Month In Review – Northwest Territories

LAWS & ANNOUNCEMENTS

Transportation Safety

Aug 14: The Rural and Northern Communities Infrastructure Stream of the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program is earmarking $15 million for safety improvements to one of the Northwest Territories’ most important transportation corridors. The money will be used to replace three aging culverts along Highway 8, part of the Yukon-NWT Dempster Highway corridor. Culverts are critical infrastructure that allow water to pass beneath a roadway.

New Laws

Aug 7: The federal government increased Northwest Territories’ 2026 allocation for the Nominee Program by 103 nominees, bringing the total allocation for the year to 300 and restoring the territories’ allocation to 2024 and 2025 levels. To accommodate the increase, the GNWT is adding an additional Expression of Interest draw on August 26, 2026.

New Laws

Aug 27: The Inuvialuit Community Economic Development Organization (ICEDO) will receive up to $885,225) from the Canadian Agricultural Strategic Priorities Program to create a reindeer herd agribusiness in the Inuvialuit Settlement Region. Founded in 1984, ICEDO is an Indigenous-owned not-for-profit entity that supports Inuit communities across the Region.

Drugs & Alcohol

Aug 10: The Government of Northwest Territories (GNWT) launched a pilot Quit Card Program to make it easier for residents to quit smoking by providing coverage for prescribed quit smoking medications. The Quit Card is a secure digital voucher accessed directly by pharmacies without residents actually displaying a card. The program will run until March 31, 2028.

Action Point: Take 5 steps to prevent workplace smoking and vaping and avoid fines under smoke-free laws.

Environmental

Aug 27: Northwest Territories announced its decision to add the northern leopard frog and western toad to the NWT List of Species at Risk. Northern leopard frog has been uplisted from Threatened to Endangered species. The Western toad will remain on the List as a Threatened species. Both listings will be effective for 10 years.