Northwest Territories MLAs gave third reading Tuesday to civil forfeiture and Safer Communities and Neighbourhoods, or Scan, bills aimed at drug crime and illicit activity. Civil forfeiture, which would let the government seek court orders to seize crime-linked property, passed unanimously despite liberty concerns from some Yellowknife members. Scan, which targets rental premises tied to ongoing illegal activity, passed over opposition from three Yellowknife MLAs who questioned effectiveness and housing impacts. Both laws still need royal assent and regulations. Justice Minister Jay Macdonald called them imperfect but necessary tools, while critics warned of displacing vulnerable tenants without tackling root addiction.
Lesa Semmler, who resigned as the Northwest Territories' health minister and MLA for Inuvik Twin Lakes in September, has a new job with the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation. The corporation announced Tuesday that she will become associate executive director of health, wellness and beneficiary services, starting November 9. In that role, Semmler, a registered nurse, will help develop and deliver health programs for Inuvialuit beneficiaries and communities. The corporation praised her public service experience and understanding of the region's needs. Semmler had represented her riding since 2019 and gave no specific reason for leaving cabinet, saying only it followed careful reflection.
Jail admissions in the Northwest Territories rose from 616 in 2024-25 to 901 in 2025-26, the sharpest rise since numbers began climbing in 2021, according to corrections reports. Yellowknife's North Slave Correctional Complex has been over capacity for months, holding 163 inmates in late October in a facility designed for 148. The Justice Department says the causes are complex and it is too early to link the rise to federal bail reform that took effect in July. Recorded use-of-force incidents by staff have grown from six to 30 since 2021-22, while only 71 inmates completed a rehabilitation program last year.
