LAWS & ANNOUNCEMENTS

New Laws 

Feb 9: DeBeers and joint-venture partner Mountain Province Diamonds put their planned expansion of the Gahcho Kué mine on pause, citing concerns about the "prevailing market environment." Although immediate economic impacts will likely be limited, the development is a sobering reminder of Northwest Territories' dependence on the diamond industry which makes up roughly 20% of its GDP.  

New Laws 

Jan 27: The GNWT's newly signed Memorandum of Understanding with Ottawa provides for Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency (CanNor) funding for projects to support local communities and drive sustainable economic growth in the Northwest Territories with the focus on critical minerals and major infrastructure development. 

New Laws 

Feb 9: Fuel price increases took effect in 14 communities serviced by the GNWT's Department of Infrastructure's Petroleum Products Program, including Tsiigehtchic, Colville Lake, Fort Good Hope, Délı̨nę, Tulita, Wrigley, Jean Marie River, Sambaa K'e, Whatì, Gamètì, Łutsël K'é, Sachs Harbour, Ulukhaktok, and Paulatuk. The next price change is scheduled for July 2026. 

Immigration 

Feb 18: The GNWT announced that the Northwest Territories Nominee Program's Employer-Driven and Francophone streams will open on March 9. Under the new selection process, employers must submit an Expression of Interest on behalf of a foreign national by registering, creating an online account, and selecting the Employer-Driven. The foreign national must then complete a survey for the GNWT to review and score using a points-based system that takes into account factors like work experience, labour market needs, education, language skills, and ties to the Territories. 

Action Point: Find out what companies and their HR directors need to know to navigate the immigration law maze. 

Privacy 

Jan 28: New legislation took effect to help the police investigate reports of missing persons in the Northwest Territories where no criminal investigation is underway. Under The Missing Persons Act, once a resident is established to be a missing person, police officers may request information contained in client records with an urgent demand, order for the production of records, or search warrant. The legislation also allows the RCMP to seek and gain access to information from professional partners (banks, education institutions, potential social workers, etc.) to assist with a missing persons investigation. 

Workplace Violence 

Jan 21: The new federal AssaultStyle Firearms Compensation Program (buyback program) began operating in the Northwest Territories. The federal government will administer the program independently while the GNWT focuses on its own police and community safety and firearms control activities.  

Action Point: Find out how to implement a legally sound and effective Workplace Violence Prevention Game Plan at your site. 

Drugs & Alcohol 

April 24 is the deadline to comment on a GNWT online survey gathering public feedback and ideas for improving the territory's mental wellness and addictions recovery services, including the effectiveness of the 811 line.  

Action Point: Drug and alcohol addictions are recognized as disabilities that employers must accommodate but only to the point of undue hardship. Find out how far employers must go to accommodate an employee's drug addiction.   

Workers' Compensation 

Jan 1: The WSCC's Daily Meal and Incidental Allowances for injured workers in Northwest Territories in 2026 are: $19.54 for breakfast ($16.27 for travel in Canada or the US outside Northwest Territories or Nunavut), $32.58 for lunch ($20.08), $40.51 for dinner ($34.54), and $17.30 for incidentals ($17.30).  

CASES

There are no cases to mention this month.