Members of the NWT Legislative Assembly Robert Hawkins and Kieron Testart are inviting the people of Yellowknife and surrounding communities to attend a public town-hall style meeting on crime prevention and public safety.
This comes as the Government of the Northwest Territories is preparing to unveil new legislation during the February session to address crime in the territory.
“Businesses should not have to deal with harassment during the day or worry about break-ins at night,” says Yellowknife Center MLA Hawkins. “Revitalizing downtown starts with people feeling safe to shop, work, or pass through.”
Data from the past decade shows that the Northwest Territories have a higher crime rate than the national average. An increasing number of handguns have reportedly entered the territory in recent year, and public health continues to warn about illicit drugs and their possible contamination with deadly substances.
“The government is now rolling out new legislation such as SCAN, Civil Forfeiture, and the Trespass Act,” says Testart, MLA for Range Lake. “At the same time, private security companies have become a common feature across Yellowknife, yet there is very little regulation and no standardized training requirements.”
The MLAs hope to facilitate a strong and constructive conversation at the meeting, and encourage all members of the public, from residents to business owners to community leaders, to attend and let their voices be heard.
The meeting will be held on February 11, 2026, at 6:30 pm, at the Northern United Place auditorium.
