N.W.T. minister heading to Ottawa next week to follow up on nominee program changes

A Northwest Territories minister is heading to Ottawa to follow up on the territory's requests for its nominee program. 

On Tuesday, MLAs asked for more information about redesigning the nominee program on behalf of people anticipating 2026 applications.

Education, Culture and Employment Minister Caitlin Cleveland will travel to Ottawa next week. 

The Northwest Territories Nominee Program already saw changes earlier this year. Federally imposed cuts meant the number of spots in the program, which are commonly filled by people seeking permanent residency and individuals with expiring work permits, were cut in half.

The program attracts foreign nationals looking to immigrate to Canada, those already here with expiring work permits and individuals seeking permanent residency. 

This year there were 90 spots for new applications and 60 for applications from 2024 —150 spots total compared to what used to be 300 spots.

"Restoring the allocation to 300, asking the federal government to engage directly with GNWT [Government of the Northwest Territories] and N.W.T. stakeholders, allowing the GNWT to extend work permits for a two-year N.W.T. specific timeframe and to enhance support for settlement services. These are all fantastic pieces," said Great Slave MLA Kate Reid.

Cleveland said she has already expressed the issue to the federal government by letter.

Reid added that she has heard concerns about the requests, specifically from program hopefuls worried about being left with little to no option but to extend their work permit, consequently being left out of program applications next year.

In response to the federal cuts, the N.W.T. government limited this year's applications for the program to those whose work permits are set to expire in a year or less. Reid said the problem is if someone's work permit is extended two years, then with the current set up, they would be ineligible to apply for the nominee program next year.

"It's important for them to get clarity on whether the GNWT will continue to only consider applications of those applicants whose permits are set to expire within a year or less," said Reid, 

Cleveland said the decision to limit it this year was based on the immediate concerns she received.

"One thing that quickly became apparent was that there was concern over people whose work permits would be expiring in January and February of 2026 …There is never an intention to design a program that has a gap," said Cleveland.

"Certainly I do know that going into next year that we have more people interested in the program than we currently have spaces for." 

People on maternity leave left in limbo, says MLA

In advance of Cleveland's trip to Ottawa, MLA for Range Lake, Kieron Testart brought up a separate part of the program he'd like to see addressed.

Testart said he's heard from program hopefuls that are expecting children. He said if someone goes on maternity leave it makes them ineligible to apply.

"What is the minister doing to ensure that expecting parents aren't excluded from this program? Or is the message that women must delay pregnancy in order to qualify?"

Cleveland said she is aware of the leave provision and it is something she is also looking to address. 

Cleveland also said her department will be working with all stakeholders on redesigning the nominee program over the summer and into this fall.