1.3.5

Description: 
We will support the Cumulative Impact Monitoring Program (CIMP) that supports the regulatory process and builds community capacity related to environmental monitoring. We will respond to recommendations in the Northwest Territories Environmental Audit for improved environmental management.
Lead Dept: 
ENR
Priority: 
1.3
Status: 
Fulfilled
Restructured COC: 
Economy and Environment
Number: 
5
Deputy Minister Committee: 
Economy and Environment
Background Information: 

ECONOMY, ENVIRONMENT AND CLIMATE CHANGE

Commitment 1.3.5 – We will support the Cumulative Impact Monitoring Program (CIMP) that supports the regulatory process and builds community capacity related to environmental monitoring. We will respond to recommendations in the Northwest Territories Environmental Audit for improved environmental management.

NWT Cumulative Impact Monitoring Program (NWT CIMP)

Cumulative impacts are changes in the environment caused by multiple interactions among human activities and natural processes that accumulate across space and time. The NWT Cumulative Impact Monitoring Program (NWT CIMP), based on territorial legislation and settled land claims, coordinates, conducts and funds the collection, analysis and reporting of information related to environmental conditions in the NWT (milestone 4). Its main purpose is to support better resource management decision-making and the wise use of our resources by furthering our understanding of cumulative impacts and environmental trends (milestone 1). Five-year program priorities were set in the 2016-2020 Action Plan by a Steering Committee of territorial and Indigenous government representatives working with support from subject-matter experts and regulators.

NWT Environmental Audit

The NWT Environmental Audit is an independent audit to assess the quality of existing environmental information, processes related to monitoring cumulative impacts and the effectiveness of the regulatory regime in the Mackenzie Valley. It is an obligation of the Sahtú, Gwich'in and Tłįchǫ land claim agreements and a legislated requirement of the Mackenzie Valley Resource Management Act (MVRMA). The Audit provides recommendations for ways of improving how the environment is managed.

The MVRMA requires that an audit be completed every five years. Previous audits were conducted in 2005 and 2010 with Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC) as the Responsible Minister. The 2015 Audit was completed and delivered to the Minister of Environment and Natural Resources (ENR) in March 2016, and released in June 2016 (milestone 2). The Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) responded to recommendations of the NWT Environmental Audit in 2015. ENR will annually track GNWT progress on those commitments (milestone 3). The 2015 Audit results will inform revisions to the Cumulative Effects Framework (milestone 5).

A copy of the Audit Report can be found here: http://www.enr.gov.nt.ca/programs/nwt-cimp/nwt-environmental-audit

Related Mandate Commitments:

  • Commitment 1.3.1 - Using the Land Use and Sustainability Framework to be clear and transparent, we will: Finalize and implement the Water Stewardship Strategy Action Plan.