Today the Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) announced the winners of this year’s Alfred Moses and Tom Williams Memorial Scholarships, celebrating NWT students enrolled in a range of housing-related programs.

Twelve scholarships of $1,000 have been awarded across the territory: 

Beaufort-Delta — Mary-Leigh Firth (Fort McPherson) and James Blake (Aklavik)

Sahtú — Haiden Duncan (Norman Wells) and Shakira Ellton (Délı̨nę)

Health and Social Services Minister Lesa Semmler is pleased to announce the 2024 recipients of the $1.75 million Anti-Poverty Fund. A total of 49 grants were awarded this year to Indigenous, community, and non-profit organizations to help them in their work to overcome and reduce poverty by addressing its root causes.

The Anti-Poverty Fund is designed to assist communities by minimizing administrative hurdles and supporting the long-term viability of projects through multi-year agreements. Five of this year’s funding recipients were awarded multi-year grants.

Due to fire danger in the region, a fire ban has been put into effect for Queen Elizabeth Territorial Park in Fort Smith, prohibiting open fires. The ban, which is in addition to any regional fire bans in place by NWT Fire, is effective immediately and will remain in place until July 30, 2024.

Camp stoves, enclosed barbeques, and propane-fueled cooking and heating devices are permitted for use in NWT Parks, but must be placed within regulation fire pits and should not emit a flame more than 0.5 metres in diameter and 0.5 metres in height.

Due to fire danger in the region, a fire ban has been put into effect for Hay River Territorial Park, prohibiting open fires. The ban, which is in addition to any regional fire bans in place by NWT Fire, is effective immediately and will remain in place until July 30, 2024.

Camp stoves, enclosed barbeques, and propane-fueled cooking and heating devices are permitted for use in NWT Parks, but must be placed within regulation fire pits and should not emit a flame more than 0.5 metres in diameter and 0.5 metres in height.

Premier R.J. Simpson announced two significant appointments to the senior management of the territorial public service today.

 The Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) is now accepting funding proposals for both the Small and Medium Arts Project Grants for the 2024-25 fiscal year.

The Small Arts Project Grant provides up to $5,000 to emerging to mid-career artists, craftspeople and small groups to cover costs for small-scale arts projects (e.g., traditional apparel, paintings, etc.) such as art supplies (e.g., beads, thread, furs, etc.) studio fees, illustration and design costs, and artistic development.

The Elevators and Lifts Act and corresponding regulations came into force today.

Helping to formalize authority, resolve regulatory gaps and provide a standard framework to align legislation of elevating devices in the Northwest Territories (NWT) with the rest of Canada, the Elevators and Lifts Act received assent in November 2022 but could not come into force until the Regulations were completed and ready to be adopted.

Ministerial Activities Advisory for the week of July 16-22, 2024

Ministerial Travel 

Please note that travel schedules may change with little or no notice. This schedule is accurate as of July 15. 

The Northwest Territories Cumulative Impact Monitoring Program (NWT CIMP) is providing $2.2 million in 2024-25 to support thirty new or ongoing environmental monitoring and research projects.

Of the thirty projects funded, seven are focused on Traditional Knowledge, twenty-one are science-focused and two combine Traditional Knowledge and science. All projects address key cumulative impact monitoring priorities for caribou, water and fish, and project results will provide valuable knowledge for resource managers, governments and communities to inform decision-making.

The Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) has announced the 2024 adjustment to minimum wage in the Northwest Territories (NWT). Effective September 1, 2024, the minimum wage will increase from $16.05 per hour to $16.70 per hour. This increase reflects the GNWT’s commitment to ensuring that wages keep pace with the rising cost of living, using a formula based on the percentage change in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) and the average hourly wage for 2023.