Oct 28

Norman Wells On The Brink Of Disaster

Welcome to Municipal Affairs

We turning our focus to the town of Norman Wells, Northwest Territories, where the community is grappling with the consequences of an unprecedented supply chain disruption.

Amidst record-low water levels along the Mackenzie River this past summer, barge shipments — a lifeline for delivering essential supplies to this remote region — were cancelled. This has led to drastic spikes in fuel and supply prices as the town now relies heavily on more costly air transport to bring in everything from groceries to heating fuel.

Earlier this month, Norman Wells’ town council took an extraordinary step, declaring a local state of emergency and voting to request that the territorial government escalate this crisis to the federal level. This move aims to secure broader, immediate support for Norman Wells’ residents and businesses — support that’s urgently needed as winter fasts approaches.

Councillors and Mayor Frank Pope have specifically requested $6.6 million to ensure a stable heating fuel supply for the winter months. And if the territory agrees to their appeal and declares a state of emergency in the Sahtu region, it could trigger additional provincial powers under the Emergency Management Act. Notably, this would allow Municipal and Community Affairs Minister Vince McKay to potentially regulate fuel prices, offering a lifeline to residents and businesses strained by soaring costs.

While the Territory Government has responded with an initial $150,000 to help offset these rising expenses, local leaders and residents say this is far from sufficient. In response to rising frustrations, the council has also questioned Imperial Oil about the sharply rising fuel costs, asking why measures weren’t in place to better buffer the impact of missed barge deliveries.

The Northwest Territories government has acknowledged the urgency of the situation and has expressed its commitment to working with local businesses, Indigenous governments, and the federal government to identify long-term solutions that could help prevent similar crises in the future.

Joining us today is Mayor Pope. We’ll be diving deep into the urgent challenges facing his community, the actions local leaders have already taken, and what lies ahead for residents if their calls for help continue to go unanswered.

Mayor Pope will help us understand just how serious this situation is and what the community is asking for in terms of funding, regulatory action, and long-term infrastructure solutions.

His message to the federal government, the Northwest Territories, and corporate partners is clear: without decisive support, Norman Wells could face a much larger crisis.

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