Auditor general starts examining NWT’s emergency management

The Office of the Auditor General has begun a review of emergency management in the Northwest Territories.

Federal auditors visited Enterprise and Hay River in recent weeks, where they met with community leaders and residents to discuss the territorial government’s handling of emergencies. 

In a September 22 council meeting, Hay River senior administrative officer Glenn Smith said he and Mayor Kandis Jameson met with the auditor general the previous week.

“We provided input on recent experiences in dealing with ECC and Maca, primarily through the 2022 and 2023 emergency events,” Smith told council, referring to the territorial Department of Environment and Climate Change and Department of Municipal and Community Affairs. Hay River experienced a flood in 2022 and wildfires in 2023.

Smith added he and the mayor also provided input on emergency planning and preparedness activities in recent years.

Enterprise resident Darren Sopel, who was recently elected to council, similarly said he met with two federal auditors in mid-September. They asked him about the immediate response to a 2023 wildfire that destroyed much of the hamlet, as well as ongoing challenges with recovery.

“It was a good conversation,” Sopel told Cabin Radio, adding one of the auditors took extensive notes. “I’ve never seen anybody write so fast in my life.”

Sopel said he found out about the audit through “dumb luck.” He heard from another resident that Maca might be holding a meeting in the community. When Sopel contacted Maca for more information, he was asked if he wanted to talk to the auditors.

He’s not aware of any other Enterprise residents who spoke to them. “As far as I know, I’m the only one,” he said.

Jayita Phulsunge, a spokesperson for the Office of the Auditor General of Canada, confirmed via email that the office is conducting “preliminary performance audit work” relating to emergency management in the Northwest Territories.

The audit, which is listed in the upcoming reports section of the auditor general’s website, is expected to be released in 2027.

It was not immediately clear if the auditors will visit other NWT communities.

“As this audit is still in the planning phase, its scope, and timelines are still being determined,” Phulsunge wrote. Once the plan is finalized, she said, additional information will be added to the auditor general’s website.

A spokesperson for the territory’s Department of Environment and Climate Change said it had been contacted by the Office of the Auditor General and was working to provide the requested information. Because the audit is under way, the spokesperson said the department could not provide additional details.

Cabin Radio contacted the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs but did not hear back prior to publication.

Unanswered questions

The territory’s handling of the 2023 wildfires was heavily criticized by many residents.

Following the devastating fire season, some leaders and residents called for an independent public inquiry into the territorial government’s response. Ultimately, the territory commissioned two after-action reviews – one focused on how the NWT fought wildfires during the 2023 season and another, broader review of the territory’s handling of the wildfires and evacuations.

Though the reviews were conducted by external consultants, some MLAs expressed skepticism that they were truly independent because they were overseen by the territorial government.

Asked what prompted the federal audit, Phulsunge said “audit selection is determined through a strategic, risk-based process that also takes into account our mandate, significance to Parliamentarians and Canadians, planned audit work, and available resources.”

Sopel says Enterprise residents have many unanswered questions about decisions made during and since the 2023 wildfire.

He hopes the federal auditors will bring accountability and recognition of mistakes that were made, both by the territorial and community government.

“These people should be able to shed some honest light on things,” he said.