Latest News

Submission to Chief Federal Negotiator

posted June 25, 2010

Alternative North's submission to the Chief Federal Negotiator, John Pollard, on so-called Northern Regulatory Reform.

Response to NWT Heritage Fund Public Consultation

posted June 8, 2010

Alternatives North responds in favour of proposed heritage fund in order to support intergenerational equity of revenues from extraction of non-renewable resources. This submission was written in response to a consultation report by GNWT.

Co-Management Consultations

posted May 22, 2010

Alternatives North is preparing to participate in the federal government's effort to "streamline" the regulatory process for development in the Northwest Territories. The documents that will inform the position Alternatives North will take in this process include:

AN News Release
Response to McCrank Report
McCrank Submission
Harper Government Regulatory Streamlining Proposal (external link)

Presentation to the National Energy Board

posted April 18, 2010

The National Energy Board (NEB) for the proposed Mackenzie Gas Project (MGP) held a hearing for Final Arguments in Yellowknife during the week of April 12. Alternatives North presented its position, making the argument that there is clearly no justification for the NEB to grant a certificate to the proponents.

And, Alternatives North made the news the previous week during a hearing on economic feasibility of the project. Our efforts were captured in an editorial cartoon.

(Added May 24, 2010) During the Final Argument, AN had a chance to reply to the other intervenors that went after our presentation in Yellowknife.

Response to GNWT Health Care Benefits Consultation

posted April 9, 2010

Alternatives North is calling on the GNWT to ensure access to supplemental health care benefits is universal and paid for through the tax system, not by co-payments or premiums schemes that create a tax on sickness and disability.

Please read the news release and our response to the Supplemental Health Benefits paper.

NWT Anti-Poverty Strategy

posted February 11, 2010

Supporters of an NWT Anti-Poverty Strategy gathered at the Legislative Assembly for MLA Wendy Bisaro's presentation to Premier Floyd Roland of reports detailing the causes and effects of poverty in the Northwest Territories. The presentation was followed by debate in the Legislative Assembly of the need for an Anti-Poverty Strategy.

Records of Members Statements and Questions can be reviewed at the Legislative Assembly website with references to the Strategy on pages 6, 9, 19 and 28. A Motion calling for a Strategy will be debated in the coming days.

In the attached picture of the presentation group, Ms. Bisaro and Mr. Roland were joined by (left to right) Bree Denning (Centre for Northern Families), Lorraine Phaneuf and Annemieke Mulders (NWT Status of Women Council), Aggie Brockman (Alternatives North), Dayle Handy (Yellowknife Homelessness Coalition), Wendy Bisaro, Floyd Roland, Ben McDonald (Alternatives North), Julie Green (YWCA Yellowknife), Mira Hall (Centre for Northern Families).

All those supporting this objective are urged to pass resolutions or motions of support which can be forwarded to the Government. Contact Craig Yeo at for information on creating your resolution.

GNWT Urged to Create Anti-Poverty Strategy

posted January 23, 2010 - updated February 26, 2010

An alliance (updated April 16, 2010) of 23 leading NWT social justice advocates including three municipal governments have called on the territorial government to create an Anti-Poverty Strategy.

Please also look at other Anti-Poverty Strategies, NWT Poverty Statistics, Documents Gift List,  and the Anti-Poverty Stategy Motion (added Feb 26, 2010).