The Government of Northwest Territories (GNWT) released the Social Indicators COVID-19 Pandemic report that examines potential social impacts of COVID-19 protective health measures.

This report was put together by the Department of Health and Social Services, which established a working group in May 2020 to examine the impacts of COVID-19 as a result of public health measure.

The key social indicators being monitored include child maltreatment, mental health and addictions, alcohol-related harm, and family violence.

Each year, the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs recognizes members of the NWT fire service for their work in protecting our families and homes from the threat of fire by awarding the annual NWT Fire Service Merit Awards.

The NWT Fire Service Merit Awards are awarded based on nominations from the public to honour and recognize individual fire fighters and community fire departments for their significant contributions to the NWT fire service and community fire protection.

The 2020 award recipient is:

Premier Cochrane's Itinerary for the week of January 17, 2021.

Issued January 15, 2021. If there are any changes, an updated version of the itinerary will be provided on January 19, 2021.

Public Events and Meetings

No public events or meetings are scheduled.

Closed Events and Meetings

The following events are closed to the media

January 18

In the first week of January, Statistics Canada began working with the Government of the Northwest Territories’ (GNWT) COVID-19 Coordinating Secretariat on an initiative where they conduct symptom and wellness checks for people who are self-isolating in the Northwest Territories (NWT) as a result of travel. Until now, these symptom checks have been administered by the Secretariat’s ProtectNWT staff, via direct telephone contact or online submissions.  

Results of water quality monitoring completed by the Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) indicate that concentrations of some metals and hydrocarbons in the Slave and Hay Rivers were elevated in July, due to unprecedented high flows, but the majority returned to their normal range in August and are not expected to pose a health risk to aquatic life.

The Government of the Northwest Territories’ inaugural NWT Manufacturing Innovation and Technology Contribution has been awarded to Poison Graphics in Hay River.

The $100K investment will support the purchase of a HP R200 Latex Printer.

Introduced in the Northwest Territories Manufacturing, Strategy (2019), the contribution is designed to support manufacturers investing in technology aimed at reducing costs or improving productivity and resulting in increased local employment. This is the first year that the contribution has been awarded.

The Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs, Paulie Chinna 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 28, 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.

Northwest Territories (NWT) businesses can now apply to the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment (ITI)’s Support for Entrepreneurs and Economic Development (SEED) Program for funding to get their financial books in order.

Up to $7,500.00 is available to individual businesses that need completed bookkeeping and/or financial statements to advance economic recovery or to apply for government funding. The total amount of funding available for this initiative is $400,000

Diane Archie, Minister of Infrastructure issued the following reaction on behalf of the Government of the Northwest Territories to news about Air Canada route changes:

“This morning, the Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) received notice that Air Canada is suspending all passenger operations to the Yellowknife Airport (YZF) until further notice. This change will take effect January 23, 2021.

Department of Lands’ offices located on the first floor of the Gallery Building in Yellowknife were closed this morning after it was determined an individual who was supposed to be self-isolating following travel, entered the office space for a short period of time on Sunday. The incident has been reported to Protect NWT as appropriate.