VANCOUVER – B.C. (October 15, 2015) Environment Minister Mary Polak and Northwest Territories Environment and Natural Resources Minister J. Michael Miltenberger signed an agreement today committing both governments to co-operatively manage water in the Mackenzie River Basin.

Through the British Columbia and Northwest Territories Bilateral Water Management Agreement, which focuses on the Liard and Petitot watersheds, both governments are committing to protecting the ecosystems within the basin, as well as the interests of all citizens, including First Nations.

YELLOWKNIFE (October 8, 2015) – The groundbreaking ceremony for the new state-of-the-art Stanton Territorial Hospital represents the beginning of the largest infrastructure project in the Northwest Territories history that will provide health care service for future generations of residents.

YELLOWKNIFE (October 8, 2015) – 65 teachers from across the Northwest Territories have returned to their communities with new skills and techniques for creating positive learning environments and helping students manage their own energy, emotions, behaviours and attention through self-regulation. The teachers took part in week-long training sessions hosted by the Department of Education, Culture and Employment last month.

YELLOWKNIFE (October 8, 2015) – Minister of Education, Culture and Employment Jackson Lafferty tabled the Skills 4 Success (S4S) 10-Year Strategic Framework yesterday, a strategy that focuses on improving employment success for Northwest Territories (NWT) residents by closing skill gaps for in-demand jobs and more effectively responding to community, employer and industry needs.

WHITEHORSE—Yukon and N.W.T. businesses and organizations joined delegates from both territorial governments and the cities of Whitehorse and Yellowknife for networking sessions and meetings last week to discuss areas of cooperation between both territories.

Representatives included: Yukon Minister of Tourism and Culture Elaine Taylor; N.W.T. Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment David Ramsay; City of Whitehorse Mayor Dan Curtis; and City of Yellowknife Mayor Mark Heyck.

YELLOWKNIFE (October 6, 2015) - Minister of Education, Culture and Employment (ECE) Jackson Lafferty released Strong Cultures, Strong Territory: The Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) Culture and Heritage Strategic Framework. The Framework will align the existing culture and heritage activities of all GNWT departments around shared goals and priorities. It will also serve as a cultural lens for future GNWT initiatives until 2025.

YELLOWKNIFE (October 5, 2015) – Each year during National Fire Prevention Week, the Honourable Robert C. McLeod, Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs, recognizes members of the NWT Fire Service for their work in protecting our families and homes from the threat of fire by awarding the annual Fire Service Merit Awards.

YELLOWKNIFE (October 2, 2015) – Minister of Health and Social Services Glen Abernethy has named Jim Antoine as Chairperson-Designate of the proposed Northwest Territories Health and Social Services Territorial Leadership Council.

YELLOWKNIFE (October 2, 2015) - Community leaders, Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) program delivery personnel and individuals leading community agricultural and small scale food initiatives in the North Slave Region will come together October 5 - 6 for an Agricultural Awareness and Planning Workshop in Yellowknife.

YELLOWKNIFE (October 2, 2015) –Workshops designed to assist families going through relationship breakdowns will be expanded further to allow residents of Fort Smith, Norman Wells and Inuvik to access services effective October 8, 2015.