With the risk of COVID rising during the holiday season, the Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) has released Holiday Guidelines to help Northwest Territories (NWT) residents and communities celebrate safely during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Guidelines are based on Public Health Orders and include best practices for making the season merry while protecting ourselves and each other.

Key guidance on celebrating this holiday season includes:

 The attached is being distributed on behalf  of the Government of Nunavut, the Government of Yukon, and the Government of the Northwest Territories.

Today, the Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) announced preliminary plans to roll out the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine between January and March 2021.

Once authorized for distribution by Health Canada, the NWT will receive enough of the Moderna vaccine to immunize 75% of NWT residents 18 years of age or older.  

The Growth and Recovery by Investing in Tourism (GRIT) Fund will see approximately $3 million invested in the tourism industry in the NWT to help operators and businesses recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Funded in partnership with the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency (CanNor), the GRIT Fund was introduced in August 2020 to respond specifically to the needs of the tourism industry post COVID-19.     

The fund was both extended and increased before closing in October.

The attached is being released on behalf of the Intergovernmental Council of the Northwest Territories

An additional $100K is being invested in four exploration projects supported by the Mining Incentive Program (MIP).

The new funding is consistent with the Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT)’s commitment to increase mining incentive programs by 50% over the next four years in order to attract and support both early-stage and advanced exploration projects.

Along with the new funding, $20K from an earlier-funded project which did not proceed has also been re-distributed.

The Northwest Territories Housing Corporation (NWTHC) created the Community Housing Support program to support Indigenous and Community Governments to implement and innovative, community-driven housing projects. More affordable housing continues to be developed through the Community Housing Support program in partnership with communities.  Today, the Minister Responsible for NWTHC, Paulie Chinna, is pleased to announce two new agreements under this program with two more communities, Nahanni Butte and Colville Lake.

The Government of Northwest Territories (GNWT), with support from Indigenous Services Canada, is pleased to announce that visiting dental service teams are cleared to resume operations in the Northwest Territories  (NWT).

The following NWT communities are ready to resume service. Their facilities have met facility infrastructure dental care standards and the Chief Public Health Officer has issued COVID-19 precautions and approval:

·       Fort Providence

·       Sambaa K’e

·       Fort Simpson

·       Norman Wells

Child and Family Services (CFS)  continues to make progress in transforming its system to meet the needs of children and youth in its care. Since the  last progress report update in July 2020, CFS  has completed 54% of action items within the Quality Improvement Plan.

Progress on key actions includes:

·       Joint funding with the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs to the Foster Family Coalition of the NWT to pilot a youth in care network. This is being piloted virtually through the Gaining Life Skills Our Way (GLOW) program.

Enabling seniors to age in place with dignity is a priority for the 19^th legislative Assembly. Today, Paulie Chinna, Minister responsible for the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation announced the completion of renovations to the Deh Gáh Got’ıe Koe Seniors complex in Fort Providence.