NorthAs the N.W.T. government sorts through financial aid applications from residents displaced by wildfires, one Fort Providence woman says waiting hasn’t been easy.Finance department spokesperson says it could take weeks before people get paidDevon Tredinnick · CBC News · Posted: Sep 04, 2025 4:00 AM EDT | Last Updated: 12 hours agoJolene Lacorne, right, and 6-month-old McKayla. Lacorne, who is staying in Hay River while her home of Fort Providence is under evacuation order, says waiting for her application for financial aid to get approved has been hard. (Submitted by Jolene Lacorne)As the N.W.T. government sorts through financial aid applications from residents displaced by wildfires, one Fort Providence mother says waiting hasn’t been easy.Jolene Lacorne and her 10 other family members — including a six-month-old baby — have been staying in two rooms at a motel in Hay River since the hamlet she’s lived in all her life was evacuated. She decided to stay there, rather than at an evacuation centre, because it felt like the more comfortable option for her and the baby, Lacorne said.It’s a choice that’s so far cost her hundreds. Lacorne said she’s spent around $600 out of her own pocket while in town. She said she’s applied for financial relief for herself and three dependents, but is still waiting for the money to reach her account.Lacorne said it makes for a frustrating and stressful wait.”The baby needs Pampers, formula,” she said. “My [niece] only has one set of clothes — she’s whining because she doesn’t have any extra clothing.”The territorial government provides one-time financial aid in case of an emergency through its Emergency Evacuation Relief Program. Adults can receive $800 each, plus $400 for each dependent younger than 18 years old.Lacorne said she’s been able to afford staying in a motel for a few more nights, thanks to some crowd-funding from others. She said getting financial relief from the territory would be very helpful.Department of Finance spokesperson Toyeke Adedipe previously told CBC evacuees who apply with all their needed information can expect to get their money via direct deposit within two weeks of applying. Others might not. The territorial government says it has denied some applications for financial relief.”The department is working to ensure that all eligible applications can receive support,” Adedipe said in an email to CBC on Sept. 2. “We are currently not tracking the number of denied applications.”Adedipe said there are a number of reasons why some evacuees may be denied. She noted some applications can be duplicates, where a person applied online but also at an evacuation centre. Applications for funding also require proof of identification and other documents.Monfwi MLA Jane Weyallon Armstrong told CBC she’s heard of two cases where an elder has forgotten a piece of information needed to apply for relief funding.One person forgot a piece of identification, she said. Another forgot their bank card. Armstrong said the elder who forgot their bank card will still receive a cheque they can cash. If needed, Armstrong said, she would go with her to the bank to vouch that she’s an evacuee.”I do feel for them,” said Armstrong. “Not knowing when to go back and not knowing what’s going on back home and not knowing when to return.” To qualify for the territory’s relief program, a person must submit three things: proof of identification, residency, and dependency. That can look like a driver’s licence, bank statement and birth certificate, respectively, for example.A federal Indigenous status card can also count as proof of identification, according to the territorial government’s website.”Where residents cannot provide proof of identification or proof of residency, the Department of Finance is working with government service officers who live in the communities and can identify residents to sign attestation forms, confirming residents’ identities, ensuring their applications are received and processed,” said Adedipe.ABOUT THE AUTHORDevon Tredinnick is a reporter with CBC North in Yellowknife. You can reach him at devon.tredinnick@cbc.ca.
Fort Providence woman stressed during evacuation as she waits for gov’t financial relief
