ECONOMY, ENVIRONMENT AND CLIMATE CHANGE

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

Mineral Resources Act

The Department of Industry, Tourism, and Investment has committed to developing and introducing a new Mineral Resources Act (MRA) during the 18th Legislative Assembly (milestones 1 and 2).

The Government of the Northwest Territories assumed jurisdiction over mineral resources management in the NWT with Devolution on April 1, 2014.

Mineral resources in the NWT are currently governed by the Mining Regulations under the Northwest Territories Lands Act.  This legislation was mirrored from the federal government at the time of Devolution.

A new Act will reflect the unique regulatory needs and priorities of the NWT and make things more transparent and simpler, by bringing the administration of mineral tenure and royalties together under one Act.

The MRA will support sustainable, inclusive mineral development in the NWT that helps us to manage our lands and resources in a way that benefits NWT residents, while increasing our competiveness in the mining sector.

The MRA will establish clear and modern rules for mining in the NWT, reducing risk and attracting investment.

The process to develop and implement a Mineral Resources Act will take several years and the first steps in the process have begun.

Related Mandate Commitments

• Commitment 1.1.8 - We will support mineral exploration and the mining sector, by implementing the Mineral Development Strategy, capturing opportunities to build transportation infrastructure that enables resources to get to market, closing the skills gap in the mining sector, implement the Mining Incentive Program, developing and proposing a Mineral Resources Act, and supporting Aboriginal governments to build capacity in dealing with mining-related activities.
• Commitment 1.1.11 - We will develop and foster the knowledge economy by:
  • Implementing the NWT Geological Survey Strategic Plan, including carrying out Slave Province geoscience studies,  ensuring the availability of high quality geoscience knowledge to promote the successful exploration for and discovery of NWT mineral resources, and defining permafrost conditions that may impact future infrastructure development.
• Commitment 1.2.9 - We will attract foreign direct investment, and cross-promote minerals, furs, fish, forest products, and tourism to investors and markets.