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Mr. Speaker, the Government of the Northwest Territories has committed to making programs and services more accessible to residents and to better streamline administrative processes.  Today, I am pleased to announce a new initiative that will change the way businesses in the territory obtain their licenses. The launch of our new eService program for business licenses is a major step in promoting a business-friendly environment that demonstrates our commitment to supporting economic growth across the territory.

The Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) is donating $150,000 to the Norman Wells food bank to support residents facing rising costs. This contribution is part of the GNWT’s ongoing efforts to alleviate the financial burden caused by rising fuel prices and disruptions to essential supply chains.

The Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) is advising the public that planned maintenance work by NorthwesTel will temporarily impact all voice, internet, and cellular services – including 9-1-1 – in Kakisa, Enterprise, Fort Resolution, Fort Smith, and Hay River. This work is scheduled between 12:00 a.m. and
6:00 a.m. from October 22 to 25, 2024.

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Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak about the 2024 wildfire season, a season that presented significant challenges to communities in the Northwest Territories, particularly Fort Good Hope.

Overall, we were fortunate to experience fewer community evacuations this year compared to previous years, but I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who supported response and recovery efforts during another difficult season.

The Government of the Northwest Territories is accepting nominations for the 2024 NWT Outstanding Volunteer Awards. This year marks the 33rd year of these awards, which recognize and celebrate the remarkable contributions volunteers make in communities across the territory.

Residents are encouraged to nominate elders, youth, individuals, or group volunteers in their communities who donate their time to improve the quality of life for NWT residents.

Awards are presented in the following categories:

In recognition of this year’s Fire Prevention Week, the Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) is highlighting the critical importance of installing working smoke alarms in homes. The theme for Fire Prevention Week 2024, “Smoke alarms: Make them work for you!”, underscores the vital role smoke alarms play in providing early warning and time to safely evacuate if a fire occurs. 

The Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) and the Office of the Fire Marshal (OFM) are encouraging all Northwest Territories (NWT) residents to regularly test their smoke alarms and participate in "Test Your Smoke Alarm Day" on September 28, 2024.

This Ontario-led initiative now forms part of a broader national campaign supported by the Council of Canadian Fire Marshals and Fire Commissioners to raise awareness of the importance of working smoke alarms in homes across the country.

The Government of the Northwest Territories is now accepting applications for the 2024-2025 Northwest Territories (NWT) Youth Ambassadors Program. The program provides NWT youth with opportunities to build leadership skills through participation at special events and volunteer assignments.

In the past, NWT Youth Ambassadors have attended the Arctic Winter Games, Canada Winter Games, Canada Summer Games, and the North American Indigenous Games. This cohort will have the opportunity to volunteer at the 2025 Canada Summer Games in St. John’s, Newfoundland.

The Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) is notifying the public of a scheduled maintenance outage by Northwestel, which will impact internet and cellular services in the Northwest Territories (NWT) on September 25, 2024, between 1:00 a.m. and 07:00 a.m. MT.

National Concussion Awareness Week is being recognized across Canada from September 22 to 28, 2024 to encourage everyone to get involved in preventing, recognizing, and managing concussions.