3.0 Resource Management

The NWT is rich in natural resources as well as non-renewable resources. The land, waterways and wildlife, which have sustained Aboriginal peoples for countless generations, continue to be vitally important to the economic and cultural well-being of all NWT residents. The NWT has many economic resources such as oil, natural gas, mineral deposits and hydro-electric with potential for future development.

There are two main sets of acts that govern resource management in the NWT. The Mackenzie Valley Resource Management Act (MVRMA) applies throughout the NWT with the exception of the Inuvialuit region and the Wood Buffalo National Park.

For the Inuvialuit region, the Inuvialuit Final Agreement establishes the various regulatory and co-management agencies that serve the region.

The MVRMA is federal legislation that created an integrated co-management system for public and private lands and waters throughout the Mackenzie Valley. The Gwich’in, Sahtu and Tlicho land claims agreements lay the foundation for the system by establishing various co-management boards and advisory groups. Key responsibilities of the boards include:

• land-use planning
• regulation of the use of land and water through the issuance of land use permits and water licenses
• environmental assessments of proposed projects
• management of wildlife and habitats

Administration, inspection and enforcement duties on Crown lands are the responsibility of AANDC. The GNWT is responsible for these activities on Commissioner’s lands. Other federal agencies also involved in resource management in the NWT include Fisheries and Oceans (DFO), Environment Canada (EC), Parks Canada (PC) and the National Energy Board (NEB).

Numerous regulatory and co-management boards and agencies are in existence in the NWT. The NWT Board Forum provides general information about the land and resource management system in the Northwest Territories. The website NWTboardforum.com explains how the system works and provides a single entry point to get access to all individual boards.

These are listed below according to their mandates:

• Gwich’in Land and Water Board
• Sahtu Land and Water Board
• Wek’eezhii Land and Water Board
• Mackenzie Valley Land and Water Board
• NWT Water Board (ISR only)
• Government of the NWT
• Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development
• Department of Fisheries and Oceans
• Environment Canada
• National Energy Board
• Parks Canada

• Mackenzie Valley Environmental Impact Review Board
• Environmental Impact Screening Committee (ISR only)
• Environmental Impact Review Board (ISR only)

• Gwich’in Renewable Resources Board
• Sahtu Renewable Resources Board
• Wek’eezhii Renewable Resources Board

• Gwich’in Land Use Planning Board
• Sahtu Land Use Planning Board