Northwest Territories evacuees who fled the region by car when wildfire prompted evacuation orders were issued will soon get more details about financial assistance from the GNWT.
Announced Friday, the “Evacuation Travel Support Program” is available to NWT residents who, by order, evacuated their home community because of the 2023 wildfires. The financial assistance will offer up $750 per vehicle evacuated to a southern jurisdiction and $400 per vehicle evacuated but stayed within the greater NWT.
Evacuees who left by road but need to return by air will be eligible to register for organized re-entry flights paid for by the GNWT at a later date.
Minister of Finance and Industry, Tourism and Investment Caroline Wawzonek says they know many are anxious about returning home and hopes the expanded assistance introduced will help residents continue to access basic needs during the evacuation.
“We’re committed to assisting everyone in returning home safely, and the Evacuation Travel Support Program will support residents who self-evacuated by car to pay for their return when the time comes,” she adds.
Wawzonek says in addition to this funding for residents, small business owners can also apply for the expanded Support for Entrepreneurs and Economic Development. SEED will allow contributions of up to $5,000 to offset operational costs incurred by wildfire-affected businesses.
