The OLIP interns were honoured to meet with R. J. Simpson, Premier of the Northwest Territories and MLA for Hay River North. Premier Simpson was first elected to the Legislative Assembly in 2015 during the 18th Assembly, later elected to the 20th Assembly, and on December 7th, 2023, chosen by his colleagues to serve as Premier. Prior to entering territorial politics, he worked with the Government of Canada and served on the board of the Soaring Eagle Friendship Centre. Duri

During our visit to the Northwest Territories, the interns had the honour of meeting with Speaker Shane Thompson and learning from his guidance on parliamentary proceedings.   We are grateful for having had the opportunity to join him for a generous lunch and discuss firsthand his experiences in public service and the important responsibilities of serving as Speaker.     Speaker Thompson shared valuable insights into how the Speaker is elected in the NWT Legislature, as well

The OLIP interns had the amazing opportunity to meet with Yellowknife Mayor Ben Hendriksen during our study tour, where we had an engaging and wide-ranging discussion about some of the most pressing issues facing the city and the broader North.  Mayor Hendriksen shared valuable insights into the evolving political and economic landscape of the Arctic, noting a growing global shift in attention toward Arctic relations and a renewed interest from Ottawa in Northern Canada. Our

The OLIP interns were excited to visit Buffalo Airways during our Yellowknife study tour, where we had the pleasure of meeting Amy, who kindly guided us through the hangar and shared her knowledge of the airline’s operations.   Buffalo Airways is a Canadian airline based in Yellowknife in the Northwest Territories that specializes in cargo, charter, and passenger flights serving remote communities across Northern Canada. The airline was founded in 1970 by bush pilot Joe McBry