News Releases

Premier Simpson and Cabinet Ministers join MLA for Nunakput Lucy Kuptana for a tour of the Nunakput riding, to strengthen community connections across the Arctic coast

Premier RJ Simpson, along with Ministers Lesa Semmler, Vince McKay, and senior government officials, joined MLA for Nunakput and Minister of Housing NWT and Status of Women, Lucy Kuptana, on a four-day constituency tour of the Nunakput region. Acting in both her roles as MLA and Minister, Lucy Kuptana led the tour, which included visits to Sachs Harbour, Ulukhaktok, Paulatuk, and a drive to Tuktoyaktuk, with the goals of listening to residents, learning about local priorities, and building stronger relationships between communities and the Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT).

GNWT releases 2023-24 JK-12 performance report highlighting progress and challenges

The Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) has released the Junior Kindergarten to Grade 12 Education System Performance Measures Technical Report for the 2023-24 school year. The report provides an overview of how the NWT education system is performing and helps education leaders, families, and the GNWT focus on improving student outcomes and well-being.

The 2023-24 report highlights areas of progress:

GNWT Announces New ‘NWT Community Planning Framework: Where We Live, Why We Plan’

The Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) is announcing the release of the NWT Community Planning Framework – Where We Live, Why We Plan. The framework serves as a departmental platform and strategic approach to promoting the community planning system in the Northwest Territories. It highlights the important role of community governments, the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs (MACA), and professional community planners in supporting the development of the land management tools, including community plans, zoning bylaws, and community land use plans.

GNWT Announces Appointment of New Public Board of Directors for NTPC and NT Hydro

The Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) is pleased to announce the appointment of a new public Board of Directors for the Northwest Territories Power Corporation (NTPC) and NT Hydro. As a Crown corporation, NTPC operates at arm’s length from the GNWT and will be guided by a ministerial letter outlining expectations and responsibilities. This transition marks an important step in strengthening governance and ensuring that oversight of the territory’s electricity system reflects the public interest.

NWT advocacy leads to increase in Immigration Nominee Program spaces

Minister Caitlin Cleveland is pleased to announce that Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has increased the Northwest Territories’ 2025 allocation for the Northwest Territories Nominee Program (NTNP) by 47 nominees, bringing the total to 197.

While this increase does not fully restore the territory’s allocation to 2024 levels— which had been cut in half by the previous federal government— the Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) welcomes these additional spaces and will continue to advocate for an increased allocation that corresponds to NWT needs.

GNWT Launches Interim Support Assistants Initiative to Maintain Classroom Supports

The Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) is allocating up to $14 million to implement the Support Assistants Initiative for the 2025–26 school year, ensuring students continue to receive the in-class support they need despite recent changes to federal funding.

The temporary initiative is a direct response to recent changes in federal funding under Jordan’s Principle – a program that has long provided vital supports to Indigenous students in schools throughout the Northwest Territories (NWT).

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