(October 10, 2013) - Good afternoon,

This news release is being distributed on behalf of the Provincial and Territorial Ministers Responsible for Seniors.

(October 9, 2013) - Distributed on behalf of the Provincial and Territorial Ministers Responsible for Seniors.

For more information, contact:

Damien Healy
Manager, Planning and Communications
Department of Health and Social Services
Tel: (867) 920-8927
Email: damien_healy@gov.nt.ca

NORMAN WELLS (October 9, 2013) – An NWT delegation has just returned from a tour of the Bakken oil formation in Saskatchewan and North Dakota. The trip stressed the importance of community and resident preparedness, the need to work closely with industry and community leaders to ensure development is done in an environmentally sustainable and safe way, and how other regions have dealt with rapid and profitable resource development.

YELLOWKNIFE (October 8, 2013) – The Northwest Territories (NWT), in partnership with the Council of Ministers of Education, Canada (CMEC), released the first national and jurisdictional results of the Programme for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIAAC) today. The results show current adult literacy rates across Canada and for the territory.

YELLOWKNIFE (October 7, 2013) – Seven Northwest Territories (NWT) students have been awarded $5,000 scholarships under the Northern Aviation Scholarship program (formerly the Aviation Career Development Program) for the 2013-2014 school year. The scholarships are given each year to students from the NWT and Nunavut who are pursuing full-time studies leading to a northern aviation career.

YELLOWKNIFE (October 4, 2013) - Minister of Human Resources Glen Abernethy announced the launch of a redesigned and improved website today.

“We are proud of the human resources programs and services offered to employees and clients,” said Minister Abernethy. “Investment in technologies to effectively improve internal communications on these programs and services means employees are better able to support the priorities of the Government and meet the expectations of Northerners for high quality services.”

YELLOWKNIFE (October 1, 2013) – The new Community Planning and Development Act and Regulations come into force on October 1, 2013. The new statute and regulations replace the Planning Act and provide more options for municipal governments to implement local solutions and direct local development.

YELLOWKNIFE (October 1, 2013) – The Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) has completed a redesign of its organizational structure to incorporate the devolving programs and services, Premier Bob McLeod announced today.  Some departments will be receiving significant new functions and new responsibilities as of April 1, 2014. This is when responsibility for managing land, water and resources transfers from the federal to the territorial government, in accordance with the NWT Lands and Resources Devolution Agreement.

YELLOWKNIFE (October 1, 2013) - Northwest Territories talent will be on the big screen this week at the 7th Annual Yellowknife International Film Festival, which kicks off tonight with an opening reception and film screenings at the Northern Arts and Cultural Centre.

Running from October 1-6, the Yellowknife International Film Festival is an annual event put on by Western Arctic Moving Pictures. This year’s event is also sponsored by the departments of Industry, Tourism and Investment (ITI) and Education, Culture and Employment (ECE).

YELLOWKNIFE (September 30, 2013) – Premier Bob McLeod announced today that Mark Warren has been named as the Deputy Minister for the Department of Lands effective April 1, 2014, the date on which the new department will be formally established.