N.W.T. MLAs voted Thursday to call for a public inquiry into the territory's wildfire response. Members said the inquiry is necessary to restore public trust and learn how better to handle evacuations for possible future emergencies.
MLAs in the N.W.T. vote Thursday on a motion to call a public inquiry into the territory's handling of the 2023 wildfires. CBC reached out to each MLA to ask how they planned to vote.
N.W.T. Premier R.J. Simpson says he does not support an independent public inquiry into the 2023 summer wildfires that led to the evacuation of around 70 per cent of the territory.
Two government departments are participating in reviews of their response to the 2023 wildfire season. Municipal and Community Affairs Minister Vince McKay said in the legislature Wednesday that his department is taking lessons from the season and working to prepare for the coming year. He said N.W.T. residents should do the same.
One N.W.T. MLA says she supports an independent review of last year's wildfire response, and she says it should examine the territory’s treatment of its most vulnerable population.
CBC News carried out a survey before the territorial election which asked MLA candidates what languages they speak. We followed up with MLA elects who said they speak an Indigenous language about how fluent they are in that language.
Northwest Territories voters chose to shake things up this election, with 7 incumbents losing their seats and 9 new faces elected. With three MLAs-elect returning after a hiatus, nine of 19 MLAs-elect are brand new.