The Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) and the City of Yellowknife are working together to advance feasibility work to assess whether the Northwest Territories should pursue a bid to host the 2035 Canada Winter Games. The feasibility work is being undertaken from a territory‑wide perspective and is exploring a range of hosting approaches that could involve multiple Northwest Territories communities in different ways.

The following public service announcement is being distributed on behalf of the Action Plan Committee for the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
 

Residents of the Northwest Territories are invited to review and submit questions or comments on the initial Draft United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Action Plan.

The Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) has released its 2026 Spring Water Outlook, providing an early assessment of water levels and flood risk across the territory as spring melt begins.

The Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT), the Union of Northern Workers (UNW), the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) and the Hay River Health and Social Services Authority (HRHSSA) have reached agreement on the transition of HRHSSA into the public service.

Effective April 1, 2027, HRHSSA will join the public service. All parties will work together over the coming year to ensure that this transition is straightforward and stable for employees and residents so that health and social services in Hay River will continue without interruption.

Education, Culture and Employment (ECE) Minister Caitlin Cleveland met with Education Leaders from across the Northwest Territories in Yellowknife on April 22, 2026, to discuss shared priorities, strengthen collaboration, and identify next steps to support students and education systems across the territory.

Premier Simpson issued the following statement today in response to Alberta’s ending of seasonal time changes:

“I am pleased to announce that the Northwest Territories will move to end seasonal time changes and adopt a year-round time standard, following similar actions we expect to be legislated by the Government of Alberta later this week.

Two new and five updated arts programs, offered through the Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT), are now open for applications. These programs were redesigned by integrating changes and feedback heard from artists and organizations through a variety of engagements. The arts programs are now designed to fit artists and people rather than trying to fit them into the programs.

The Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) has received lead testing results for Chief Julius School in Fort McPherson and the Community Learning Centre in Ndılǫ. Testing has confirmed that some water fixtures in Chief Julius School show lead levels above the maximum acceptable concentration (MAC) set out in the Guidelines for Canadian Drinking Water Quality. Water results at the Ndılǫ CLC facility were below Health Canada guidelines and no action is required.

The next Expression of Interest draw for the Northwest Territories Nominee Program’s Employer Driven Stream is scheduled for June 25, 2026. To be considered, applicants must submit their expression of interest profile by June 22, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. MT.

The new Expression of Interest system was launched earlier this year, and the first draw took place on March 25, 2026. At that time, 295 profiles were submitted and the 65 top-ranking profiles were selected, including:

The Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) has received lead testing results for Echo Dene School in Acho Dene Koe and Inualthuyak School in Sachs Harbour. Testing has confirmed that some water fixtures show lead levels above the maximum acceptable concentration (MAC) set out in the Guidelines for Canadian Drinking Water Quality. As a result, the Office of the Chief Public Health Officer (OCPHO) has issued a Public Health Order for the schools.