Results of water quality monitoring conducted by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources in July indicate this year’s prolonged high water levels have resulted in more suspended sediment than usual in the Hay and Slave Rivers.

As a result of the increased sediment, many metals associated with silt and clay particles were also found at higher than usual concentrations in both rivers for July. In the Slave River, some concentrations of dissolved metals were also elevated, but most were within the range of what has been measured historically in the rivers.

The Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) announced today that it will allocate $20.145 million to support the Northwest Territories’ Aviation Sector to continue essential air services during the COVID-19 pandemic.

This funding is part of the $75 million funding program announced by the Government of Canada to support essential air services to remote communities between July 1 and December 31, 2020. Transport Canada will provide $17.124 in new funding; while the GNWT will provide $3.021 million.

YELLOWKNIFE (September 10, 2020) – Regular surveillance to identify the presence or absence of COVID-19 will soon be possible because of a wastewater testing program initiated by the Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT).

This program will collect regular samples of wastewater (sewage) from Hay River, Yellowknife, Fort Smith, Inuvik, and Fort Simpson, which will be tested for COVID-19. 

The Governments of Northwest Territories (GNWT) and Canada have resumed long-term water quality monitoring at two key sites in northern Alberta and two sites in the Northwest Territories (NWT). This collaboration reflects the ongoing commitment by both governments to conduct important water quality monitoring at long-term monitoring stations. The quality of water is important for NWT residents and for the sustainability of the Mackenzie River Basin.

YELLOWKNIFE (September 4, 2020) –Premier Caroline Cochrane announced the following portfolio assignments for Members of the Executive Council today:

Today the Minister responsible for the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation (NWTHC), announced that the Transitional Rent Supplement Program (TRSP) has been extended to November 30, 2020.

The NWTHC and Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CHMC) continue to work collaboratively to implement the Canada Housing Benefit (CHB) and are currently finalizing the design elements.  The CHB will be a cost-shared program that will work to provide residents the support they require to access affordable rental housing.

Today, Caroline Cochrane, Premier of the Northwest Territories, formally announced the creation of the COVID-19 Coordinating Secretariat. The Secretariat will be responsible for managing the Government of the Northwest Territories’ (GNWT) response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The GNWT’s COVID-19 response to date has been multifaceted and has involved many government departments, non-government agencies and organizations from across the territory.

Today the Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) released a discussion paper seeking input on four proposed areas of teaching and research specialization for the polytechnic university that will guide transformational decision-making leading up to its launch.

Minister of Health and Social Services Diane Thom has extended the territory-wide Public Health Emergency under the Northwest Territories’ Public Health Act on the advice of Chief Public Health Officer (CPHO) Dr. Kami Kandola. 

The latest extension continues through September 15, 2020. 

The Public Health Emergency remains necessary in order to respond to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

The Government of the Northwest Territories is pleased to announce the addition of four new double-hulled barges to the Marine Transportation Services (MTS) fleet.

Built at a shipyard in Nanjing, China, the new barges were transported across the Pacific Ocean on the heavy lift ship Hua Yang Long before being delivered to Tuktoyaktuk on August 31, 2020.