(Yellowknife — August 20, 2025)

In response to the rising cost of living, the Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) is permanently increasing subsidy rates and expanding eligibility criteria for its Senior Home Heating Subsidy program.

These changes follow input from the Standing Committee on Social Development, which has consistently highlighted the importance of reviewing subsidy rates and income thresholds to better support seniors with home heating costs.

Starting this year, the Senior Home Heating Subsidy rates will increase in all communities.

• Zone 1: from $3,000 to $3,680 per year
• Zone 2: from $4,000 to $4,480 per year
• Zone 3: from $4,600 to $6,000 per year

For the 2025-26 heating year, the Senior Home Heating Subsidy will also be available to more seniors by expanding the income threshold in all three zones.

• Zone 1: from $56,000 to $66,000
• Zone 2: from $64,000 to $75,000
• Zone 3: from $73,000 to $87,000

Under the new criteria, seniors with incomes below $66,000 in Zone 1, $75,000 in Zone 2, and $87,000 in Zone 3, will now qualify for the subsidy.

The Senior Home Heating Subsidy program provides financial assistance to low-to-modest income seniors to assist with the cost of heating their homes. Monthly payments are provided from September through April, ensuring assistance is available during the coldest months of the year.

Application Deadline: Seniors must apply for the 2025-2026 subsidy by March 15, 2026.

To apply, complete a Senior Home Heating Subsidy Application and provide proof of age, total household income, and proof of homeownership or rental accommodation to a local ECE Service Centre. Seniors are encouraged to apply early to begin receiving their subsidy in September.

We recognize that navigating the application process can be challenging and encourage seniors to involve an advocate or family member in meetings if additional support is helpful.

Seniors who have already applied for the 2025-2026 subsidy period do not need to re-apply.

Click here for more information.

Yellowknife — August 27, 2025

The Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) has released the What We Heard report following public and targeted engagement on the draft 2025–2029 NWT Climate Change Action Plan.



The report, led by the Department of Environment and Climate Change (ECC), summarizes input received from residents, Indigenous governments, Indigenous organizations, community governments, youth, non-governmental organizations, researchers, and other stakeholders between October 2024 and January 2025.

Feedback was gathered through written submissions, online surveys, and the 2024 NWT Climate Change Advisory Gathering.

Across all regions and engagement methods, participants emphasized that climate change is already having serious and widespread impacts on NWT communities—including wildfires, permafrost thaw, food insecurity, and threats to cultural continuity—and called for stronger, more coordinated action.

Key themes that emerged from the engagement include:

• Urgency: Northerners want more decisive and immediate climate action.
• Accountability: Respondents called for clearer roles, timelines, and mechanisms to track progress.
• Clarity: Residents emphasized the need for clear, concise language and improved communication.
• Coordination: There were strong calls for a whole-of-government approach and deeper collaboration with Indigenous governments.

Feedback from this engagement has reinforced the need for clearer, more coordinated climate action in the Northwest Territories. In response, the GNWT is moving toward a new, integrated approach that will combine the Climate Change Strategic Framework and the Energy Strategy into a single, outcome-focused plan. Insights from this process—and from related engagements—will directly inform the development of that streamlined strategy.

Click here to read the full What We Heard report. 

The NWTAC has your guide to community planning! This toolkit includes information on Smart Management Practices such as Building On Your Strengths, Transparency and Public Engagement, Informed and Engaged Communities, and more. You can also learn about the results of the 2024 MACA Community Planners Forum.

Click here to access the NWTAC's Community Planning Toolkit.

CHECK OUT THE NWTAC'S WILDFIRE RESOURCES TOOLKIT!

The NWTAC'S Wildfire Resources Toolkit offers a wide range of materials including Fire Smart Presentations, Fire Smart Resources, Fire Smart Radio Scripts, Fire Smart Social Media Messages and Fire Smart Videos including: Building and Putting Out Campfires Safely, Doing Your Part to Prevent Wildfires, Fire's Role in NWT Forests, and How Wildfire Management Decisions Are Made. There are also two French language videos: Le rôle des feux de forêt en écologie forestière en basse résolution, and Notre fonctionnement

Wildfire Resources Toolkit

Municipalities are the most dynamic and innovative order of government in Canada. Being on the front lines of Canadians’ daily lives means that municipal leaders must remain responsive to new challenge and opportunities as they arise with innovative ideas, cutting edge technology and vital partnerships.

That’s where FCM’s Collective Webinar series comes in. Through this series of free online sessions, we aim to connect you to the latest thinking around some of your community’s most pressing challenges and biggest opportunities for economic growth.

These webinars—delivered alongside partners from the most cutting-edge leaders in the private sector—will help you re-examine your community’s needs and develop new solutions to stay ahead of the curve.

The 2025-2026 Collective series is packed with important topics, insightful conversations and expert speakers. FCM looks forward to seeing you!

Click here to access the 2025-2026 Collective webinar series.

How are cities and communities of all sizes tackling their environmental challenges? Find out from the Green Municipal Fund's five-part webinar series on innovations and opportunities in municipal energy, waste, water, transportation and land use initiatives. You’ll hear from municipal champions who have successfully launched sustainability projects, and from GMF advisors on how we can bring your projects to life.

In these five sessions you’ll learn about:

• Best practices in managing innovative environmental projects
• Leading solutions that provide social, economic and environmental benefits
• Emerging trends in land use, waste and water
• GMF funding opportunities for your sustainability initiative

Click here to access the GMF webinars.

The Green Municipal Fund (GMF) funds projects that enhance long-term climate resilience in communities equitably and inclusively, at any stage of their climate journey—whether they are starting out or need help advancing their plans. This funding is intended to support communities adapt for the impacts of climate change, by developing climate risk assessments and climate adaptation plans, which are critical for safeguarding infrastructure, protecting essential services, and ensuring the well-being of all residents. 

GMF is funding up to $140,000 for development of climate adaptation plans, climate-focused asset management strategies, community-wide climate risk assessments, and capacity-building initiatives.

The following organizations are eligible for GMF funding:

• Canadian municipal governments (e.g., towns, cities, regions, districts and local boards)
• Municipal partners, which include: 
• Municipally owned corporations
• Regional, provincial or territorial organizations delivering municipal services
• Non-governmental organizations
• Not-for-profit organizations
• Research institutes (e.g., universities)
• Indigenous communities

For-profit entities are not eligible partners. 

The deadline to submit a full application for this funding is September 16, 2025.

Click here for more information and to apply.

Destination Canada (DC) has launched the Tourism Sprint Program (TSP), which is now accepting applications from organizations looking for investment in tourism initiatives that support destination development in their region.

The program aims to quickly address barriers to investment through targeted funding over a limited project timeline to unlock broader tourism opportunities and enhance Canada’s competitive position in the global marketplace.



The program offers up to $25,000 in matching funds for high impact, short term projects that encourage the development of new tourism products, such as accommodations, attractions or tourism related transportation and infrastructure.

Who can apply?

The following groups are eligible to apply for funding under this program:

• Local, Regional, and Municipal Governments – Includes cities, towns, villages, regional districts, and provincial or territorial governments engaged in tourism-related initiatives.
• Indigenous Communities and Organizations – First Nations, Inuit, and Métis governments, communities, and tourism-focused organizations.
• Not-for-Profit Organizations – Incorporated non-profits with a clear mandate to support, promote, or develop tourism.
• For-Profit Tourism Businesses and Organizations – Private sector entities whose primary operations deliver tourism products or services, such as accommodations, attractions, or tour operators.

Click here to learn more about the program.

The Climate Ready Infrastructure Service (CRIS) is offering fully funded expert support to small communities across Canada to help protect public buildings from wildfire risk. This initiative is designed for municipalities under 30,000 people and provides hands-on technical assistance to develop practical, cost-effective options to increase wildfire resilience for community infrastructure.

About the opportunity:

CRIS is launching a specialized call for projects to support wildfire resilient public buildings across Canada. Local governments and First Nations with populations under or around 30,000 people are invited to submit public buildings design or retrofit projects to receive up to $20,000 of free expert consulting service funded and facilitated by the CRIS. Each participant will receive a customized technical options report, which may include improvements related to indoor air quality, fire-resilient materials, and wildfire-resistant design strategies.

Applications are encouraged before August 31, 2025. 

Click here for information on how to apply.

The Government of the Northwest Territories is now accepting applications for Early Learning and Child Care Scholarships for the 2025-26 school year. 

• Part-time students are eligible for up to $500 per course, to a maximum of $2,500 per school year. 
• Full-time students are eligible for $5,000 per school year.

The scholarship is for NWT students enrolled in a diploma or degree program with a direct focus in early childhood development at accredited post-secondary institutions. In-person or online programs are accepted. 

Application deadline: September 30, 2025

Click here for more information or to download the application form.