Check against delivery

Good afternoon and thank you for inviting me to speak to you today. I’ve had a couple of brief media events in person over the last month but this is my first formal opportunity to join folks in a room for an event. There is a bit of synergy here: my role, in my view, is performed better when I am more connected to people and community and your industry connects people and communities so thank you for hopefully the first of many more opportunities to be back out in person connecting.

Minister of Health and Social Services Julie Green issued the following statement:

“May 9-15, 2022, is National Nursing Week. This week NWT residents, along with Canadians from across the country, are encouraged to celebrate and show their appreciation for nurses. This year’s theme is “We Answer the Call.” If you know a nurse, you know this to be true.

Ministerial Activities Advisory for the week of May 10-16, 2022

Ministerial Travel

Please note that travel schedules may change with little or no notice. This schedule is accurate as of May 9, 2022.

There is no travel scheduled for this time period

Meetings and Appearances

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

Today, Caroline Cochrane, Premier of the Northwest Territories, along with Nunavut Premier P.J. Akeeagok, Yukon Premier Sandy Silver, and Indigenous Leaders from across the North issued the first Pan-Northern Leaders’ Statement on Climate Change.

The eighth annual Anti-Poverty Roundtable ended yesterday with a commitment by participants to increase safe and affordable housing, including for underhoused residents.

The purpose of this year’s roundtable was to bring together approximately 120 participants from all levels of government, non-government organizations, community service providers, and the private sector to work collectively on addressing housing and homelessness.

Celebrating NWT Literacy Week, the Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) released a video announcing the recipients of the 2021 Northwest Territories (NWT) Ministerial Literacy awards and the Council of the Federation Literacy award.

In 2002, the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment created the NWT Literacy Awards to celebrate the literacy achievements of:

The Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) reminds residents that it is illegal to drive a motor vehicle on closed seasonal roads under the NWT Seasonal Highway Regulations. Anyone found operating a motor vehicle on these roads can be issued a fine of approximately $800.

A strain of avian influenza that is highly contagious among birds is currently spreading from the United States into southern Canada.

Also known as ‘bird flu,’ avian influenza is a respiratory disease which naturally occurs in wild birds throughout the world. It is common for migratory waterfowl such as ducks, gulls, geese, and shorebirds to carry and spread these viruses.

The Department of Municipal and Community Affairs (MACA) is announcing the annual notice of the nomination deadline for the Northwest Territories (NWT) Outstanding Volunteer Awards. This year marks the 31st year of this award, which recognizes and celebrates the remarkable contributions volunteers make in communities across the NWT.

Residents are encouraged to nominate an elder, youth, individual, or group of volunteers in their community. This program acknowledges those who give their time to improve the quality of life for their fellow NWT residents. 

A male inmate who escaped custody from the Fort Smith Correctional Complex on the evening of April 30, 2022, was located and arrested the morning of May 1, 2022, and is now in custody.

A full critical incident review will be completed to determine the circumstances of the escape and work towards any improvements necessary.

The Department of Justice has the responsibility to uphold the protection and safety of individuals in our care and custody as well as the safety of our staff and the public with the utmost diligence.