The Official Languages Act of the Northwest Territories (1984) gives French and English equal status. Amendments passed in 1990 give official language status to nine Indigenous languages. The Act requires that government services be available in French at its central offices and at regional or community offices where there is a significant demand, or given the nature of the service. All acts and regulations are published in both French and English and have equal status before the courts. The Act provides for the appointment of a N.W.T. Languages Commissioner. The Legislative Assembly must review the provisions and administration of the Act every five years.

The Government Institution Regulations designate the government bodies subject to the Official Languages Act. The Regulations also define what constitutes a significant demand for services in French or English at a territorial institution office and determine the circumstances whereby the nature of the office justifies that communications and services be made available in French or English.

The Official Languages Policy was approved by the Executive Council in August 1997.

An initial Strategic Plan on French Language Communications and Services was approved by the Executive Council in 2018.

The first version of the Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) Standards for French Communications and Services was approved in 2013. Since then, several updates have been made.

The Strategic Plan and the Standards were established to direct departments, boards, and agencies in the development and delivery of French services.

The minister responsible for the Official Languages Act is responsible for coordinating GNWT policies and programs relating to official languages. The Official Languages Policy makes each minister responsible for the delivery of official language services and programs within the departments or agencies that report to him or her. The Francophone Affairs Secretariat coordinates and oversees the implementation of the Strategic Plan on French‑Language Communications and Services. Each GNWT department has a French language communications and services coordinator.