The Department of Education, Culture and Employment (ECE) is now accepting nominations for the 2020 Minister’s Culture and Heritage Awards. The awards recognize the efforts of members of the community who work to strengthen the arts, culture, heritage and languages of the Northwest Territories. Recipients are chosen from nominations put forward by other northerners in five different categories.
The Growth and Recovery by Investing in Tourism (GRIT) Fund will see approximately $3 million invested in the tourism industry in the NWT to help operators and businesses recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Funded in partnership with the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency (CanNor), the GRIT Fund was introduced in August 2020 to respond specifically to the needs of the tourism industry post COVID-19.
The fund was both extended and increased before closing in October.
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 December 18, 2020.
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.
The attached is being released on behalf of the Intergovernmental Council of the Northwest Territories
Premier Cochrane's Itinerary for December 3, 2020
Issued December 2, 2020.
Note: As of December 4, 2020, the daily itinerary will no longer be distributed. It will be replaced by a weekly itinerary sent out every Friday for the following week. It will also be updated mid-week to reflect any changes to the Premier’s schedule.
Public Events and Meetings
There are no public events or meetings scheduled.
Closed Events and Meetings
The following events are closed to the media
An additional $100K is being invested in four exploration projects supported by the Mining Incentive Program (MIP).
The new funding is consistent with the Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT)’s commitment to increase mining incentive programs by 50% over the next four years in order to attract and support both early-stage and advanced exploration projects.
Along with the new funding, $20K from an earlier-funded project which did not proceed has also been re-distributed.
The Northwest Territories Housing Corporation (NWTHC) created the Community Housing Support program to support Indigenous and Community Governments to implement and innovative, community-driven housing projects. More affordable housing continues to be developed through the Community Housing Support program in partnership with communities. Today, the Minister Responsible for NWTHC, Paulie Chinna, is pleased to announce two new agreements under this program with two more communities, Nahanni Butte and Colville Lake.
The Government of Northwest Territories (GNWT), with support from Indigenous Services Canada, is pleased to announce that visiting dental service teams are cleared to resume operations in the Northwest Territories (NWT).
The following NWT communities are ready to resume service. Their facilities have met facility infrastructure dental care standards and the Chief Public Health Officer has issued COVID-19 precautions and approval:
· Fort Providence
· Sambaa K’e
· Fort Simpson
· Norman Wells
Premier Cochrane's Itinerary for December 2, 2020
Issued December 1, 2020.
Note: As of December 4, 2020, the daily itinerary will no longer be distributed. It will be replaced by a weekly itinerary sent out every Friday for the following week. It will also be updated mid-week to reflect any changes to the Premier’s schedule.
Public Events and Meetings
The Premier will be participating in an Intergovernmental Council media availability.
Closed Events and Meetings
The following events are closed to the media
Child and Family Services (CFS) continues to make progress in transforming its system to meet the needs of children and youth in its care. Since the last progress report update in July 2020, CFS has completed 54% of action items within the Quality Improvement Plan.
Progress on key actions includes:
· Joint funding with the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs to the Foster Family Coalition of the NWT to pilot a youth in care network. This is being piloted virtually through the Gaining Life Skills Our Way (GLOW) program.
