How will 4 years of emergencies affect the N.W.T. election?

The 19th Legislative Assembly of the N.W.T. was shaped by emergencies, beginning with a pandemic and ending with wildfires that delayed the current election campaign.

The territorial government's response to these crises received criticism, from those who felt there was insufficient financial support for residents, to those who said there appeared to be a lack of emergency planning. 

But how will the actions of the previous government affect who is elected for the next one?

Responding to a questionnaire sent by CBC News, candidates in the Nov. 14 territorial election addressed which issues mattered most — and only eight of them highlighted emergency preparedness or climate emergencies as a priority.  

Hay River and Kátł'odeeche First Nation were areas particularly hard hit in the past few years, with a flooding evacuation in 2022, and then two wildfires this past summer that led to evacuations lasting over a month.

For Sandra Lester, a chairman of the Hay River Seniors' Society, it seemed as though there was no planning for how seniors would leave during all three evacuations. 

"I'm hoping that's the last disaster, but we need to figure out a better way," she said. 

Lester found herself scrambling to help the seniors from the Whispering Willows senior complex in Hay River leave during the recent evacuation and felt like the government didn't learn from each disaster. 

She also lost her own home to the wildfires in August. 

"Losing my house was brutal, but what stressed me out was before I lost my house," she said of the lack of communication during the evacuation order. 

Lester said she hopes the next elected assembly does more to prepare for and prevent future disasters. 

To Alain Normand, who teaches emergency management communication at York University, good emergency management starts with hiring the right people to plan for it. 

He said emergency management professionals have a specific skill set that can help governments plan for various scenarios and how to communicate during emergencies.  

He cited Fort McMurray, Alta., as an example of a local government learning from its mistakes and prioritizing emergency planning.