Government of Canada introduces legislation for responsible co-management of Arctic resources

November 8, 2018 — Ottawa, ON — Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada

The Government of Canada is taking action to protect Canada’s rich natural environment, respect the rights and interests of Indigenous peoples, and support a resilient Canadian natural resource sector, in order to help ensurea healthy environment and prosperous future for Northern communities.

Today, the Honourable Dominic LeBlanc, Minister of Intergovernmental and Northern Affairs and Internal Trade, introduced Bill C-88, An Act to Amend the Mackenzie Valley Resource Management Act and the Canada Petroleum Resources Act and to make consequential amendments to other Acts, in the House of Commons.

The proposed changes to the Mackenzie Valley Resource Management Act (MVRMA) respond to concerns raised by Indigenous governments and organizations in the Northwest Territories about parts of the 2014 Northwest Territories Devolution Act. This legislation seeks to repeal parts of the 2014 legislation that were challenged in court. By listening to Northerners, the Government is ensuring that policies better reflect their interests and their realities.

The proposed changes to the Canada Petroleum Resources Act support the Government’s commitment to a renewed framework for co-managing Arctic offshore resources by allowing the Governor in Council to issue orders, when in the national interest, to prohibit oil and gas activities and freeze the terms of existing licenses to prevent them from expiring while the prohibition is in place.

The changes would also allow the Government to establish a path forward for the strategic management of Arctic offshore oil and gas resources in collaboration with partners. Partners in the North have been clear that they want to be involved in the management of Arctic offshore oil and gas resources, and the Government has listened.

These amendments are part of the Government’s commitment to protect Canada’s rich natural environment, respect the rights and interests of Indigenous peoples, and support a resilient Canadian natural resources sector.