Minister of Justice, R.J. Simpson, announced today the appointment of the Honourable Judge Jeannie Scott to the position of Chief Judge of the Territorial Court of the Northwest Territories.

Under the Territorial Court Act, the Chief Judge is appointed to a term of five years. The term of the current Chief Judge, the Honourable Chief Judge Robert Gorin, will expire on October 2, 2024 at 5:00 pm at which point the Chief Judge Scott’s term will take effect.

In response to the ongoing syphilis outbreak declared in 2019, and an increased rate of other sexually-transmitted infections (STIs), the Government of the Northwest Territories will open a temporary STI clinic in Yellowknife on October 1, 2024.

The clinic will offer a safe, confidential space for testing and treating Sexually Transmitted and Blood Borne Infection (STBBI). It will stay open for at least a year while there is heightened concern about the transmission of STBBIs.

Ministerial Activities Advisory for the week of October 1-7, 2024

Ministerial Travel 

Please note that travel schedules may change with little or no notice. This schedule is accurate as of September 30, 2024. 

The Government of the Northwest Territories is now accepting applications for the Indigenous Language Revitalization Scholarship.

Ten scholarships valued at $5,000 each will be awarded to eligible NWT students enrolled in certificate, diploma or degree programs that support Indigenous language revitalization during the 2024-25 school year.

Priority will be given to NWT students enrolled in programs offered by accredited post-secondary institutions.

The application deadline is December 1, 2024, at 5 pm MT.

The Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) and the Office of the Fire Marshal (OFM) are encouraging all Northwest Territories (NWT) residents to regularly test their smoke alarms and participate in "Test Your Smoke Alarm Day" on September 28, 2024.

This Ontario-led initiative now forms part of a broader national campaign supported by the Council of Canadian Fire Marshals and Fire Commissioners to raise awareness of the importance of working smoke alarms in homes across the country.

The Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) has launched a new visual dashboard to track the presence of COVID-19, Influenza (Flu) and Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) in Behchokǫ̀, Fort Simpson, Fort Smith, Hay River, Norman Wells, and Yellowknife. This easy-to-use dashboard provides residents with clear visualizations, including graphs, to help them stay informed about viral trends in their community.

The dashboard displays key information, including:

The Government of the Northwest Territories is now accepting applications for the 2024-2025 Northwest Territories (NWT) Youth Ambassadors Program. The program provides NWT youth with opportunities to build leadership skills through participation at special events and volunteer assignments.

In the past, NWT Youth Ambassadors have attended the Arctic Winter Games, Canada Winter Games, Canada Summer Games, and the North American Indigenous Games. This cohort will have the opportunity to volunteer at the 2025 Canada Summer Games in St. John’s, Newfoundland.

The Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) is now accepting applications for the 2024 Trapper Mentorship Program.

The program, started in 2022, helps new trappers learn how to trap by pairing them with experienced trappers who teach important skills. Successful new trappers will receive a starter kit worth about $1,500. Mentors will receive $2,000 to help cover their costs.

The Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) is notifying the public of a scheduled maintenance outage by Northwestel, which will impact internet and cellular services in the Northwest Territories (NWT) on September 25, 2024, between 1:00 a.m. and 07:00 a.m. MT.

Ministerial Activities Advisory for the week of September 24-30, 2024

Ministerial Travel 

Please note that travel schedules may change with little or no notice. This schedule is accurate as of September 23, 2024.