Ministerial Activities Advisory for the week of July 8-14, 2025
Ministerial Travel
Please note that travel schedules may change with little or no notice. This schedule is accurate as of July 7, 2025.
The Department of Education, Culture and Employment has been monitoring the recent enhancements made to the Income Assistance programs to ensure they are meeting the needs of NWT residents.
Starting July 1, 2025, seniors and persons with disabilities have the option to apply either to the Income Assistance program or to the Income Assistance for Seniors and Persons with Disabilities program. This person-centered change in approach affirms individuals’ right to determine which program aligns best with their unique needs and circumstances.
The link below is being redistributed on behalf of the Ministers’ Council on the Canadian Francophonie Federal-Provincial-Territorial Meeting
MINISTERS’ COUNCIL ON THE CANADIAN FRANCOPHONIE FEDERAL–PROVINCIAL–TERRITORIAL MEETING
The second Northwest Territories Nominee Program (NTNP) application intake period for 2025 will open from 9am MST on July 2 to 5pm MST on July 9, 2025. Eligible individuals can apply online on the Northwest Territories Nominee Program website.
The first intake for applications was open from February 27 to March 6, 2025. Following this initial intake, 21 nomination spaces are still available out of the 150 nominations for 2025.
Minister of Education, Culture and Employment Caitlin Cleveland issued the following statement today on federal immigration policy and the urgent need to restore the Northwest Territories’ nominee allocations:
“Earlier this month in Ottawa, I raised a clear and urgent concern with the federal Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship: the Northwest Territories needs its full nominee program allocation restored—and we need a more flexible, Northern-focused approach moving forward.
Today the Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) released the What We Heard Report – Approaches to Early Learning and Child Care Space Creation as well as the Early Learning and Child Care Infrastructure Framework.
The Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) has received follow-up lead testing results for École William McDonald Middle School and Range Lake North School. These results are part of an ongoing assessment of lead in school drinking water systems being conducted by engineering and environmental consulting firm Stantec, which began earlier this spring following initial concerns about water quality. A final report summarizing the findings and next steps is expected shortly.
The Government of the Northwest Territories is offering funding to organizations to help families get out on the land. The program is designed to help offset the costs of participating in land-based experiences like camping, boating, fishing, hunting, and traditional activities, so more Northerners can get involved.
The Minister of Health and Social Services, Lesa Semmler, met with the Northwest Territories Health and Social Services Authority (NTHSSA) Public Administrator and health system leadership in Yellowknife to discuss progress and shared priorities for the year ahead.
The National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls highlighted the need for legislation related to missing persons in Canada. The GNWT is committed to responding to the Calls for Justice from the National Inquiry and has developed legislation to further support missing person investigations.
The GNWT has now drafted regulations needed to bring the Missing Persons Act into force.
These regulations prescribe details related (but not limited) to:
