Protecting the health and safety of residents and communities is of the highest priority to the Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) as we begin to prepare to reopen schools for the 2021-22 school year.

To safeguard the health and safety of students and school staff during the COVID-19 pandemic, schools will follow the recommendations of the NWT Chief Public Health Officer (CPHO), while supporting the learning and well-being of all NWT students.

The Government of the Northwest Territories has identified three priorities for new waste management programming in the NWT.

These priorities are:

1. Used oil recycling programs
2. Expansion of electronics recycling
3. Used tire recycling program

Working with the Waste Resource Advisory Panel (WRAP) and the Waste Reduction and Recovery Advisory Committee (WRRAC), these priorities were identified after assessing the human and environmental health impacts of landfilling and the feasibility of diversion programming for various materials.

Residents in the Northwest Territories (NWT) are being encouraged to make the push to reach 75 percent uptake for full vaccination (2 doses) in the territory. Higher vaccination rates will help to ensure protection for individuals, families, and communities as fall approaches and the Delta variant of COVID-19 becomes more prevalent across the country.

The “Drive to 75%” will include additional vaccine clinic opportunities, and ongoing promotions through the month of August.

The FireSmart® Starts in Your Backyard contest is back – this time focusing on the Ingraham Trail.

The contest is meant to encourage folks to practice FireSmart® principles to reduce their risk of wildfire damage.

FireSmart® principles are proven to work – taking simple, often inexpensive, steps can help protect homes and cabins from wildfires – even if it reaches the property.

All Ingraham Trail residents and cabin owners are eligible for the contest.

Here’s how it works:

The Northwest Territories Cumulative Impact Monitoring Program is providing $1.7 million in 2021/22 to support 28 monitoring and research projects. Funding recipients include Indigenous governments and organizations, universities and territorial and federal government departments.

A new social marketing campaign – We Need to Talk about this Stuff –launched today features videos that profile  six northerners who share personal reflections about substance use and how it has affected their mental wellness.

The Government of the Northwest Territories has launched a Public Engagement Web Portal.

Available through the GNWT’s website (www.gov.nt.ca/engagements), this online resource will be the main location for all public engagement opportunities with the territorial government. The purpose of the portal is to provide NWT residents easier access to information related to public engagement sessions and to allow residents of the NWT an improved opportunity to have their voices heard.

The Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) and Kátł'odeeche First Nation (KFN) are pleased to announce the official opening ceremony of the Kátł’odeh Bridge, on Highway 5 just east of the Town of Hay River and south of the Hay River Dene Reserve.  Kátł’odeh means ‘willow grass river’ in Dene Yati and refers to the Hay River.

Today, Chief April Martel, and Diane Archie, Minister of Infrastructure, declared the bridge open with drum prayers and a ribbon cutting.

Today, R.J. Simpson, Minister of Justice, announced that amendments to the territory’s Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act (ATIPP Act) are now in effect. These amendments  will strengthen access to information and privacy protections for NWT residents.

Julie Green, Minister of Health and Social Services announced this year’s recipients of the Healthy Choices Fund. Eleven eligible organizations received funding to help maximize the impact of health promotion and activities that support individuals, families and communities in making positive lifestyle choices.

Some of this year’s successful proposals include: