Transitional Solutions Inc. has been awarded the contract to conduct an independent review of the 2023 NWT wildfire evacuation.
An announcement was released June 18, 2024.
"Under the terms of the contract, Transitional Solutions Inc will seek input from the public, Indigenous governments, community governments, chambers of commerce, non-government organizations, as well as emergency management partners to identify lessons learned and develop recommendations for improvement," says the press release. "The review of the emergency response will assess the emergency management activities associated with the 2023 wildfire season. It will focus on risk monitoring, emergency preparedness activities, response activities, operational and public communications, and transition to recovery, which includes re-entry planning, repatriation and damage assessments.
An oversight committee consisting of three people nominated by the NWT Council of Leaders Secretariat, the Standing Committee on Accountability and Oversight and the GNWT oversaw the tender process. A total of five different proposals were submitted. The oversight committee consisted of Dr. Mike Flannigan, Danielle Trudeau, and Todd Orvitz.
“This government has a responsibility to learn, adapt, and strengthen our emergency management systems to safeguard our communities," said Premier R.J. Simpson in a statement. "This Oversight Committee, jointly selected by the GNWT, the Council of Leaders of the Northwest Territories, and the Standing Committee on Accountability and Oversight, will ensure that this review is independent and transparent.
Dr. Mike Flannigan, Danielle Trudeau, and Todd Orvitz bring a wealth of collective expertise in wildfire, emergency management, and northern governance to this review, and I thank them for their efforts to identify the right contractor to undertake what will be the most comprehensive review of its kind in the Northwest Territories. Under their guidance, I am confident that this After-Action Review will help identify areas where we can better prepare for, manage, and recover from future emergencies.”
The oversight committee will review the emergency response, particularly the evacuation, hosting evacuees, preparation and supports made available during the 2023 NWT wildfire emergencies.
The findings of the independent review of the 2023 wildfire emergency response will be publicly released in late 2024.