The Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) is advising residents of several Northwest Territories (NWT) communities that Northwestel will be conducting planned network maintenance on Wednesday, May 28, 2025, between 12:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m. (MST).

During this maintenance window, some services will be disrupted for up to four hours. In Yellowknife, disruption will impact local and long-distance telephone calling, 9-1-1, cellular and internet services. In Hay River and Fort Smith, long-distance telephone and 9-1-1 services will be impacted.

Mr. Speaker, as we move further into the high-risk season for flooding and wildfires, the Government of the Northwest Territories is taking every step to ensure we are ready for emergencies, with the capacity to respond swiftly, coordinate effectively, and work collaboratively with our partners to protect the safety and well-being of NWT residents and communities.

Premier R.J. Simpson and Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs Vince McKay issued the following statement in response to receiving the final After-Action Review (AAR) of the Government of the Northwest Territories’ (GNWT) emergency response to the 2023 wildfire season—one of the most significant public safety events in the territory’s history.

Today, an order declaring that the Hamlet of Enterprise is under Administration is in effect. This order will remain in effect until it is repealed at a date to be determined.

The Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs (MACA) has determined it has become necessary to place the Hamlet of Enterprise under administration due to the governance, financial, and operational challenges.

On May 07, 2025 at 9:55 am MST, the Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) will issue a live test of NWT Alert, the Northwest Territories (NWT) public alerting system.

Residents may see and hear the public alert test on wireless devices, cable networks and radio stations across the NWT.

NWT Alert is the NWT’s public alerting system designed to keep our residents and visitors informed. For information during an emergency, check with your community government and visit www.NWTalert.ca.

The Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) proudly joins jurisdictions across Canada in recognizing National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week, held this year from April 13 to 19, 2025. This annual celebration honours the skilled public safety professionals who are the first point of contact during emergencies and are an important link in protecting lives and property across the territory.

The link below is being redistributed on behalf of the Government of Canada:

Canada Invests in Climate Change Adaptation to Keep Communities Safe in the North and Across Canada

The Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) is increasing fees in regulations by approximately 4% starting April 1, 2025, to reflect rising inflation. This routine adjustment will affect Real Estate Agents, Real Estate Salespersons, Business Licences, Vendors, Direct Sellers, Collection Agencies, and Plan Reviews.

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Mr. Speaker, effective emergency management and preparedness are critical to the safety and well-being of Northwest Territories residents. Today I want to recognize individuals and groups whose dedication and efforts have helped keep NWT communities safe.

The Emergency Management Exemplary Service Award is a national recognition for outstanding contributions to emergency management. Federal, provincial, and territorial Ministers present this award to highlight efforts in prevention, preparedness, response and recovery.

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Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to update Members on the implementation of new Community Government funding allocations that will come into effect in April 2025.

MACA distributes over $110 million in annual funding through the Community Government Funding Policies. While this funding was never intended to cover 100 percent of community funding costs, the funding helps community governments cover the costs of core programs and services like clean drinking water, local roads, recreation, and public safety.