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Legislative Assembly Lowers Flags to Half‑Mast in Honour of Tumbler Ridge Victims

(YELLOWKNIFE) Thursday, February 12, 2026 – The Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly extends its deepest condolences to the community of Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia, following the tragic shooting that occurred on February 10 th. Our thoughts are with the families, loved ones, and all those affected by this heartbreaking event. To honour the victims and stand in solidarity with the community, flags at the Legislative Assembly will be lowered to half‑mast effective immediately. “On behalf of the House, I extend our deepest condolences to all those impacted by the tragic and horrendous...

19th Assembly Fall Caucus Retreat

(FORT SMITH, NT) August 27, 2020 - Caucus of the 19th Legislative Assembly will meet for three days on August 29th in the Thebacha constituency. Members of the Legislative Assembly and support staff will travel to Fort Smith, Northwest Territories, in order to create dialogue on issues the Legislature currently faces. Members will also meet with leaders from the Salt River First Nation, Northwest Territory Métis First Nation, and the town of Fort Smith. “We really need this caucus retreat right now. It is clear we have lots of work to do for the territory and amongst ourselves as MLAs. The...

2021 Recipients of the Order of the Northwest Territories Announced

(YELLOWKNIFE) Thursday, February 16, 2023 – The Order of the Northwest Territories Honours Advisory Council is pleased to announce the 2021 recipients of the Order of the Northwest Territories as: Mrs. JoAnne Deneron of Fort Liard Mr. Paul Kaeser II of Fort Smith Mrs. Mary Effie Snowshoe of Fort McPherson The Order of the Northwest Territories, established in 2013 by the Territorial Emblems and Honours Act, recognizes individuals who have served with the greatest distinction and excelled in any field of endeavour benefiting the people of the NWT or elsewhere. It is the highest honour awarded...

2021-2022 GNWT Budget Approved

Yellowknife (March 31, 2021) – Members of the Legislative Assembly approved the Main Estimates for the 2021-2022 fiscal year. Initially presented on February 4, the 2021-2022 Budget is proposing to spend $2 billion on programs and services in 2021-22. Over the past several weeks, every Minister and senior officials appeared before Standing Committees and also in the Committee of the Whole within the Legislative Assembly to review individual Department budgets. In addition, Minister of Finance Caroline Wawzonek and representatives of the Standing Committee on Accountability and Oversight...

2022 Recipients of the Order of the Northwest Territories

(YELLOWKNIFE) Tuesday, August 15, 2023 – The Order of the Northwest Territories Honours Advisory Council is pleased to announce the 2022 recipients of the Order of the Northwest Territories as: Mrs. Jane Dragon of Fort Smith Mr. Richard Van Camp of Edmonton, AB Mrs. Suzette Montreuil of Yellowknife The Order of the Northwest Territories, established in 2013 by the Territorial Emblems and Honours Act, recognizes individuals who have served with the greatest distinction and excelled in any field of endeavour benefiting the people of the NWT or elsewhere. It is the highest honour awarded to NWT...

2022 Recipients of the Order of the Northwest Territories Announced

(YELLOWKNIFE) Thursday, February 16, 2023 – The Order of the Northwest Territories Honours Advisory Council is pleased to announce the 2022 recipients of the Order of the Northwest Territories as: Mrs. JoAnne Deneron of Fort Liard Mr. Paul Kaeser II of Fort Smith Mrs. Mary Effie Snowshoe of Fort McPherson The Order of the Northwest Territories, established in 2013 by the Territorial Emblems and Honours Act, recognizes individuals who have served with the greatest distinction and excelled in any field of endeavour benefiting the people of the NWT or elsewhere. It is the highest honour awarded...

2023 Election Year Guidelines for Members

The Legislative Assembly’s Board of Management adopts guidelines for the use of public funds by Members of the Legislative Assembly. Document 2023_election_year_guidelines_updated_for_bom.pdf

2023 Recipients of the Order of the Northwest Territories Announced

(YELLOWKNIFE) Tuesday, July 9, 2024 – The Order of the Northwest Territories Honours Advisory Council is pleased to announce the 2023 inductees of the Order of the Northwest Territories: Mrs. Helen Balanoff formerly of Yellowknife Ms. Mary Teya of Fort McPherson Mr. Richard Hardy formerly of Tulita Established in 2013 by the Territorial Emblems and Honours Act, the Order of the Northwest Territories recognizes individuals who have served with the greatest distinction and excelled in any field of endeavor benefiting the people of the NWT or elsewhere. It is the highest honour awarded to NWT...

2023 Recipients of the Order of the Northwest Territories Ceremony

(YELLOWKNIFE) Wednesday October 9, 2024 – The Order of the Northwest Territories Honours Advisory Council is pleased to announce the 2023 recipients of the Order of the Northwest Territories as: Mrs. Mary Teya of Fort McPherson Mrs. Helen Balanoff formerly of Yellowknife Mr. Richard (Rick) Hardy of Tulita The Order of the Northwest Territories, established in 2013 by the Territorial Emblems and Honours Act, recognizes individuals who have served with the greatest distinction and excelled in any field of endeavour benefiting the people of the NWT or elsewhere. It is the highest honour awarded...

2025-26 Electoral Boundaries Commission Final Report

(YELLOWKNIFE) Wednesday, March 4, 2026 – 2025-26 Electoral Boundaries Commission Final Report On Friday February 27, 2026, the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, the Hon. Shane Thompson, tabled the 2025-26 Electoral Boundaries Commission Final Report, as presented by the Electoral Boundaries Commission. In accordance with the Electoral Boundaries Commission Act, the electoral boundaries Commission was required to be established within two years of the 2023 general election. The Commission, established in May 2025, is composed of the following five members, appointed by the Commissioner of...

20th Legislative Assembly – Members Swearing-In Ceremony

YELLOWKNIFE - Monday, November 20, 2023 – Members of the 20th Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly will be sworn in on Friday, November 24, at 10:30 am in the Chamber. Before assuming their position, each Member of the Legislative Assembly must take the official Oath of Office before the Commissioner of the NWT. They must pledge to both the Oath of Allegiance of the Fifth Schedule of the Constitution Act, 1867, and the Oath of Loyalty to the people of the Northwest Territories as defined in the Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act. Members of the media and the public are...

20th Legislative Assembly Regular Members to Update Public on State of 20th Legislative and Consensus Government

(YELLOWKNIFE) Wednesday, February 12, 2025 – Regular Members of the 20th Legislative Assembly will address the public tomorrow, February 13, 2025, at 12:00 PM, providing an update on the state of the 20th Legislative Assembly and Consensus Government. The public conference will be held to share key developments, priorities, and achievements of the current legislative term. Location: Great Hall For further information, please contact: Public Affairs and Communications Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly @email

About Hansard

What is Hansard? Hansard is the name of the daily near verbatim transcript of the Legislative Assembly’s proceedings. All Canadian provinces and territories, and the Canadian House of Commons, produce their own Hansard. Why do we have Hansard and who uses it? Hansard provides a public, accessible, permanent, and near word-for-word transcript of proceedings of what the Members of the Legislative Assembly discuss while they’re in Session. Through Hansard, NWT residents can review House proceedings, including commitments from the Cabinet and Regular Members, questions asked by MLAs on behalf of...

About the Legislative Assembly

The Legislative Assembly is the seat of elected government in the Northwest Territories. Members are elected every four years as independents from each of the 19 ridings to serve in a unique consensus government that is studied and admired the world over. It is essentially a parliament led by a permanent minority; members elect seven Cabinet ministers and a Speaker from their own ranks. As one of Canada’s youngest legislatures, the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories changed frequently in its early years. Members were added and the Assembly’s responsibilities grew, but it was...

Absences

Members’ Attendance at Committee Meetings Section 33 of The Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories Members’ Guidelines states that quorum for all committees is a majority of committee members. Members are contacted in advance of a meeting and must commit to attend for the duration of the meeting. If a Member is unable to attend for the full duration of the meeting, and quorum for that meeting cannot be achieved, an alternate is contacted to attend for the full duration in their place. Alternates are called for committee meetings as required on a rotational basis. It is the...

Accountability for Performance

Accountability for Performance • Caucus (all Members) determines its priorities at the start of each Assembly; the 18th Assembly also developed a detailed, public mandate much like a party’s platform. The Premier and Cabinet may be held accountable for implementation of the Mandate in various ways, with the help of various tools. Ministerial mandate letters developed by the Premier have been published since 2012, and include specific priorities by which performance may be measured. Public reporting on progress in achieving priorities began in November, 2013. In 2016, a website was established...

Accountability Mechanisms

​ Accountability Mechanisms in Consensus Government Accountability in a consensus government is very different than in a system with party politics. Unlike a party-based legislature with a majority supporting the government in power, there is no guaranteed outcome for any vote in a consensus government. The government, elected by the Assembly, is accountable to it with every vote. The Premier and Ministers essentially serve as long as the majority of Members retains confidence in them. The defeat of even a budgetary item may, or may not result in a change of “government.” This page outlines...

Accountability Statutory Officers

Accountability Statutory Officers • Conflict of Interest Commissioner: MLAs and the public can file complaints about any Member. The Conflict of Interest Commissioner may investigate and recommend discipline, if any, to the Assembly (via the Speaker) for consideration and/or action. • Auditor General of Canada: The Auditor General audits the GNWT's annual consolidated financial statements and the public accounts of some of the GNWT’s larger public agencies. The Auditor General also makes recommendations in its departmental and program performance audits, which are reviewed by the Standing...