Thank you for signing the petition calling for an independent public inquiry into the response to the Hay River/Enterprise/Kakisa wildfire. Here are some updates I wanted to share with you:

• During the recent NWT election campaign, I reached out to a number of candidates for MLA to ensure that the need for a public inquiry was on their radar.
• Letters were also sent to government leaders in two of the affected communities of Fort Smith and Hay River requesting their support for a public inquiry. The Mayor of Enterprise has already spoken publicly about the need for an independent inquiry, and so far the Fort Smith Métis Council and the Town of Fort Smith have each passed a motion in support after receiving the letters.
• As I sat in the visitors gallery on December 8, my newly-elected MLA recognized me from the floor of the NWT Legislative Assembly as the initiator of this petition. This gave the territory’s MLAs a heads-up to expect this petition.
• Our new Premier and two cabinet ministers are from Hay River and Fort Smith, two of the communities affected by the evacuation that is the subject of this petition. 

Next Steps

• A letter is being drafted to accompany this petition. The letter, petition and letters of support from community government leaders will be sent to the Premier and to the Commissioner of the Northwest Territories sometime in January.
• If you know any members of Hay River’s Town Council, K’atl’odeeche First Nation, Hay River Métis Council, or Salt River First Nation please let them know that we need their support for a public inquiry into the Hay River/Enterprise/Kakisa wildfire so that we can all learn from what happened and be better prepared next time.

With much gratitude for your support,

Hélèna

Fort Smith, NT.