Premier Caroline Cochrane announced that she will assume the portfolio of Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs (MACA) effective today.

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Good morning, thank you for joining us today.

Earlier today I announced that I would be assuming responsibility for the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs, effective today.

The COVID-19 pandemic is a global crisis on a level the world has not seen in generations. Taking action to slow its spread and protect public health requires personal attention and leadership from the highest levels of government.

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Thank you for joining us this morning.

Once again, we have some unhappy news that we’re here to discuss: the confirmation of two additional COVID-19 cases in the Northwest Territories, including our first case in a small community.

I know that people are concerned for their health, especially the people in small communities.

I also know that people are concerned to know if COVID-19 is in your community.

Premier Caroline Cochrane issued the following statement on the confirmation of a second case of COVID-19 in the Northwest Territories today:

"I was saddened to hear that the Chief Public Health Officer had confirmed a second case of COVID-19 in the Northwest Territories today. My thoughts are with this person and their family and I wish them well as they deal with this infection. While we knew that it was only reasonable to expect more cases would be discovered in the Northwest Territories, this news still comes as a disappointment to many.

Today, Premier Caroline Cochrane announced the appointment of Mr. Russ Neudorf as the Associate Deputy Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs (MACA). This appointment has been made to support the ongoing work of the department and in particular the operations of the Emergency Management Organization as it leads activities in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Good afternoon, thank you for joining us today.

This week, Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs Paulie Chinna exercised her authority under the Emergency Management Act and declared a state of emergency for the Northwest Territories.

I want to emphasize and reassure NWT residents that this step was not taken because the risk of COVID-19 to the NWT has increased or that the situation is worse than before. It is not.

Effective March 24, 2020, the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs (MACA), Paulie Chinna, declared a territory-wide  State of Emergency under the Emergency Management Act to support ongoing efforts to protect public health in the Northwest Territories.

Good afternoon. Late last night our public health officials confirmed the first case of COVID-19 in the Northwest Territories.

This is hard news to share and I want to express my concern and sympathy for the people affected by this and let them know that the Government of the Northwest Territories is going to do everything we can to support them in this difficult time.

To the people of the Northwest Territories, I want to say that we knew this day would come and the GNWT has been working hard so that we would be prepared when it did.

On Thursday, March 19 2020 the majority of Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) employees began working from home. This decision was made to ensure that the GNWT is implementing social distancing measures as recommended by the Chief Public Health Officer to assist in mitigating and containing the possible risk to health of all NWT residents.

Northwest Territories Premier Caroline Cochrane today hosted a telephone briefing and discussion on COVID-19 planning and preparedness with mayors and chiefs from community governments, as well as leaders of NWT Indigenous governments and organizations. 

The Premier was joined on the call by MP Michael McLeod, Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs, Paulie Chinna, as well as Chief Public Health Officer, Dr. Kami Kandola, and Ivan Russell, the Director of Public Safety with the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs.