Hello Members,
The Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT), in partnership with the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency (CanNor), is providing additional support to small businesses that are experiencing difficulties as a result of wildfires and evacuation orders. CanNor has contributed $1,000,000 ($1 Million) in funding to support the GNWT in providing business relief, matching the existing budget of the GNWT’s Support for Entrepreneurs and Economic Development (SEED) Policy, which is responding to the ongoing challenges faced by businesses.
Under a Ministerial Directive for the SEED Policy, emergency funding has already been provided to many NWT businesses. In response to this new funding, and to address the wider scope of challenges businesses are facing, the Directive has been amended to increase the maximum assistance available as follows:
- Yellowknife, Jean Marie River, Kakisa, Rae, Edzo, N’Dilo,Dettah and Wekweeti - $10,000
- Fort Smith and Sambaa K’e - $15,000
- Hay River and K’atl’odeeche - $20,000
- Non-evacuated communities* - $3,000
*The $3,000 assistance for non-evacuated communities is intended to support businesses that have incurred extra costs because of evacuations in another community.
For more details on the eligibility requirements to apply for the Operational Support for Businesses Affected by Wildfire Evacuation (funding is provided through the SEED Policy budget), click here.
These increases mean businesses can access even more support to offset eligible costs incurred through wildfire evacuations. In addition, the Directive has expanded the list of eligible expenses and the timeframe during which eligible expenses will be taken into account. It now includes a period of up to two weeks after the evacuation order is lifted, allowing businesses to adequately prepare for restarting their operations. Businesses that had already received funding for wildfire relief under the SEED Policy can receive up to the funding limit available for their region provided they continue to meet the program criteria.
These directive amendments take effect immediately and remain in effect until March 31, 2024.
All the best,
Donna Lee Demarcke
Chief Executive Officer
NWT Tourism