Over the holiday season the number of COVID-19 cases, including the Omicron variant, has increased throughout Canada and in the Northwest Territories (NWT) and there has been significant travel both in and out of the NWT. With the increased risk of transmission, and the current state of COVID-19 cases throughout Canada, the Office of the Chief Public Health Officer (OCPHO) has recommended that schools remain closed for the first week of January. The Minister of Education, Culture and Employment supports the recommendation, and all NWT education bodies have agreed to it.

The Honourable R.J. Simpson, Minister of Education, Culture and Employment (ECE), met virtually with education leaders on Dec. 14 to provide an update on several ECE initiatives to improve student outcomes in the Northwest Territories (NWT). The ongoing COVID-19 situation was also discussed, including vaccines for children aged 5-11, impacts to Diploma Exams, and Christmas travel protocols for educators.

The Department of Education, Culture and Employment (ECE) released its Early Learning and Child Care (ELCC) What We Heard and Funding Programs Review reports today.

The Department of Health and Social Services is seeking feedback on the proposed Tobacco and Vapour Products Control Regulations, to strengthen the protection of residents, by limiting the sale of flavoured vapour products. Input received from public and stakeholder engagement in 2020 has helped inform the development of these proposed regulations.

The Minister Responsible for Northwest Territories Housing Corporation (NWTHC), Paulie Chinna, is announcing the opening of four three-bedroom housing units in Jean Marie River.

In spring 2021 the community of Jean Marie River suffered a devastating flood. The NWTHC and other GNWT departments quickly took action to assist the community in dealing with this disaster, but the damage to buildings in the community was significant. Among the buildings damaged beyond repair were several NWTHC-owned units.

The Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs, Shane Thompson has extended the State of Emergency in the City of Yellowknife. This extension is being made under s.14 of the Emergency Management Act.

The extension continues through January 5, 2022.

This State of Emergency was initially instated to address the need for additional shelter space as a result of ongoing capacity limitations due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Work to create a new polytechnic university for the Northwest Territories (NWT) took a significant step forward with the unanimous passage of Bill 30: An Act to Amend the Aurora College Act by the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories on December 8, 2021.

The new legislation sets the stage for the creation of a truly arm’s length post-secondary institution – a feature for the governance of the new polytechnic that the Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) has repeatedly heard is a priority for NWT residents. 

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

“On Friday, December 17th, the CEO of the Northwest Territories Health and Social Services Authority provided staff with an update on actions taken to address their concerns, spurred by the labour and delivery service reduction at Stanton Territorial Hospital.

The Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) has extended the proposal deadline for the Early Childhood Infrastructure Fund (ECIF) to January 17, 2022. This extension provides applicants with additional time to complete their proposals.

The ECIF provides funding for projects that are required to preserve existing infrastructure of licensed centre-based child care spaces or create new licensed centre-based child care spaces in NWT communities.

Minister of Health and Social Services, Julie Green has extended the territory-wide Public Health Emergency under the Northwest Territories’ Public Health Act on the advice of Chief Public Health Officer (CPHO) Dr. Kami Kandola.

The latest extension continues through January 4, 2021. 

The Public Health Emergency is required to continue to decisively respond to shifts in the NWT’s own public health situation, and maintain preventative measures.