The Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT)  will remove the Highway 5 checkpoint station located at the Alberta/ Northwest Territories (NWT) border near Fort Smith starting August 1, 2021. The last full day of operations will be July 31.

The COVID Secretariat has worked with the Office of the Chief Public Health Officer (OCPHO) on the decision to remove the Highway 5 border checkpoint.  Local Indigenous leaders and the Town of  Fort Smith have been notified of this decision.

Fort Smith currently has one of the highest vaccination rates in the NWT.

R.J. Simpson, Minister of Justice, today announced that the Hamlet of Fort Liard has been selected to host the Community Safety Officer Pilot Program.

Marine Transportation Services (MTS) will extend service throughout the East Arm of Great Slave Lake during the 2021 shipping season.

For the summer 2021 season, MTS will extend the Hay River to Łutselk’e route to include visits to Fort Reliance and Hoarfrost in McLeod Bay, providing a cargo solution for residents, local tourism operators and other businesses that operate in the East Arm.

These new stops have been added in response to the recent closure of East Arm Freighting.

Points of service may be added depending on cargo bookings.

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 August 3, 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.

Northwest Territories Premier Caroline Cochrane has made the following changes to senior management in the Northwest Territories public service.

Smoking is a leading cause of home fire fatalities. The Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) and the Office of The Fire Marshal (OFM) are concerned about a recent trend related to smoking materials that has been occurring in the NWT.  Over the last month alone, structural fires in the communities of Fort Simpson, Fort Smith, Hay River, Inuvik and Yellowknife have resulted in significant property losses and injuries to NWT residents.
    

Ottawa, Ontario — Members of the media are invited to attend a virtual announcement with the Honourable Daniel Vandal, Minister of Northern Affairs, MP Michael McLeod, Northwest Territories Minister R. J. Simpson and Aurora College President Andy Bevan to make an announcement on proposed investments in post-secondary education in the territory.

There will be a media availability following the announcement. Journalists who would like to participate in the Zoom event should notify RCAANC.media.CIRNAC@canada.ca.

Ministerial Activities Advisory for the week of July 13-19, 2021

Ministerial Travel

Please note that travel schedules may change with little or no notice. This schedule is accurate as of July 12, 2021

Premier Cochrane's Itinerary for the week of July 11, 2021

Issued July 9, 2021. If there are any changes, an updated version of the itinerary will be provided on July 14, 2021.

Public Events and Meetings

No public events or meetings are scheduled.

Closed Events and Meetings

The following events are closed to the media

July 12

• The Premier will be participating in a Cabinet Strategic Planning session.

July 13

With the easing of indoor gathering restrictions by the Chief Public Health Officer (CPHO), the Yellowknife Driver and Motor Vehicle (DMV) office will be able to accept walk-ins between 12:00 PM and 4:00 PM on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays, beginning July 12, 2021.

In response to recent client surveys that indicated that most clients prefer to make appointments in advance, the DMV will also continue to offer advance appointments.