Vince McKay: Update on Emergency Management Activities

Check against delivery

Mr. Speaker, the 2025 emergency season once again tested the strength and resilience of our territory. It showed the courage and dedication of those who step forward in times of crisis to protect residents and communities. It also reinforced that the changes and improvements we have made since 2023 are making a real difference in how we respond and recover.

I want to begin by recognizing and thanking everyone who worked on the frontlines over this Emergency season. Our wildfire crews, community firefighters and first responders often put themselves in situations where there was great risk, working to contain and suppress fires threatening our communities. Their skill and determination helped keep people safe, slowed advancing wildfires, and gave residents time to evacuate safely.

This year again several communities faced significant challenges.
Jean Marie River faced multiple evacuation alerts this summer and residents in Whatì and Fort Providence had to leave their homes in order to ensure their safety. The task of hosting evacuated communities is a complex responsibility. Hay River, Behchokǫ̀ and Yellowknife stepped up to host and care for evacuees.  The collaboration of leadership, including Indigenous and community governments, non-government organizations, volunteers and local businesses in supporting evacuees was impressive and inspiring.  

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the United Way and Salvation Army and all the Local Emergency Management Organizations, their staff, and volunteers, for once again stepping up to help. These organizations are instrumental in assisting where urgent responses are needed.

I also thank all the residents who demonstrate compassion and resilience in helping the evacuees during this challenging time. You are the example of what we mean when we say better together”.

Mr. Speaker, since the 2023 Emergency Response After-Action Review, the Government of the Northwest Territories has made measurable progress. The After-Action Review process provided clear direction on how to improve coordination, strengthen communication, and better support communities before, during, and after emergencies.

Of the 35 recommendations, only one was disagreed with. The Government of the Northwest Territories has established an integrated emergency management system that is both flexible and responsive. This system now includes improved governance and accountability, regional emergency coordinators, and strengthened capacity and strategic support.

These recommendations have many actions already underway. We have implemented new processes for information-sharing between departments and communities, enhanced training for staff and partners, clarified roles and responsibilities for all levels of government and agencies, committed to a review of the Emergency Management Act in partnership with Indigenous and community governments, increased our surge capacity to support large-scale responses. The GNWT has also expanded use of the Incident Command System to ensure consistent coordination across all levels of government.

While the Government of the Northwest Territories will not create a standalone Emergency Management Agency, we will commit to enhancing our training, protocols and governance structure. A standalone agency is not feasible for the NWT given the NWT’s small population, limited fiscal and human resources, and the infrequency of large-scale emergencies requiring sustained territorial-level response. A separate agency would be costly, duplicative, and difficult to staff.

Looking ahead, we know that emergencies will continue to challenge our territory.
Climate change is making wildfire seasons longer and more intense, and we must be ready. Of the lessons this government has learned, perhaps one of the most important is this: to respond effectively and efficiently to the unique needs of all our communities, big or small, emergency response in the north can not be a one size fits all proposition.  The Government of the Northwest Territories continues to create opportunities for engagement and collaboration with local leadership who know their communities best.  

Our focus remains on building stronger partnerships, improving communication, and ensuring that residents feel supported and confident when emergencies occur.  A key part of this work is supporting community governments in developing and testing their community emergency plans.  The work continues to strengthen community preparedness through workshops and tabletop exercises so that everyone is ready for emergencies when a crisis arises.

The Government of the Northwest Territories will continue to invest in surge capacity training, including Incident Command System training, to ensure a robust foundation of support.  In addition, we continue to work with partners through exercises like Operation Nanook, which allow us to test our systems in real-world scenarios and improve coordination across all levels of government.  By taking these steps, we are building an emergency management system that is stronger, more inclusive, and better prepared for the challenges ahead.

Mr. Speaker, the people of the Northwest Territories have once again shown that they are resilient, resourceful, and caring.  Since 2021, we have faced five consecutive years of major emergency events, three of which resulted in disasters that affected thousands of residents and businesses and caused significant damage to communities.  The progress we have made through our Be Ready Campaign in planning and preparedness is paying off.

We have come a long way to strengthening our emergency management system.  We see collective involvement across all phases: planning, preparedness, and response. There have been improvements on how wildfires have been fought, and we support those with enhanced approaches to wildland–urban interface structural protection firefighting.

While we know there is always more to learn, it is important to recognize how far we have come.  The lessons of the past five years have strengthened our collective knowledge, and we continue to improve how we respond to emergencies.  

The GNWT will continue to stand with communities before, during, and after emergencies, ensuring we are building on what we have learned to be even stronger in the future.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.