Territory
Public services in Northwest Territories
Compiled by Mahmoud Halat, updated
At a glance
Who handles public services in Northwest Territories, with a page for each of 52 services. Below: the 12 biggest cities and towns and the main territorial government bodies.
- Services
- 52 public services have a page for Northwest Territories on this site. #
- Places
- 22 cities, towns and communities in Northwest Territories have public places on the map, 76 places in all. #
- Biggest city
- The biggest by population is Yellowknife: 20,340 people (2021 Census). #Source: Statistics Canada, Population and dwelling counts: Canada and census subdivisions (municipalities), table 98-10-0002-01, 2021 Census of Population (Statistics Canada Open Licence)
- Government
- 13 territorial government bodies in Northwest Territories are on record. #
Canada Service Map is independent and not a government website. The official page always has the final word.
Services in Northwest Territories
Each page says who handles the service here, with the official links we have and the date we checked each one.
Identity and documents
- Order a birth certificateVital Statistics, Health Services Administration Office (Department of Health and Social Services)
- Order a death certificateVital Statistics, Health Services Administration Office (Department of Health and Social Services)
- Order a marriage certificateVital Statistics, Health Services Administration Office (Department of Health and Social Services)
- Legally change your nameRegistrar General of Vital Statistics (Department of Health and Social Services)
- Get a photo ID card (if you don't drive)Driver and Vehicle Services (Department of Infrastructure, Government of the Northwest Territories)
- Change your address with the provinceGovernment of the Northwest Territories
Driving and vehicles
- Get, renew or replace a driver's licenceDriver and Vehicle Services (Department of Infrastructure, Government of the Northwest Territories)
- Book a road test or knowledge testDriver and Vehicle Services (Department of Infrastructure, Government of the Northwest Territories)
- Register a vehicle and renew licence platesDriver and Vehicle Services (Department of Infrastructure, Government of the Northwest Territories)
- Get an accessible parking permitGovernment of the Northwest Territories
- Check road conditions and closures (511)DriveNWT (Department of Infrastructure)
Health
- Apply for or renew your health cardHealth Services Administration Office (Department of Health and Social Services)
- Find a family doctor or nurse practitionerNorthwest Territories Health and Social Services Authority (NTHSSA)
- Talk to a nurse (811 health line)811 (Department of Health and Social Services)
- Get help paying for prescription drugs (pharmacare)Extended Health Benefits (Department of Health and Social Services)
- Vaccines and immunization recordsPublic health and community health centres (Department of Health and Social Services)
- Register as an organ and tissue donorDepartment of Health and Social Services (registrations held in the Alberta Organ and Tissue Donation Registry)
- Home care and community careHome and Community Care (Department of Health and Social Services) and regional health authorities
Family and children
- Register a baby's birthRegistrar General of Vital Statistics (Department of Health and Social Services)
- Get a marriage licenceRegistrar General of Vital Statistics and community Marriage License Issuers (Department of Health and Social Services)
- Get help paying for child careEarly Learning and Child Care (Department of Education, Culture and Employment)
- Find licensed child care or daycareEarly Learning and Child Care (Department of Education, Culture and Employment)
- Collect child or spousal supportMaintenance Enforcement Program (Department of Justice, Government of the Northwest Territories)
- Report child abuse or neglectChild and Family Services (Department of Health and Social Services and regional health and social services authorities)
Benefits and money
- Apply for income assistance (welfare)Income Security Programs, ECE Service Centres (Department of Education, Culture and Employment)
- Disability income support from the provinceIncome Assistance for Seniors and Persons with Disabilities (Department of Education, Culture and Employment)
Work and business
- Register a business name or incorporateCorporate Registries (Department of Justice, Government of the Northwest Territories)
- Report a workplace injury (workers' compensation)Workers' Safety and Compensation Commission (WSCC)
- Your rights at work: pay, hours, leave and firingEmployment Standards Office (Department of Education, Culture and Employment)
- Get help finding a job or trainingECE Service Centres (Department of Education, Culture and Employment)
- Become an apprentice or get certified in a tradeApprenticeship, Trade and Occupation Certification (Department of Education, Culture and Employment)
Housing and property
- Search or register a land titleLand Titles Office (Department of Justice, Government of the Northwest Territories)
- Check or appeal your property assessmentProperty Assessment Division (Department of Municipal and Community Affairs)
- Renting: rules, rent increases, evictions and disputesRental Office (Department of Justice, Government of the Northwest Territories)
- Apply for social or affordable housingHousing NWT (NWT Housing Corporation) through Local Housing Organizations
Education
- Student Financial Assistance in the Northwest TerritoriesStudent Financial Assistance (Government of the Northwest Territories)
- Apply for student loans and grantsStudent Financial Assistance (Department of Education, Culture and Employment)
- Get a high school transcript or diploma copyNWT Student Records (Department of Education, Culture and Employment)
Justice and safety
- Sue for a small amount (small claims)Territorial Court of the Northwest Territories (civil claims)
- Get legal aidNWT Legal Aid Commission
- Make a human rights complaintNorthwest Territories Human Rights Commission
- Complain about a business (consumer protection)Consumer Affairs (Department of Municipal and Community Affairs)
- Emergency alerts and how to prepareNWT Alert (Department of Municipal and Community Affairs, Emergency Management)
Environment and outdoors
- Buy a fishing licenceDepartment of Environment and Climate Change (ECC)
- Buy a hunting licenceDepartment of Environment and Climate Change (ECC) regional offices
- Reserve a campsite in a provincial or territorial parkNWT Parks (Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment)
- Wildfire status and fire bansNWT Fire (Department of Environment and Climate Change)
Immigration, citizenship and travel
- Immigrate through a province or territoryNWT Nominee Program (Department of Education, Culture and Employment)
Voting and democracy
- Vote in a provincial or territorial electionElections NWT
- Find your member of the provincial or territorial legislatureLegislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories
Seniors
- Apply for a long-term care homeContinuing Care Services (Department of Health and Social Services) and regional health authorities
- Provincial income top-ups for low-income seniorsIncome Security Programs (Department of Education, Culture and Employment)
Biggest cities and towns
The 12 biggest by population, of 22 communities with public places on the map. Each page lists its libraries, pools, clinics and more.
- YellowknifePopulation 20,340 · 37 places
- Hay RiverPopulation 3,169 · 6 places
- InuvikPopulation 3,137 · 2 places
- Fort SmithPopulation 2,248 · 7 places
- BehchokòPopulation 1,746 · 1 place
- Fort SimpsonPopulation 1,100 · 1 place
- TuktoyaktukPopulation 937 · 2 places
- Norman WellsPopulation 673 · 2 places
- Fort McPhersonPopulation 647 · 1 place
- Fort ProvidencePopulation 618 · 1 place
- AklavikPopulation 536 · 2 places
- Fort LiardPopulation 468 · 1 place
Main territorial government bodies
The ones with the most services and places on record, of 13 territorial government bodies.
- The Government of Northwest Territoriesgov.nt.ca
- Housing Northwest Territoriesnwthc.gov.nt.ca
- Northwest Territories Human Rights Commissionnwrhumanrights.ca
- Workers' Safety and Compensation Commissionwscc.nt.ca
- Arctic Energy Allianceaea.nt.ca
- Inuvialuit Water Boardinuvwb.ca
- Northwest Territories Liquor Licensing Boardeia.gov.nt.ca
- Northwest Territories Surface Rights Boardeia.gov.nt.ca
- Prosper NWTprospernwt.ca
- Public Trustee for the Northwest Territories - Estate & Trust Fundjustice.gov.nt.ca
- Sport North Federationsportnorth.com
- Status of Women Council of the Northwest Territoriesnwtwomen.ca
Cite this page
Canada Service Map, "Public services in Northwest Territories: who handles what", updated 14 October 2026, https://canadaservicemap.ca/provinces/northwest-territories