Norman Wells leaders declare state of emergency as costs rise

Town councillors in Norman Wells, N.W.T., have declared a local state of emergency and passed a motion to ask the territorial government to step in with more support, as the town grapples with increasing costs in the wake of barge cancellations.

A notice from the town Tuesday states the declaration of emergency is "vital for elevating the community's needs to the federal level through the territorial government, ensuring that necessary support is provided to residents and businesses."

At a meeting Tuesday, councillors also voted to ask the territory to declare a state of emergency in the Sahtu community, for humanitarian reasons, which would allow them to go to the federal government for support. 

Mayor Frank Pope said the town is also asking for $6.6 million to cover the cost of getting more heating fuel into Norman Wells.

"There are many other issues we want to talk about down the road: gasoline, aviation fuel, cost of living. But today's crucial issue is heating fuel," he said during Tuesday's meeting.

Councillors noted that, if the territory agrees to declare a state of emergency, that gives Municipal and Community Affairs Minister Vince McKay the authority to fix the price of fuel under the Emergency Management Act.

Tuesday's motion comes less than a week after the N.W.T. government announced one-time funding to help offset the costs of flying supplies into Norman Wells by up to $30,000 per business. Barge cancellations earlier this year — due to historic low water levels on the Mackenzie River — have forced communities to fly in supplies and led to the steep price increases.

Some councillors at the meeting threw their support behind the motion on the condition the money would go to residents and businesses, not the municipal government. Some said they viewed the motion as a vital step to get the ball rolling.

"If this is our first step and we have to take it in order for the [N.W.T. government] to act, to then have the federal government act, I'm all for it," said Coun. Alexis Peachey. 

"People in Norman Wells need help now."

Council has also voted to waive water and sewer service fees for residents and businesses for three months.

Pope told councillors that during meetings in Ottawa last week, he learned that support from the federal government could only come to Norman Wells through the territorial government.

With the legislature set to resume Thursday, Pope said his hope is that Sahtu MLA Danny McNeely will bring their motion to the assembly.