A suspected anthrax outbreak is underway in the Slave River Lowlands bison population.

15 bison carcasses were found in the Slave River Lowlands between Fort Smith and Fort Resolution over the weekend of June 30 – July 3, 2023.

Test results are currently pending. However, this is being treated as an active outbreak because of preliminary evidence observed and collected in the field.

Accordingly, the Anthrax Emergency Response Plan has been activated.

Background on the response plan

The Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) is seeking public feedback on proposed changes to the Income Assistance Regulations and the newly developed Income Assistance for Seniors and Persons with Disabilities Regulations.

The proposed regulations are in support of the changes being made to the Income Assistance program based on feedback received through public engagement, which was shared in the What We Heard Report.

The Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) has approved six projects under the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Grant Program. These include projects to electrify North Arm Territorial Park near Behchokǫ̀ and reduce the carbon footprint of Yellowknife-based brewing company NWT Brewing Company Ltd.

The GNWT is providing approximately $1.35 million in funding for these projects to support greenhouse gas emissions reduction projects and initiatives in NWT communities. The six projects will reduce an estimated 633 tonnes of GHG emissions annually.

The approved projects include:

The Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) is looking for two members of the public to join the Art Selection Committee for a two-year term starting September 1, 2023.

The Art Selection Committee evaluates applications for the Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre’s (PWNHC) Mezzanine Gallery exhibit space on an annual basis. This is the first-time members from the arts community are being invited to participate and contribute to the selection of artwork that will be on display at the museum.

Members of the media are invited to attend an important announcement regarding projects that have been approved under the Greenhouse Gas Grant Program in the Northwest Territories.

When: June 29, 12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.

Where: Woodyard Brewhouse and Eatery, 3905 Franklin Ave., Yellowknife

The following elected officials will be in attendance:

• Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment, Caroline Wawzonek
• Member of Parliament, Northwest Territories, Michael McLeod

Joining them will be:

Today, Premier Cochrane issued the following statement for Pride Month:

“As Pride Month draws to a close, I am pledging my commitment to stand with and support the two-spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer, questioning, intersex, asexual and additional sexually and gender diverse (2SLGBTQQIA+) community year-round.

“Fifty-four years ago today, the Stonewall riots began following a police raid at the Stonewall Inn, a gay bar in New York City. These gay liberation riots are widely considered to be the catalyst and inspiration for Pride marches and Pride Month.

The Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) is inviting feedback on the Northwest Territories’ energy and climate future, as it launches its engagement to inform the five-year review of the 2030 Energy Strategy and Climate Change Strategic Framework today.

The Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) is pleased to announce the launch of a new Evacuee Registration Portal. The launch of the portal is in response to feedback from community governments about the need to streamline the process of registering evacuees prior to, and during, evacuations, as well as feedback from evacuees about having to register more than once during an evacuation.

The new portal provides residents with the ability to pre-register before an evacuation, and to request assistance from their community government during an evacuation.

Today, Minister Caroline Wawzonek issued the following statement for Pride Month:

“As we mark Pride Month in the Northwest Territories, I join residents to celebrate the incredible diversity, resilience, and contributions of the 2SLGBTQQIA+ community in the Northwest Territories.

“The GNWT is committed to a Northwest Territories where all people are genuinely included, celebrated, and supported to meet their full potential. We stand firmly against all forms of discrimination, prejudice, and marginalization towards the 2SLGBTQQIA+ community.

The Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) has begun releasing the adapted draft Junior Kindergarten to Grade 12 (JK-12) curriculum as part of its shift to British Columbia’s curricular framework.

All Northwest Territories (NWT) schools will begin trialing the draft curriculum in some or all subjects, depending on region, in Grades 4-6 and Grade 9 in the 2023-24 school year.

The Department of Education, Culture and Employment (ECE) and its education partners want to ensure that the curriculum is reflective of NWT communities and contexts.