzonek, Minister of Finance, announced the creation of the Emergency Disaster Assistance Advance Program (EDAAP).
The Emergency Disaster Assistance Advance Program allows for immediate payments to provide funding to residents, small businesses and community governments impacted by this year’s flooding in the Northwest Territories.
Today, Premier Caroline Cochrane and Paulie Chinna, Minister Municipal and Community Affairs (MACA), announced two senior management officials have been assigned as Pathfinders to support flood impacted communities.
These Pathfinders have been assigned to travel to impacted communities and work with community leadership to confirm needs and preferred approaches. They will provide immediate assistance in answering questions about the process around flooding, to provide further information where and as needed.
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Mr. Speaker, the youth of today are the strong, future leaders of tomorrow. Through initiatives like the NWT Youth Ambassador program, youth are provided opportunities to develop life and job skills, while building the confidence to deal with complex challenges.
I am pleased to inform the house today that the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs is now accepting applications for the 2021-2022 NWT Youth Ambassador Program – Virtual Edition for youth aged 16 to 22.
Premier Caroline Cochrane and Municipal and Community Affairs Minister, Paulie Chinna issued the below statement on the flooding situation in Aklavik and the Government of the Northwest Territories response:
“The community of Aklavik declared a State of Local Emergency in the early hours of May 30th and began an official evacuation of 141 residents earlier this morning in addition to 25 residents evacuated earlier as a result of flood waters breaching the banks of the Mackenzie River.
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Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to speak today about the collaborative work of the GNWT’s Emergency Management Organization, or EMO, and community governments to help ensure the safety and security of residents in the emergency response to the recent flood situations experienced by several of our communities.
The Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs, Paulie Chinna has extended the State of Emergency in the City of Yellowknife. This extension is being made under s.14 of the Emergency Management Act.
The extension continues through June 3, 2021.
This State of Emergency was initially instated to address the need for additional shelter space as a result of ongoing capacity limitations due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
