Effective this week, the NWT is providing coverage for Trikafta, a life changing treatment for 90 per cent of Canadians with cystic fibrosis. Trikafta can be prescribed for residents 12 years and older who have a specific cystic fibrosis mutation. 

Residents with cystic fibrosis being prescribed Trikafta can apply for coverage under the Government of the Northwest Territories’ (GNWT) Extended and Métis Health Benefits programs. First Nations and Inuit residents can apply under the Federal NIHB program. The estimated retail price is approximately $300,000 per patient per year.

The Arctic Red River/Mackenzie River ferry to Tsiigehtchic (MV Louis Cardinal), the Peel River Ferry to Fort McPherson (CF Abraham Francis), the Liard River ferry to Fort Simpson (MV Lafferty) and the Mackenzie River/N’dulee ferry to Wrigley (MV Johnny Berens) are nearing their average seasonal close dates and may close soon, depending on conditions.

Residents are advised to move essential goods and services as soon as possible to avoid costly delays and disappointment.

The Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) has updated the online self-serve Proof of Vaccination tool. The update allows people with out-of-territory health care cards to use this self-serve online tool to get their Proof of Vaccine Credential (PVC) for vaccine dose they received in the NWT.

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 November 15, 2021.

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.

Ministerial Activities Advisory for the week of November 2-8, 2021

Ministerial Travel

Please note that travel schedules may change with little or no notice. This schedule is accurate as of November 1, 2021

 The Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre (PWNHC) re-opened on October 30 and is announcing the extension of the Treaty 11 Document Exhibit until November 21, 2021.

The document, which is in booklet form, has been on display at the PWNHC since September, with a page turned every week to provide the public with the opportunity to see each signatory page.

Due to the recent COVID-19 outbreak in Yellowknife, Behchokǫ̀, Ndilǫ, and Dettah, the PWNHC was temporarily closed to the public, pausing the weekly page turning of the document.

Premier Cochrane's Itinerary for the week of October 31, 2021

Issued October 29, 2021. If there are any changes, an updated version of the itinerary will be provided on November 3, 2021.

Public Events and Meetings

No public events or meetings are scheduled.

Closed Events and Meetings

The following events are closed to the media

November 1

• Regular Business

November 2

The Northwest Territories is bringing a strong message to the COP26 UN Climate Change Conference in Glasgow, Scotland.

Our message

As a territory, we are responsible for less than 0.2% of Canada’s Greenhouse Gas emissions.

And yet in the north, we are experiencing the effects of climate change three times faster than southern Canada.

It already affects our lives in very real ways.

The Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) has amended the Support for Entrepreneurs and Economic Development (SEED) Policy Directive and increased short-term operational funding for businesses to further support them through the COVID-19 pandemic.

There are currently higher-than-normal water levels on the Tazin and Talston Rivers – and this could impact NWT residents and land-users.

Although there are no NWT communities downstream on the Tazin or Taltson Rivers; there are cabins and camps and the water levels may put them at risk.

The Taltson currently sits at about 0.5 metres lower than the record high water level last fall and water level and flow in the Tazin have not decreased as expected. This could result in sustained high water in the Taltson River during freeze-up.