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 Environmental Protection Act (including the development of air quality regulations).

Air Regulations

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (ENR) committed to developing air regulations during the Ekati Jay Project Public Hearing in September of 2015. This was previously a long-standing gap in the NWT's regulatory regime. Since fall of 2015, ENR has focused on the development of a comprehensive framework for air emissions management and air quality protection, applicable in all of the NWT. Associated amendments to the Environmental Protection Act (EPA) (Bill 27) which are required to give authority to the proposed framework, were completed in the fall of 2017 (milestone 1). ENR conducted internal review with Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) departments and external regulators (e.g. the National Energy Board, NWT Land and Water Boards, etc.) on the proposed Framework in March and April, 2016. Feedback was incorporated into the framework. External stakeholder engagement and Consultation was initiated in June 2016. Regulations are expected to be enacted before the end of 2018 (milestone 4).

Modernizing the EPA

The Environmental Protection Act (formerly Environmental Protection Ordinance) was enacted in 1973 and several minor amendments have been made since enactment. Currently contemplated amendments will modernize the Act to improve implementation and enforcement of GNWT's environmental protection laws and regulations (milestones 2, 3 and 5).

Updating EPA Guidelines

ENR is responsible for the 16 Guidelines that fall under the EPA. These Guidelines are being reviewed and revised to provide clarity and certainty to the requirements of the legislation. All 16 guidelines will be updated over the next five years.

Related Mandate Commitments:

• Commitment 1.4.1 - We will develop a territorial climate change strategy that takes into account northern energy demands and the cost of living, while reflecting international and national commitments to lower greenhouse gas emissions, exploring options for carbon pricing systems, and capturing local alternatives such as biomass, wind, geothermal and solar.