N.W.T. minister says 2025 wildfire evacuations differed from media coverage

By Devon Tredinnick 

Both Fort Providence and Whatı̀ had to evacuate this summer due to nearby wildfires

A minister with the N.W.T. government says negative stories in the media around two recent wildfire evacuations did not reflect what he saw on the scene.

Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs Vince McKay spoke on Monday during a public briefing to the Accountability and Oversight Standing Committee on the government’s response to the 2023 after-action review. That review details a number of shortcomings with the government’s handling of the evacuation that year and lists a number of ways it could improve.

On Monday, MLAs took the opportunity to ask McKay about how the government has responded to two more recent evacuations. This past summer, the community of Fort Providence evacuated to Hay River. Whatı̀ residents were also forced to leave their community for weeks due to nearby wildfires.

McKay commented on what he saw for himself during that time.

“As much as there was a lot of negative news about this year with Fort Providence, but [for] me, seeing it happen showed that there’s been a lot of change,” said McKay, who represents Hay River South.

“What I’ve seen on the ground in Hay River was a lot different than what was being advertised in the media,” he added. 

During the community evacuations this summer, some residents voiced concerns and criticisms of the government ‘s response, including how the N.W.T. government accommodates elders and people with disabilities  during emergencies.

“Having been on the ground in Hay River, I had a different view on what happened in Hay River in regards to care for our elderly,” said McKay at a separate point during the briefing. “What was being advertised wasn’t what was going on.”

McKay also said he feels the Whatı̀ evacuation this year was a success story. He added that, despite there being “a lot of negative press” surrounding the Fort Providence evacuation, there were also a fair share of success stories.

One MLA leaves mid-briefing

Regular members asked the minister questions about what specific roles the government has, why its current emergency management organization is sufficient, how the government is building public trust and more.

It was not unlike what’s been asked during question period in the Legislative Assembly this month. The briefing came soon after regular members subsequently passed a motion for the territorial government  to establish a dedicated agency to manage emergencies.

Cabinet ministers, including McKay, abstained from that vote, which gave the government 120 days to respond. The N.W.T. government previously rejected a recommendation to create its own emergency management agency. That was one of 35 recommendations out of consulting firm Transitional Solutions Inc.’s after-action review of the 2023 wildfire evacuations.

For Sahtu MLA Danny McNeely, it meant that Monday’s briefing was getting ahead of itself, since many of the questions concerned the territory not creating its own agency.

“I don’t see the value of this discussion now,” said McNeely, noting he does see a value in it coming at a later date.

“We should be having this meeting, maybe after 120 days,” he said. McNeely left the briefing soon after and did not return for the rest of the period that was open to the public.

Of the 35 recommendations, creating a standalone agency is the only one the government rejected.