Month In Review – Northwest Territories

LAWS & ANNOUNCEMENTS

Workers’ Compensation

Jun 22: From now through August 10, the Workers’ Safety & Compensation Commission (WSCC) is accepting applications for Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Funding Program support from service providers that help Northwest Territories and Nunavut employers improve workplace safety and comply with OHS requirements. Applicants can request between $5,000 to $250,000 per year, per initiative.

Transportation Safety

Jun 16: The Government of Northwest Territories (GNWT) is investing $140 million in highway infrastructure improvements across this summer. Maintenance and reconstruction will take place on highways and access roads. The Northwest Territories transportation system includes 3,873 kilometres of all-weather highways, winter roads, and access roads, 27 airports, four ferries/ice crossings, and over 350 bridges and major structures.

Transportation Safety

Jun 24: Transport Canada’s Airports Capital Assistance Program announced that it’s investing over $1.2 million to improve air safety and connectivity at the Yellowknife Airport. The money will be used for the design and installation of a Runway End Safety Area (RESA) at Runway 16.

New Laws

Jun 15: The GNWT began phasing in increases to compliance and licensing fees, including a 6.7% increase to driver’s licence registrations fees and electromechanical work permit renewals. Specific fees related to National Safety Code (NSC) commercial vehicles weighing over 4,500 kilograms take effect on July 1, 2026, including a 2.3% increase to Deh Cho Bridge tolls for such vehicles. From 2027 to 2030, these fees will increase annually on April 1 by 4.4% plus the previous year’s Consumer Price Index (CPI).

Industry Challenges

Jun 11: The GNWT is implementing a more transparent government contracting complaint process. Under the new Vendor Complaint Process, vendors will be able to raise concerns earlier in the procurement process by submitting complaints during the solicitation period and before bid submissions are due. The updated process also introduces a protest period, allowing eligible vendors to formally challenge procurement decisions within a defined timeframe before a contract is awarded.

Workers’ Compensation

Jun 4: Newly passed legislation makes post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) presumably work-related when victims are firefighters or first responders. Bill 48 also adds 13 cancers to the list of 14 presumptive coverage cancers for firefighters, expands presumptive coverage to include more heart-related conditions, and broadens the definition of “firefighter” to include workers involved in fire inspection and investigation. Effective date: January 1, 2027.

Action Point: Find out about workers’ comp coverage of PTSD and mental stress in different parts of Canada.