On November 28, 2018 at 1:55pm, the Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) will issue a live test of NWT Alert Ready, the Northwest Territories public alerting system. Residents may see and hear the public alert test on wireless devices, radio stations and cable networks across the NWT.

NWT Alert Ready is being developed to provide public alerts to NWT residents during emergencies and disasters and is part of the national public alerting system “Alert Ready”. The system is currently under development with full implementation planned for 2019.

Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment Wally Schumann issued the following statement congratulating recipients of the 2^nd Annual NWT Mining and Exploration (MAX) Awards.

“Responsible resource development is at the core of who we are as a territory. It drives our economy, generates billions in opportunity for local businesses, and provides thousands of residents good middle-class jobs.

The Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT), in partnership with the Arctic Energy Alliance (AEA) released details today on the $9.12 million in new funding for AEA over the next four years, as well as announced changes to funding for solar projects in hydropower communities across the NWT.

Both announcements are in response to the Arctic Energy Alliance Program and Service Review that was commissioned last year.

Population surveys carried out this summer by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources on the Bathurst and Bluenose-East caribou herds show caribou numbers continue to decline significantly.

Surveys done in June 2018 indicate the number of animals in the Bathurst herd has dropped from about 20,000 in 2015 to approximately 8,200 in 2018. At its peak in 1986, the size of the herd was estimated at more than 470,000 caribou. The Bluenose-East herd has also declined from approximately 39,000 animals in 2015 to roughly 19,300 caribou.

Ministerial Activities Advisory for the week of November 20 to 26, 2018

Ministerial Travel

Please note that travel schedules may change with little or no notice. This schedule is accurate as of November 19, 2018.

Earlier this month, the Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment, Wally Schumann tabled the 2017-2018 Grants and Contributions Report which details $17.6 million in economic development and diversification investment by the Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT). 

The annual report documents financial contributions made through the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment (ITI) to individuals, entrepreneurs, businesses, governments and other organizations, with initiatives supporting economic development during the 2017-2018 fiscal year.

YELLOWKNIFE (November 14, 2018) – Minister of Education Culture and Employment Caroline Cochrane will hold a public meeting in Yellowknife to discuss the Government of the Northwest Territories response to the Aurora College Foundational Review. The meetings will give Yellowknife residents an opportunity to hear about next steps in the transformation of Aurora College into a polytechnic university.

The Department of Industry Tourism and Investment (ITI) celebrated the career of its longest-serving tourism operator last night and saluted the Northwest Territories’ 2018 Parks Hospitality Award winner.

Alex Hall’s recognition for the territories longest-service tourism operator comes as he ends a long, storied career sharing the magic of the Arctic with visitors from around the globe. He started Canoe Arctic in 1971.

The construction of the Tłı̨chǫ All Season Road Project moves closer reality with the announcement today by Finance Minister Robert C. McLeod that North Star Infrastructure has been selected as the Preferred Proponent, pursuant to the GNWT’s Request for Proposal for the project.

The GNWT and NSI will be working together to finalize the Project Agreement and start the preparatory work required before construction can begin later the Fall of 2019.

North Star Infrastructure is a consortium consisting of:

The Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) has released the Government of the Northwest Territories Disability Action Plan 2018/19-2021/22. The Action Plan identifies key activities the government is doing to improve support for NWT residents with disabilities. 

The Disability Action Plan focuses on five key objectives: