Health and Social Services Minster Lesa Semmler issued the following media statement today regarding Emergency Department Coverage at Stanton Territorial Hospital and Support for Physicians Across the NWT.

“As Minister responsible for Health and Social Services, I want to reassure residents that the Stanton Territorial Hospital Emergency Department (ED) will remain open and closure of our ED is not being considered, as has previously been shared by the Public Administrator and Northwest Territories Health and Social Services Authority (NTHSSA). Work continues behind the scenes to prioritize solutions that ensure continuity of care while supporting the health professionals who make this possible. Although there are currently some unfilled shifts in the coming weeks, the NTHSSA has contingency plans in place and are working daily to fill any remaining gaps.

We acknowledge and appreciate the concerns raised by the NWT Medical Association about the pressures facing our health-care system. The strain is real, and addressing it is our top priority. We believe these issues can be addressed most effectively through direct dialogue with NTHSSA leadership, allowing operational teams to act promptly without causing unnecessary public anxiety. We remain committed to engaging constructively with all staff and partners, including the NWTMA, to strengthen our workforce and avoid further disruption.

Our highest priority is providing the best possible care to the clients who access our services. To deliver these services we rely on the dedicated health care professionals who are at the core of our healthcare system. Across every region, physicians, nurses, allied health professionals, support staff, and administrators are delivering care, mentoring teams, and advancing change through leadership, clinical innovation, and service. Their voices and expertise have helped shape many of the steps currently underway, which include:

• Updated Locum Physician Rates (effective June 1, 2025):
  Following eight months of collaboration between the NTHSSA, Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS), Hay River Health and Social Services Authority (HRHSSA), and Tłı̨chǫ Community Services Agency (TCSA), new rates will take effect that improve competitiveness and stability. These changes include:
  • A long-term locum incentive pilot to reward 75+ service days per year;
  • Increased daily locum rates with a focus on hard-to-recruit positions;
  • A new standard travel stipend for fairness and consistency;
  • Night shift premiums for Stanton ED to improve short-notice coverage.
• New Staffing Model at Stanton ED:
  Co-designed by Stanton’s ED group, this physician-led model has been approved for phased implementation beginning in July and will introduce four Emergency Room Physician (ERP) shifts per day to better distribute workloads, improve patient care, and reduce burnout.
• Enhanced Physician Services Funding:
  The physician services budget now reflects baseline operational needs, allowing for more appropriate long-term planning. This includes support for medical leadership roles such as Medical Directors and an Assistant Territorial Medical Director, recruitment, and workforce retention strategies.
• Ongoing Recruitment Success:
  Thanks to ongoing targeted efforts from staff across the system, new hires will soon join the physician team, including at Stanton Territorial Hospital and in the Yellowknife Region. This speaks to the welcoming clinical environment and collaborative culture we are proud to foster.

I also want to highlight the broader contributions physicians—both locum and permanent—make across our system, from leading care in rural and remote communities to driving primary care reform and shaping safer, more sustainable services. Equally, the commitment of nurses, allied health professionals, support staff, and administrators across the NWT underpins every improvement we achieve. Your hard work matters, it is seen and deeply valued. Across the health and social services system, it’s clear that staff want to receive information about ongoing work and efforts to improve, in-person and often. Work to enhance internal information sharing continues, and to ensure we are responding effectively to the challenges raised, the DHSS, NTHSSA, HRHSSA and TSCA have hosted a series of staff town halls across the territory. These discussions, which I was able to attend over the last year, have brought forward honest and meaningful feedback about leadership, culture, and operational realities. This input has already helped inform system-wide improvements and will continue to guide us as we work to build a more responsive and sustainable health system.

I am grateful for the continued efforts of all staff and physicians working across the NWT. This is difficult work, and we are committed to listening and responding to concerns. Finally, I want to reaffirm my full confidence in the Public Administrator and the NTHSSA leadership team, who are working hard to maintain—and continually strengthen—health care services across the territory. Meaningful improvements take time. The challenges we face—like those confronting jurisdictions across Canada—demand thoughtful, long-term planning. Progress will not appear overnight, but the work behind-the-scenes is beginning to show tangible results. Our teams are maximizing their capacity and every available resource to move these improvements forward.”

For media requests, please contact:
Cabinet Communications
Government of the Northwest Territories
PressSecretary@gov.nt.ca