Month In Review – Northwest Territories

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Month In Review – Northwest Territories

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LAWS & ANNOUNCEMENTS

New Laws

Ju1 16: The Government of Northwest Territories (GNWT) and Canada Water Agency signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to advance protection and stewardship of freshwater ecosystems across the territories. The two-year MOU establishes a framework for cooperation on issues affecting northern waters and recognizes the unique position of the Northwest Territories as the ultimate downstream jurisdiction within the Mackenzie River Basin.

Immigration

Jul 8: The federal Francophone Immigration Support Program is providing $860,000 for a new project to increase Northwest Territories’ French-speaking population. The money will be used to improve access to information on immigration, raise awareness of the Northwest Territories Nominee Program and other federal immigration programs, support recognition of foreign credentials held by temporary residents, and strengthen employer involvement in immigration processes in communities outside Yellowknife.

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

New Laws

Jul 15: The GNWT took over responsibility for Ekati Mine in Receivership. The move comes after a court-supervised restructuring and sale process initiated by Arctic Canadian Diamond Company Ltd. and Burgundy Diamonds (Canada) Ltd. under the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act failed to provide a viable solution to allow continued operation of the Ekati mine. Since the companies can’t afford to operate it, the GNWT will take over the mine.

New Laws

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.

Health & Safety

Jul 9: The GNWT confirmed a case of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI), aka bird flu, in a herring gull in Fort Smith. The transmission risk to humans remains very low. There have been 16 confirmed cases of HPAI in birds in the Northwest Territories since 2022.

Action Point: Find out how to create a legally and clinically sound workplace Exposure Control Plan to protect your employees against the risk of HPAI and other infectious illnesses.

Health & Safety

August 10: August 10 is the deadline to apply to the Workers’ Safety & Compensation Commission (WSCC) 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.

Workers’ Compensation

August 5: August 5 is the deadline to comment to the WSCC on proposed changes to Policy 05.02, Vocational Rehabilitation Services and Programs. Under current rules, vocational rehabilitation begins with vocational exploration, which is used to develop a vocational rehabilitation plan (VR Plan) identifying the injured worker’s return-to-work goals and establishing time frames to obtain suitable work and/or regain employability.