Agreement on Protection for the Subsurface of Edéhzhié has been Achieved.

Premier Caroline Cochrane and Dehcho First Nations (DFN) Grand Chief Gladys Norwegian are pleased to announce today that the Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) is indefinitely extending a subsurface land withdrawal for the Edéhzhíe Protected Area. The extended withdrawal will complement this culturally and ecologically important region’s future designation as a National Wildlife Area.

The Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) is pleased to announce a new online application system for the NWT Nominee Program effective today.

Minister of Justice Caroline Wawzonek released a third-party program evaluation and social return on investment (SROI) study on the Integrated Case Management Pilot Program in Yellowknife. 

The Department of Industry, Tourism, and Investment is providing increased safety funding to commercial fishers working on the Great Slave Lake, Tathlina Lake, or Kakisa Lake.

Up to $10,000 (based on 2019 production) will be made available to individual fishers under the Commercial Fisheries Industry Safety Support Program to equip their fishing vessels with the safety equipment needed to meet both COVID-19 protection measures and Transport Canada’s Fishing Vessel Safety Regulations.

The Department of Industry, Tourism, and Investment will be opening its Northwest Territories (NWT) Parks Reservation system on Wednesday, June 10, 2020 for campsite bookings beginning Friday (June 12, 2020) at 5pm.

This decision is being made in anticipation of a move to Phase II of the Emerging Wisely Plan, the Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) path forward to emerging safely and wisely from the current COVID-19 public health restrictions.

As the rapid testing conversation heats up, the territory’s public health and frontline leadership are laying the territory’s testing strategy on-the-table in terms everyone can understand.

The two-page document covers topics on everyone’s mind like mass-testing, rapid testing, and asymptomatic testing – providing a rationale for the territory’s decisions on each.

Testing is the foundation of good pandemic response – allowing health professionals to identify, trace, and isolate cases and contacts to minimize community risk.

The Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment (ITI) has  waived tourism insurance requirements and licensing fees for the 2020-21 seasons as another element of short term relief for tourism operators.

Under the Tourism Act, all tourism operators providing tourism services in the NWT are required to have a valid Tourism Operator Licence (TOL) with prescribed support documents including proof of insurance.

The Minister of Health and Social Services announced today that the Northwest Territories Health and Social Service Authority (NTHSSA), the Hay River Health and Social Services Authority (HRHSSA) and the Tlicho Community Services Agency (TCSA) all received accreditation status from Accreditation Canada.

System accreditation is an important and major milestone for our health and social services system. It signals that our system meets fundamental national standards of practice, policies and programs.

A strong local supply-chain for critical Personal Protective Equipment has been secured for businesses and care providers.

NWT Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Kami Kandola has authorized two Northwest Territories manufacturers to create reusable face shields meeting Health Canada specifications for use in public settings in the NWT. 

Poison Graphics of Hay River and ArTech Engrave of Yellowknife each submitted rigorous proposals and specifications which were evaluated and accepted by Dr. Kandola and her public health staff.

Today Paulie Chinna, Minister responsible for the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation (NWTHC) announced that units previously identified for self-isolation purposes will be allocated to clients of NWTHC programs.

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic and on the guidance of the Emergency Management Organization (EMO), the NWTHC reserved approximately 130 units in 27 communities to ensure that individuals needing to self-isolate had options to do so safely while being supported through this difficult and challenging time.