1.1.10

Description: 
We will ensure that residents have meaningful opportunities to participate in the assessment of potential benefits and risks associated with resource development, including hydraulic fracturing (ongoing).
Lead Dept: 
LANDS
ITI
Priority: 
1.1
Status: 
Fulfilled
Restructured COC: 
Economy and Environment
Number: 
10
Deputy Minister Committee: 
Economy and Environment
Background Information: 

ECONOMY, ENVIRONMENT AND CLIMATE CHANGE

Commitment 1.1.10

We will ensure that residents have meaningful opportunities to participate in the assessment of potential benefits and risks associated with resource development, including hydraulic fracturing.

Oil and Gas Operations Act (OGOA) and Petroleum Resources Act (PRA)

We are committed to improving our oil and gas legislative framework in accordance with the 18th Legislative Assembly’s priority for improved governance.

The Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment has completed public engagement on amendments to the OGOA and PRA in early 2018 (milestone 3).

Changes will focus on improving transparency, modernizing language, clarifying purpose and principles, reducing red tape, and ensuring regulatory certainty.  These are a first step towards a fulsome rebuild of our NWT oil and gas legislation.

Improving transparency will provide public information on the benefits and risks of oil and gas development to support discussion and decision-making.

Outreach and Education Events

The Department of Lands and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources are collaborating with the Mackenzie Valley Environmental Impact Review Board, the Land and Water Boards, and the Land Use Planning Boards on outreach and knowledge-sharing events related to the Mackenzie Valley Resource Management Act system.

At least one outreach and knowledge-sharing event related to the NWT integrated resource management system is held in Quarter 1 of each year (milestones 2 and 4). Workshops were held in 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2018, and a workshop is scheduled for February 2019.

Participant Funding

Participant funding enables NWT residents and organizations to participate in the assessment of potential benefits and risks associated with resource development. Although participant funding is a federal responsibility, the Department of Lands has raised the issue with the federal government at every opportunity. The GNWT welcomed the December 2018 federal announcement of the Northern Participant Funding Program and looks forward to learning more about how the program will be implemented.

Related Mandate Commitments:

  • Commitment 1.1.9 - We will develop a long-term strategy to attract oil and gas development in the territory.
  • Commitment 1.1.11 - We will develop and foster the knowledge economy by:
    • Implementing the Resources and Energy Development Information (REDI) initiative to increase public awareness and understanding of NWT renewable and non-renewable mineral and energy resources and the means by which they can be developed in a responsible and sustainable manner.
  • Commitment 1.3.2 - In order to advance the territorial vision of land resource management in accordance with the Land Use and Sustainability Framework, we will evolve our legislative, regulatory, and policy systems by:
    • Developing and proposing a Mineral Resources Act
    • Making amendments to the NWT Mining Regulations
    • Developing and proposing amendments to the Petroleum Resources Act
    • Developing and proposing amendments to the Oil and Gas Operations Act
    • Developing and proposing amendments to the Commissioner’s Land Act
    • Developing and proposing amendments to the Northwest Territories Lands Act

  • Commitment 5.2.5 - We will work to improve the NWT integrated resource management regime to ensure the regime reflects NWT interests and priorities.