Resource Management after Devolution

Devolution has given residents more say in how our public land and water are used and how our environment is protected. Through devolution, Northerners can manage and protect land and water based on northern priorities like sustainable development and respect for traditional land use.

Resource development is the foundation of the NWT economy, providing important employment and business opportunities throughout the territory. The GNWT recognizes that investors need certainty with regard to existing rights, new project approvals, and the regulatory system. The GNWT will continue to work with industry to ensure public policy and service delivery is practical, effective, and workable.

Since devolution, the Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) has been responsible for managing public land, water and resources onshore in the Northwest Territories. The federal government kept its responsibility for offshore resources. As a part of devolution, the GNWT committed to establishing agreements with the Government of Canada and participating NWT Aboriginal Governments to foster the coordination of land and resource management, while respecting each government’s jurisdictional authority.

Devolution transferred the responsibility for managing onshore resources only to the Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT). The Government of Canada retained its responsibility for offshore resources in the NWT.

The NWT Lands and Resources Devolution Agreement incorporates an agreement among the Government of Canada, GNWT and Inuvialuit Regional Corporation to coordinate the administration of onshore and offshore resources. This commitment to collaboration will promote efficiency and foster best practices in the management of these resources across jurisdictions.

Regional Aboriginal Governments own, or will own, substantial amounts of land in the NWT as part of their settled land claims.

The NWT Lands and Resources Devolution Agreement establishes a new Intergovernmental Council to facilitate cooperation on land and resource management  across jurisdictions among the GNWT and participating Aboriginal Governments. 

Devolution cannot result in any government having a veto over the decisions of another government. However, it is in northern governments’ common interest to work collaboratively on land and resource management. Through greater cooperation, northern governments can find efficiencies, share capacity, and foster best practices that will benefit all residents, investors and governments in the NWT.