Benefits Plan Approval (Onshore)
Purpose of the Benefits Plan Approval
The purpose of the Benefits Plan Approval is to ensure the Proponent has provided Benefits Plans to provide for the employment and training of NWT residents and for NWT businesses to have a full and fair opportunity to supply goods and services on a competitive basis to the Project. Benefits Plans will also need to provide first consideration to northerners and northern businesses in benefits opportunities and that the communities closest to where the work or activity will take place will be the starting point for outward searches for employees, trainees or potential contractors.
This process map pertains only to Benefit Plan Approvals for onshore petroleum activities; for offshore Benefit Plan Approvals, proponents must contact AANDC Headquarters.
Overview of the Benefits Plan Approval
Benefits Plans are submitted by the Proponent and reviewed by the Manager, Oil and Gas Planning, ITI – Petroleum Resources Division (PRD), on behalf of the Minister of ITI, under the (NWT) Oil and Gas Operations Act. ITI-PRD draws upon the advice of ITI – Client Services and Community Relations Unit, ITI – Industrial Initiatives Unit, and GNWT-Education, Culture and Employment during its review of proponents’ proposed Benefits Plans, once they are submitted. ITI-PRD will also consult with Aboriginal stakeholders and other northerners prior to approval of the Benefits Plans.
Process Milestones
The Benefits Plan Approval process consists of four milestones. A “milestone” is a major step in a process that involves a key action taken or decision made. Each milestone, in practice, consists of one or more “steps” which describe the mechanics of how the authorization is processed.
Milestone 1 - Issue identification and benefits plan submitted
Milestone 1 consists of the following 3 steps:
- Step 1 – Proponent identifies Northern, Aboriginal and Canadian benefits issues
- Step 2 – Proponent prepares proposed Benefits Plan
- Step 3 – Proponent submits proposed Benefits Plan to ITI-PRD
Milestone 2 - ITI review
Milestone 2 consists of the following 2 steps:
- Step 4 – ITI-PRD determines whether proposed Benefits Plan is consistent with the NWT Oil and Gas Operations Act
- Step 5 – ITI-PRD reviews proposed Benefits Plan with Inuvialuit, Gwich’in, Sahtu Dene, Dehcho and/or Métis (as appropriate)
Milestone 3 - ITI approval
Milestone 3 consists of the following 2 steps:
- Step 6 – ITI-PRD officials provide results of their work and recommendations to the ITI Minister
- Step 7 – Manager, ITI-PRD determines whether to approve or waive the proposed Benefits Plan
Milestone 4 - ITI informs proponent and NWT Oil and Gas Regulator of decision
Milestone 4 consists of the following step:
- Step 8 – ITI-PRD informs Proponent and NWT Oil and Gas Regulator of Benefits Plan Approval
For more information on any of these points, please contact us.