Upcoming Opportunities

Department of Environment and Climate Change

1.  Environmental Protection Act

Amendments to the Environmental Protection Act (2017) will bring it in line with best practices, gain equivalency under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, eliminate perceived or existing overlap with other legislation, and provide  regulatory clarity and consistency.  TO BE DETERMINED

2.  Waters Act

The provisions of the Waters Act (2016) and its associated regulations have remained substantially the same since its
enactment in 1992. Potential amendments include changes to modernize the Act, fill gaps, eliminate overlap with other legislation, provide regulatory efficiencies and certainty, and create consistency with other NWT legislation and  agreements entered by the GNWT.  TO BE DETERMINED

3.  Forest Act Regulations

Regulations are required to bring the Forest Act into force, passed by the 19th Legislative Assembly. The Intergovernmental Council (IGC) will participate under the IGC Legislative Development Protocol. Begin 2024 Q3  Completion To Be Determined

4.  Public Land Act Regulations

Regulations are required to bring the Public Land Act into force, passed by the 18th Legislative Assembly. There are nine  existing regulations being reviewed and new regulations being developed dealing with public land grants and dispositions, quarry dispositions, and land use permitting in the Inuvialuit Setlement Region. The IGC is participating under the IGC Legislative Development Protocol.  Underway  Completion 2024 Q4

5.  Wildlife Act Regulations

Wildlife regulations are amended periodically and regularly based on emerging conservation goals, public health, or public
safety reasons, or upon recommendations from processes following the settled land claim agreements.  Ongoing

6.  Waters Act Regulations

Amendment to regulations under the Waters Act to update and modernize regulations, eliminate overlaps, provide  regulatory clarity. Timing of this regulatory initiative is contingent on the progress of the Waters Act legislative initiative. The IGC will be invited to participate under the IGC Legislative Development Protocol.  Begin TO BE DETERMINED

7.  Air Quality

Air quality is largely unregulated in the NWT. The development air quality regulations are being reviewed, to be developed either under the authority of the Environmental Protection Act or the Waters Act. The timing is contingent on the progress of those two legislative initiatives.  TO BE DETERMINED

8.  Caribou Range Planning Regulations

May be required under the Species at Risk Act (NWT) to ensure the enforceability of boreal caribou range plans. Policy analysis needs to be completed.  TO BE DETERMINED

Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment

1.  Mineral Resources Act Regulations
Development of regulations required to bring the Mineral Resources Act into force.  Phase 1 – coming into force (Spring 2026)  Phase 2 – Coming into force (Summer 2027)

2. Petroleum Resources Act and Oil and Gas Operations Act
Review and modernize existing regulations and considerations for geothermal legislation.  Fall 2026

For further information on how to make your voice heard, see here.

The current work to amend, update and rewrite legislation should:

• Bring consistency to the NWT’s laws;
• Give the residents of the Northwest Territories a greater say in how lands, waters, and natural resources are managed in their homeland;
• Eliminate differing or conflicting sets of rules and standards found within multiple territorial and federal acts;
• Increase the involvement of Indigenous government organizations in decision-making through the incorporation of the co-management system established in their lands and resources agreements;
• Recognize new best practices for environmental management in the areas of climate change, sustainability, public participation, and transparency; and
• Allow the GNWT, in collaboration with Indigenous governments, to assume all of the responsibilities transferred from Canada through devolution.