Yellowknife

BDIC Payment Deferral/Reduction Initiative Extended

The NWT Business Development and Investment Corporation (BDIC) is extending its three month Payment Deferral/Reduction initiative.

The initiative was introduced in March as part of the Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) initial response to the COVID-19 Pandemic. The option of deferring or reducing loan payments was provided to all BDIC clients including those who applied for and received low-interest Working Capital Loans as part of the GNWT’s initial COVID-19 relief efforts.

GNWT and NWTTA reach tentative collective agreement

The Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) and the Northwest Territories Teachers’ Association (NWTTA) have reached a tentative agreement.

Both parties are pleased with the progress since negotiations started on June 2, 2020 during this unprecedented time, and are recommending ratification of the agreement to their membership and the Financial Management Board.

Details of the tentative agreement will not be publicly released until the ratification process is completed.

Premier Cochrane's Itinerary for June 18, 2020

Issued June 17, 2020.

 

Public Events and Meetings

No public events are planned

 

Closed Events and Meetings

The following events are closed to the media

The Premier will attend a meeting of the Financial Management Board

The Premier will participate in a meeting of Canada’s Premiers

The Premier will participate in a First Ministers Meeting

 

All meetings and events subject to change.

 

For Ministerial Media Requests, Contact:

Cabinet Communications

School reopening plans focus on flexibility in learning approaches for 2020-2021 school year

Education, Culture and Employment (ECE) Minister R.J. Simpson met with Northwest Territories (NWT) Education Leaders and the NWT Teachers’ Association (NWTTA) via teleconference on June 16, 2020 to discuss details of school reopening plans and how learning will be maintained throughout the 2020-2021 school year.

SEED Program to Help Businesses Pivot in Response to COVID-19 Pandemic

Northwest Territories businesses making investments to align with the Government of the Northwest Territories’ (GNWT) Emerging Wisely Plan can now apply to the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment (ITI)’s Support for Entrepreneurs and Economic Development (SEED) Program for funding.

As restrictions are eased by the Chief Public Health Officer, and in keeping with the spirit of flexibility, the SEED program can now be accessed to cover costs to businesses such as:

·       Structural changes required to protect employees (i.e. plexiglas shields);

Northwest Territories Business Advisory Council

Katrina Nokleby, Minister of Industry, Tourism, and Investment released the following statement:

“Since the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been much interest and discussion about what economic recovery will look like across the Northwest Territories (NWT), and the important role the Business Advisory Council (BAC) will play in that.

“As we begin to move towards economic recovery, it will be critical that we access the experience, talent, and resources of the NWT’s private sector and apply this input to government decision making.

Checkpoint Program Evolves To Fit Unique Needs Of Fort Smith Area

The NWT has implemented a checkpoint  at the NWT-Alberta border in the Fort Smith area, to maintain protections for COVID-19 in the NWT while respecting deep ties between communities on either side.

The system includes passes for residents from the NWT and Alberta representing various situations and activities commonly shared between Fort Smith, Fort Fitzgerald, Smith’s Landing, and other nearby communities.

NWT residents from outside of Fort Smith are also able to access this system – opening up staycation possibilities for NWT residents.

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