Effective immediately and until further notice, a fire ban is in effect for Hidden Lake Territorial Park.

Paddlers and campers are advised to use only camp stoves for cooking.

Information about fire bans and territorial park closures can be found under alerts on Industry, Tourism and Investment’s NWT Parks website.

You can also follow NWT Parks on twitter at @NWTParks or Facebook at fb.com/nwtparks for updates.

For media requests, please contact:

Drew Williams

Due to current weather conditions, the Town of Hay River has banned open air fires within municipal boundaries.

Effective immediately and until further notice, a fire ban is now also in place for the Hay River Territorial Park and campground.

Camp stoves, enclosed BBQs and propane-fueled cooking and heating devices are permitted for use in NWT Parks. They must be placed within regulation fire pits and should not emit a flame more than 0.5 metres in diameter and 0.5 metres in height.

A suspected anthrax outbreak is underway in the Slave River Lowlands bison population.

15 bison carcasses were found in the Slave River Lowlands between Fort Smith and Fort Resolution over the weekend of June 30 – July 3, 2023.

Test results are currently pending. However, this is being treated as an active outbreak because of preliminary evidence observed and collected in the field.

Accordingly, the Anthrax Emergency Response Plan has been activated.

Background on the response plan

The Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) is seeking public feedback on proposed changes to the Income Assistance Regulations and the newly developed Income Assistance for Seniors and Persons with Disabilities Regulations.

The proposed regulations are in support of the changes being made to the Income Assistance program based on feedback received through public engagement, which was shared in the What We Heard Report.

The deadline to request a Disaster Assistance Advance for those affected by the 2022 flood in Hay River has been extended to July 31, 2023. It is critical that those who intend to apply for a Disaster Assistance Advance have their documentation in by that deadline so that their request can be processed. Pathfinders are available to assist with documentation and to answer questions.

The Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) is looking for two members of the public to join the Art Selection Committee for a two-year term starting September 1, 2023.

The Art Selection Committee evaluates applications for the Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre’s (PWNHC) Mezzanine Gallery exhibit space on an annual basis. This is the first-time members from the arts community are being invited to participate and contribute to the selection of artwork that will be on display at the museum.

Marine Transportation Services’ (MTS) 2023 resupply season has started with the MV Vic Ingraham leaving Hay River on June 27, 2023, towing six barges with petroleum products and cargo.

This is the first of six sailings planned from the Hay River terminal this season, which will be MTS’ seventh sailing season.

During the 2023 marine resupply season, MTS will deliver fuel and cargo to 10 NWT communities and one Nunavut community. These communities include:

The Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) has begun releasing the adapted draft Junior Kindergarten to Grade 12 (JK-12) curriculum as part of its shift to British Columbia’s curricular framework.

All Northwest Territories (NWT) schools will begin trialing the draft curriculum in some or all subjects, depending on region, in Grades 4-6 and Grade 9 in the 2023-24 school year.

The Department of Education, Culture and Employment (ECE) and its education partners want to ensure that the curriculum is reflective of NWT communities and contexts.

Effective today, fuel prices in 10 Northwest Territories communities have been updated following the winter resupply program.

Adjustments include reductions in pricing for some fuels in some communities, particularly Gamètı̀, Jean Marie River and Tsiigehtchic, as well as increases in heating and motive fuel for Délı̨nę and Colville Lake. Similar adjustments in fuel prices are in effect for government customers in the 10 winter resupply communities.

The Government of the Northwest Territories recognizes June 15 as World Elder Abuse Awareness Day as part of Seniors' Month and the 2019-2023 mandate to enable seniors to age in place with dignity.

In March 2023, the Government of the Northwest Territories launched the You have a Right to be Safe in Your Home and in Your Community campaign. This campaign will be used to mark World Elder Abuse Awareness Day in the Northwest Territories to create greater awareness and understanding of elder abuse, its contributing factors, and the help and supports available.