How CIRNAC reclaims contaminated sites

On this page:

• Contaminated site remediation in the Northwest Territories
• Participation and public involvement
• Northern Contaminants Program
• Protecting the North

Contaminated site remediation in the Northwest Territories

Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada's Contaminants and Remediation Division in the Northwest Territories region recognizes the importance of contaminated site remediation and future contaminated site prevention.

The division currently manages nearly 100 contaminated sites in the Northwest Territories, at various stages of remediation.

Many of these sites became the Government of Canada's responsibility after private owners relinquished their properties according to the legislation of the day, or when companies went bankrupt.

The properties then reverted to the Crown, and as representatives of the Crown, the department became custodian of these properties and related remediation activities.

To guide its contaminated sites remediation and prevention efforts, the department created the Contaminated Sites Management Policy in 2002. The implementation of this policy is designed to contribute to a safer, healthier, sustainable environment for First Nations, Inuit, Métis and Northerners by striving to preserve and enhance the ecological integrity of the Northern environment. Other policies that guide our remediation and prevention efforts include:

• the Policy on the Planning and the Management of Investments
• the Directive on the Management of Real Property

Participation and public involvement

Managing contaminated sites is more than just removing harmful substances. It often involves engaging and reassuring Indigenous governments, communities and residents who have significant concerns about the health and safety of their families, communities, and lands.

Key to a successful remediation project is the involvement of community members, governments, industry and the general public in all stages of the remediation wherever possible.

Public involvement is important because it:

• builds trust amongst all parties
• increases capacity of all parties by increasing knowledge and understanding
• improves the decision-making process
• identifies and addresses critical issues early in the process
• develops mutual understanding and improves relationships
• creates real and lasting change by designing and implementing a process that addresses community priorities in a meaningful way

Please visit Socio-economic benefits and opportunities for information on how remediation can benefit Indigenous and Northern employees and businesses.

Northern Contaminants Program

Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada's Northern Contaminants Program is working to monitor, reduce and, wherever possible, eliminate contaminants from sources in traditional foods, while providing information that will help people and communities make informed decisions.

The Program engages Northerners and scientists in researching and monitoring long-range contaminants in northern Canada and the Canadian Arctic. These are contaminants that are transported to the Arctic through atmospheric and oceanic processes from others parts of the world and which remain in the Arctic environment and build up in the food chain.

The data generated by the Program is used to assess ecosystem and human health, and the findings of these assessments are used to address the safety and security of traditional country foods that are important to the health and traditional lifestyles of Northerners and northern communities. The findings also inform policy, resulting in action to eliminate contaminants from long-range sources.

The Northern Contaminants Program allocates funds for research and related activities in 5 main areas:

• Human Health
• Environmental Monitoring and Research
• Community-Based Monitoring and Research
• Communications, Capacity, and Outreach
• National/Regional/International Coordination and Aboriginal Partnerships

The Program is represented in the Northwest Territories by a regional committee called the Northwest Territories Regional Contaminants Committee. For results or additional information, contact the Northern Contaminants Program.