N.W.T. officials talk evacuee compensation, supply chain challenges and federal support

The N.W.T.'s municipal and community affairs minister was on CBC Radio's The Trailbreaker on Wednesday morning to answer questions about the territory's wildfires and evacuations.

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Minister Shane Thompson was on along with Jennifer Young, the department's director of corporate affairs. 

Here's what they had to say. 

What can people expect for compensation from the territorial government? 

On Monday, Young said there would not be any financial compensation or aid for residents that organized their own evacuation. 

On Tuesday, Finance Minister Caroline Wawzonek clarified to say discussions were ongoing to try and figure out how to offer financial support for evacuees. 

Wednesday morning, Thompson further clarified that Young was correct in saying that the territory's current Disaster Financial Assistance policy would not cover evacuation expenses. 

However, cabinet has been discussing the possibility of further financial support. 

"That's exactly why there's a bit of a miscommunication," he said. 

He added that cabinet was scheduled to have a meeting at 1 p.m. on Wednesday. 

He cautioned that if the territory did offer additional financial support to evacuees that funding may not be eligible for reimbursement from the federal government. 

"What we're trying to do is to help people as best we can and we got to look at every option," Thompson said. 

Young said the current disaster financial assistance programs encourage residents to go to their insurance providers first to try and cover some evacuation costs. 

"The federal program was meant to be a program of last resort," she said. 

Asked about whether there would be support for residents with insurance with high deductibles, Thompson said that was part of the discussion for additional financial support. 

Have there been any specific asks or requests made by the territorial government to the federal government for financial assistance to support evacuees?

Thompson said any requests for financial assistance was likely done through Premier Caroline Cochrane or Wawzonek, but that he didn't have the details of what those requests may be. 

"Whatever plans we're able to come up with will be from the territorial government, in hope that we would get some of that money back from the federal government," he said. 

Why are there discrepancies between available services — such as meal vouchers and hotel stays — at evacuation centres? 

Young said evacuation centres are "independent" and have different capacities and resources to offer displaced residents. 

She said residents can leave one evacuation centre to go to another, but should de-register from the centre they leave and re-register at the new centre. 

Thompson said residents should reach out to MACA if they are experiencing discrepancies in services. 

"We will work on it," said Thompson. "I can say the Alberta government has been very good." 

Who is paying for evacuation services? 

Thompson said Alberta bears the costs upfront but invoices the N.W.T. 

At that point, he said the territory would apply for reimbursement from the federal government through a "really complicated" formula. 

He added that the territorial government would also be applying to the federal government to reimburse some of the costs of firefighting efforts. 

What supports are in place for residents who were out of the territory when the evacuation orders came? 

"I would suggest that they shelter in place in the location that they started from," said Young. 

She added that the territorial government is "actively looking at how to provide the supports to residents who have been impacted by this natural disaster." 

Why did the territorial government wait until 7 p.m. (on Wednesday, Aug. 16) to announce the evacuation order?  What was the justification in delaying communicating this to the general public? 

Thompson said the government was "going through the process" and that "nobody was in danger" at the time. 

"I don't know how the information was shared with other departments. I know we didn't share it. We were working through our system, we have to work through Justice to get the order in place. And so we followed the process … If other people heard things or heard rumours, I'm sorry," he said. 

"I apologize if it looks like we gave information to our staff."

What is the territorial government doing to ensure food and supplies continue to reach N.W.T. communities that have not evacuated? 

Thompson said the territorial government has set up a working group made up of representatives from MACA, and the departments of Industry, Tourism and Investment, Finance, Infrastructure, and Executive and Indigenous Affairs. 

He said that group is reaching out to leadership in communities "seeing what the challenges are."

He mentioned that Air Tindi and some other airlines are still flying in supplies, and trucks are expected to continue to deliver goods when possible. 

"If the roads get closed off, we do have plans to make sure we have transportation to get food in there," he said, but did not say what those plans were. 

Asked about reports of increased prices from airlines flying orders directly from Edmonton to communities, Thompson said, "We realize that there's going to need to be a subsidy to deal with it." 

Why has the territory not requested help from the Red Cross?

Thompson said neither the territory's Emergency Management Organization, nor the Department of Environment and Climate Change has reached out for support from the Red Cross. 

"But other departments may and we encourage them to use every tool they have available," he said. 

When asked again about not requesting aid from the Red Cross, Thompson said the territory was working with United Way NWT.

That organization has said it has run out of funds. 

"We've understood that we've also looked at trying to help get the coffers going there," said Thompson. "But again, there's a lot of nuances …. I'm not saying we're not going to Red Cross, just that we need to look at every option available to us." 

Will health care benefits be extended to residents who may have to live outside the territory when rebuilding their homes? 

Thompson said he would bring this issue up to Julie Green, minister of Health. 

"I can say dealing with our previous disasters, our health care system was still being used for our residents," he said.

Several communities in the N.W.T., comprising a majority of the territory's population, are still under evacuation orders due to wildfires. 

Officials have said that there are still tough days ahead as they continue to fight multiple fires, and that it's too soon to say when residents might be able to return home.