Ministerial Activities Advisory for the week of March 21-27, 2023

Ministerial Travel

Please note that travel schedules may change with little or no notice. This schedule is accurate as of March 20, 2023.

• Diane Archie will be attending the Arctic Energy & Resource Symposium March 22-23 in Calgary

Meetings and Appearances

Please note that event organizers may have attendance restrictions­­­ for their event. Contact organizers for more information.

On April 1, 2023 the Scientific Services Office and employees will be transferred to the Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) Department of Education, Culture and Employment (ECE) from Aurora College. This transition ensures research licensing functions under the Scientists Act will continue to reside within the GNWT after Aurora College has fully transformed into an arm’s-length polytechnic university.

R.J. Simpson, Minister responsible for the Aurora College Act, is pleased to share that Joe Handley has been appointed as Chairperson of the Aurora College Board of Governors for a term of three years.

The month of March is a busy time for travel in the territory with increased traffic on our highways and winter roads. The Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) reminds residents and commercial drivers to drive safely, keep a close eye on weather conditions and be prepared for unexpected challenges.

The Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) is proposing amendments to the Hours-of-Service regulations for electronic logging devices (ELDs) under the Motor Vehicles Act to support road safety in the Northwest Territories (NWT).

ELDs automatically record driving time in commercial vehicles. The device replaces the paper log system and makes it easier to track, manage, share and improve the accuracy of a driver’s Hours-of-Service record.

The Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) is now accepting applications from Indigenous governments in the NWT, community governing authorities, non-government organizations and the Health and Social Services Authorities for the 2023 Healthy Choices Fund.

$400,000 is available to fund health promotion and prevention activities that support NWT communities and their residents.  For 2023, an additional $410,000 is also available to support the health and wellbeing of NWT seniors through age friendly communities and to reduce the harms of alcohol use.

The attached is being distributed on behalf of the Government of Canada, the Tłı̨chǫ Government and the Government of the Northwest Territories.

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Mr. Speaker, in 2018, the Government of the Northwest Territories released the 2030 Energy Strategy, our roadmap to supporting secure, affordable, and sustainable energy in the NWT.

Guided by the Energy Strategy, the Climate Change Strategic Framework and the GNWT’s mandate, we are working to increase the use of alternative and renewable energy and reduce the territory’s greenhouse gas emissions.

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Mr. Speaker, I want to acknowledge the recent addition of the Legislative Assembly’s Process Convention related to the introduction, consideration, and enactment of bills under the Intergovernmental Council Legislative Development Protocol. I do not often get to express appreciation for the work of the Legislative Assembly as led by you Mr. Speaker, and supported by the Clerk and your staff. This new process convention is another example of the Northwest Territories leading the way in collaboration with Indigenous governments.

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Mr. Speaker, on January 16th, the Government of the Northwest Territories launched a new Open Data Portal to provide a single point of access for existing GNWT data resources.

This portal represents a significant step forward in our commitment to transparency and open government, and it will be a valuable resource for residents, businesses, researchers, and anyone else interested in the data and information that shapes our communities and our economy.