Policy

The Northwest Territories government announced that Chief Albert Wright School in Tulita had one water fixture with lead levels above Health Canada guidelines, and it will be replaced or fitted with a filter; this is the final of over 40 schools tested for lead.

Ottawa has moved Russia from partner to threat in its recent Arctic strategies following Ukraine, signaling a shift that could reshape collaboration and influence regional security policies.

The Norwegian town of Longyearbyen sits roughly 818 mi from the North Pole and hosts about 2,400 people. Its residents endure months of darkness and constant bear vigilance—many carry rifles when leaving town—while the community shifted from mining to tourism and scientific research, notably housing the Global Seed Vault that safeguards over 1.4 million seed samples in Arctic permafrost.

Anchorage Daily News opinion piece argues that federal permitting reform—such as the SPEED Act and Interior Department plans to reopen most of the National Petroleum Reserve—will enable Alaska’s abundant oil, gas, and renewable projects to proceed more quickly, lowering high local electricity rates and boosting jobs.

The Yamal‑to‑its‑Descendants! NGO, once a watchdog for indigenous rights in YNAO, now receives financing from major oil companies and signs agreements with local governments, while its leaders have publicly backed Russia’s war in Ukraine and promoted curated narratives at UN Indigenous forums.

Delaware‑based DeepGreen Cook Inlet SPV LLC has filed a proposal for a 100‑MW underwater AI data center in Alaska’s Cook Inlet, aiming to harness tidal power and seawater cooling. The project faces regulatory gaps—including missing municipal notifications and incomplete engineering details—and raises local environmental concerns about salmon habitats.

Glenfarne Group has said the Alaska Legislature will not act on a proposed multibillion‑dollar property tax cut for its $55 billion LNG pipeline, a setback that could delay construction and raise costs while the company explores alternative routes.

$65 million of federal funding has been redirected to build the Mackenzie Valley Highway corridor, enabling ongoing road, bridge and bypass projects while extended environmental reviews continue; the move aims to boost Northern infrastructure and create Indigenous employment opportunities, though wildfire activity risks delaying construction.

A mother and her family left the Northwest Territories after a denied request for medical‑travel exemption to continue specialist eye care in Toronto, underscoring gaps that limit complex treatment access and threaten continuity of care.

This summer’s Canadian wildfires surpassed four million hectares, with the Northwest Territories accounting for more than a quarter of the burn area. Officials say dry conditions and low rainfall are likely to keep fire danger elevated into September while federal authorities consider expanding their aircraft fleet.

The territory recorded 38 suicide attempts in 2025—matching the second‑worst year on record—primarily concentrated in Qikiqtaaluk where cases rose from 17 to 25, prompting Nunavut’s health authorities to declare a crisis and announce plans to deploy 41 mental‑health professionals and expand virtual counseling services.

Critical Metals Corp. has started a drilling programme at Greenland’s Killavaat Alannguat rare‑earth deposit, under a licence recently transferred from Rimbal Pty Ltd. Core samples will be processed in Qaqortoq and most workers are expected to be local hires through contractor 60° North Greenland.

The government has formally requested that the environmental assessment for the Mackenzie Valley Highway be broadened to cover its entire Wrigley‑Inuvik route, a change aimed at reducing duplication and accelerating planning.

Alaska Native groups urge the state Division of Elections to fill widespread worker vacancies ahead of the August 18 primary, citing missed openings in Nome, Utqiaġvik and Point Lay and delayed per‑diem payments that threaten ballot access for remote communities.

Early this summer the Yukon River’s king salmon run in Anvik has shown a rise in chinook and chum numbers, prompting renewed local harvests despite a seven‑year ban, while scientists warn counts still fall short of targets.

In 2026, the International Plant Treaty made its first deposit of plant material in an Arctic location, marking a new step in extending conservation measures to polar biodiversity.

Jean and Roy Erasmus are pursuing an additional $15 million, after securing $7 million from the federal Green and Inclusive Community Program, to build a trauma healing centre in Yellowknife that would host up to 24 clients for eight‑week stints and keep Indigenous patients in the North.