Despite this summer’s wildfire emergencies, and recent years’ devastating floods and the COVID-19 pandemic, there are at least 30 people who have said they're keen to lead the territory through any future crisis as MLAs.
In the first sitting of the final session of the N.W.T.’s Legislative Assembly, several regular MLAs asked why the territory wasn’t providing more financial support to wildfire evacuees.
In a special one-day session of the Legislative Assembly on Monday, MLAs approved an additional $75 million for wildfire suppression. Finance Minister Caroline Wawzonek said costs are projected to rise to $100 million.
Wildfires have forced the majority of the Northwest Territories’ 45,600 residents to leave their communities, with Alberta absorbing most of the evacuees