1.3.2.8

Description: 
Developing and proposing amendments to the Waters Act
Lead Dept: 
ENR
Priority: 
1.3
Parent Commitment: 
1.3.2
Status: 
Unfulfilled
Restructured COC: 
Economy and Environment
Number: 
8
Deputy Minister Committee: 
Economy and Environment
Background Information: 

ECONOMY, ENVIRONMENT AND CLIMATE CHANGE

Commitment 1.3.2 – In order to advance the territorial vision of land and resource management in accordance with the Land Use and Sustainability Framework, we will evolve our legislative, regulatory, and policy systems by:
Developing and proposing amendments to the Waters Act.

Working collaboratively with multiple agencies, the Water Resources Division bears the primary GNWT roles and responsibilities related to water management and water stewardship. It ensures that water stewardship and management objectives of ENR are met in an integrated and timely manner. Water stewardship functions involve the ongoing implementation of the NWT Water Stewardship Strategy in collaboration with other water partners. One of the key areas of responsibility includes the administration of the Waters Act and Regulations and the provision of information and expert advice to resource management boards and other clients on the effects of proposed water and land activities on the aquatic environment, as required by the Mackenzie Valley Resource Management Act, the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act and the Waters Act and regulations. The Division also suggests ways to address these impacts and assists NWT water boards in making informed decisions on how development should proceed.

The Waters Act and Regulations were mirrored upon Devolution (April 1, 2014) and provides the GNWT with new authorities and responsibilities with respect to the management of NWT waters. The Waters Act needs to be modernized to reflect post devolution authorities and responsibilities, as well as current approaches to water management (milestones 1, 2 and 3).

Related Mandate Commitments:

  • Commitment 1.2.7 - We will expand tourism options and provide high quality public facilities by:

    • Expanding and modernizing our parks infrastructure and signage.

    • Improving road side facilities along remote highways.

    • Building new parks such as Doi T'oh Territorial Park in the Sahtú Region.

  • Commitment 1.3.1 – Using the Land Use and Sustainability Framework to be clear and transparent, we will:

    • Finalize and implement the Conservation Action Plan in order to finalize existing candidate protected areas.

    • Establish Thaidene Nëné Park