Minister of Health and Social Services, Julie Green 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 December 22, 2020. 

The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated considerably across Canada in recent weeks as the country’s caseload surged to its highest point in the pandemic.

The Mobile Core Bathurst Caribou Management Zone (Mobile Zone) is now in effect for the 2020/21 winter season. This no-harvest zone is one of several management actions established by the GNWT and co-management partners to protect the declining Bathurst caribou herd.

It is illegal to harvest caribou within the Mobile Zone.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (ENR) actively monitors caribou and hunters in the area. If you are caught harvesting in the Mobile Zone, you may be charged under the Wildlife Act.

The Department of Education, Culture and Employment (ECE) is now accepting nominations for the 2020 Minister’s Culture and Heritage Awards. The awards recognize the efforts of members of the community who work to strengthen the arts, culture, heritage and languages of the Northwest Territories.  Recipients are chosen from nominations put forward by other northerners in five different categories.

The Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs, Paulie Chinna has extended the State of Emergency in the City of Yellowknife. This extension is being made under s.14 of the Emergency Management Act.

The extension continues through December 18, 2020.

This State of Emergency was initially instated to address the need for additional shelter space as a result of ongoing capacity limitations due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

On November 25^th, 2020 at 09:55am, the Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) will issue a live test of NWT Alert, the Northwest Territories public alerting system. Residents may see and hear the public alert test on wireless devices, radio stations and cable networks across the NWT.

NWT Alert is being developed to provide public alerts to NWT residents during emergencies and disasters and is part of the national public alerting system “Alert Ready”. The NWT system is currently under development with full implementation expected in 2021.

Beginning January 1st, 2021, the Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) will resume collecting aircraft landing fees, lease fees, concession fees, and licence fees for all businesses operating at all NWT airports.

The GNWT introduced three rounds of economic stimulus measures to help support airlines and businesses that operate at all NWT airports that are being impacted by COVID-19. 

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources would like to advise the public of higher than normal water levels and flow rates on many lakes, rivers and streams across the Northwest Territories (NWT).

Many water bodies in the NWT experienced record high water levels during the summer of 2020 due to significant rain and snow. These high water levels have continued during the fall and will likely remain throughout the winter.

The Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs, Paulie Chinna has extended the State of Emergency in the City of Yellowknife. This extension is being made under s.14 of the Emergency Management Act.

The extension continues through December 4, 2020.

This State of Emergency was initially instated to address the need for additional shelter space as a result of ongoing capacity limitations due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Drivers are advised that the speed limit has been increased from 70 km/h to 80 km/h on the Ingraham Trail (Highway 4) from kilometre 0 to 7.5 (junction of Highways 3 and 4 to Yellowknife River).

The limit was increased this week after improvements were made to the highway during the summer and fall of 2020.

Signs reflecting the new speed limit have been installed.

The Government of Northwest Territories is pleased to announce that it is now accepting applications for the 2021 Anti-Poverty Fund. The annual $1 million Fund can be used to support poverty reduction initiatives in NWT communities.

NWT Indigenous governments and community governing authorities as well as non-government organizations who demonstrate partnership or support from an Indigenous or community governing authority can apply for funding.