2023 wildfires cost N.W.T. government about $175M
Federal government has so far provided $91M worth of aid to the territory
The 2023 wildfires in the N.W.T. cost the territorial government approximately $175 million.
Celestino Oh, the territory's assistant comptroller general, provided the figures during a public accounts committee meeting on Tuesday.
He said the figure includes all natural disasters from 2023-24, but the primary expenses were associated with the 2023 wildfire response, when the majority of the territory evacuated.
The bulk of those expenses, $115 million, came from the department of Municipal and Community Affairs, which was the lead on the wildfire response, evacuation and assistance. There were also expenses by the department of Health, and Environment and Climate Change.
Oh said the territory received $91 million from the federal government through its Disaster Financial Assistance Arrangements fund to cover some of the costs.
At the committee meeting on Tuesday, Denny Rodgers, MLA for Inuvik-Boot Lake, asked if there was any more money coming from the federal government.
Oh said all assistance has been received for the year, but the territory could still potentially apply for additional assistance.
"The departments will be reviewing and identifying any expenditures they may have additional support for," Oh said.
The wildfire season in 2023 was the worst on record for the territory, but natural disasters — including devastating floods — have plagued many N.W.T. communities in recent years.
In 2021 and 2022, several communities, including Hay River and Fort Simpson, were evacuated because of flooding.
In 2022, Hay River's damage alone amounted to about $175 million.