(YELLOWKNIFE) Wednesday, September 10, 2025 – Dehcho MLA Calls Lack of Support During Wildfire Evacuation an 'Embarrassment', Calls For Full Reimbursement of Evacuees
Dehcho MLA Sheryl Yakeleya is reinforcing concerns her constituents are raising regarding the Fort Providence wildfire, Fire SS014, which in late August forced a full evacuation of the community and displaced its residents across the Territory and beyond.
In recent days, concerns about wildfire management and the support provided during displacement have intensified, as the hardships faced by her constituents continue to grow.
While MLA Yakeleya expressed relief in a September 5th interview with Cabin Radio that her constituents were safe, she must emphasize clearly that safety alone is not a sufficient measure of her constituent’s well-being, nor of the adequacy of the Government of the Northwest Territories’ response.
Since the beginning of the evacuation, MLA Yakeleya has grown increasingly frustrated with the Territorial Government’s response, particularly its organization of support for her constituents. Many evacuees were forced to pay out of pocket for transportation and suitable accommodations, often relying on the generosity of community members who stepped up to collect donations and book rooms for their neighbours – a responsibility they should not have had to shoulder.
“I understand resources are limited in the Northwest Territories, but that doesn’t excuse the inadequate support my constituents received for basic needs like meals and accommodations. Many felt they received better support when previously evacuated to the south than when evacuated within their home Territory.” stated MLA Yakeleya.
Constituents have highlighted how similar these circumstances feel to the 2023 wildfire in Enterprise – as both wildfires were monitored for months before they expanded uncontrollably into the direction of a respective community. Many are left wondering if the wildfire been taken more seriously all this time, would residents be sleeping comfortably in their homes instead of on cots in evacuation centres?
MLA Yakeleya stresses that many of these same questions and issues were raised in previous years and were subject to serious debate in the Legislative Assembly and studied extensively in several after action reports. Northerners deserve better, and the fact that the government has yet to figure out how to take care of its residents during natural disasters is an embarrassment.
Moreover, failing to address these wildfires before they reached crisis levels diverting vital resources away from critical investments in the Dehcho riding - such as housing and healthcare – has resulted in costly disaster response efforts instead.
While firefighting efforts near Fort Providence continue and many details of this evacuation are still emerging, the first step MLA Yakeleya is urging the Government of the Northwest Territories to take is to reimburse all evacuees for their hotel accommodations—regardless of where they chose to stay.
For further information, please contact:
Public Affairs and Communications
Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly
@email