Evaluation of the Northern Regulation, Resources and Environmental Management Programs - Follow-up Report Status Update as of September 30, 2013
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Action Plan Implementation Status Update Report to the Evaluation, Performance Measurement and Review Committee - As of September 30, 2013
Northern Affairs Organization
| Project Recommendations | Action Plan | Expected Completion Date | Program Response |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. NAO take the measure to streamline the assignment of security deposits to ensure that fair and sufficient amounts are arrived at, such as legislative change to update maximum deposits, clarification of land and water components of securities, and consultations leading to jointly set deposit amounts for projects on Aboriginal-owned land. | A working group has been established to examine issues surrounding reclamation security. | Q1 2013 | Status: Underway Update/Rationale as of 30/09/2013: The Nunavut securities working group has developed a draft securities management agreement and is working towards legislative amendments. The NWT working group continues to meet and are drafting regional operating procedures. AES: In progress Structures and processes have been put in place as appropriate, and some achieved results have been identified. Though a timetable is in place for full implementation of the action item by the original expected completion date, progress has been slow and the original expected completion date has passed. Continued monitoring required. |
| 2. NAO continue its commitment to supporting regulatory processes in the North to ensure that environmental risks continue to be identified, adequate inspections of project sites are conducted and procedures are in place to communicate inspection results including compliance information, such that regulators have the information they need to manage an effective and adaptive strategy for mitigating environmental risk. | NAO will define the term "compliance and establish clear policy and procedures on how the various levels of compliance are to be reported to the Land and Water Boards and in the public realm. | March 31st, 2012 | Status: Underway Update/Rationale as of 30/09/2013 The term "compliance has not yet been defined. As part of the NWT Devolution Agreement, the AANDC inspection function is being transferred to the GNWT. AANDC inspectors will continue to communicate regularly with Boards in respect to inspection reports in Nunavut and until April 1, 2014 in the NWT. AES: No action No concrete activities have been conducted in relation to this portion of the action plan and the original expected completion date has passed. Continued monitoring required. |
| 3. NAO take steps to ensure that its managers, and future evaluations, have access to sufficient information to assess the adequacy of site inspections and compliance with the terms of leases, land use permits and water licenses. | Information is available but not all of it electronically. It is not housed centrally as the Regions and Boards all have roles in the process and hold their own information. The Region will develop options for improving access to the information from the various authorities. | March 31st, 2012 | Status: Request to Close Update/Rationale as of 30/09/2013: As part of the NWT Devolution Agreement, the AANDC inspection function is being transferred to the GNWT as of April 1, 2014 along with applicable files. Information related to inspection reports, results and compliance with terms and conditions are currently available, but not all of the information is in a central database. In Nunavut, discussions continue with Institutes of Public Government to find ways to improve coordination. AES: underway (in progress) Structures and processes are being put in place as applicable, and some overall organizational goals have been identified. An organizational level timetable is in place which will enable full implementation of the action item though the original expected completion date has passed. Continued monitoring required. |
| 4. NAO should work with other parties to address the issue of "orphan and "out of scope mitigation measures recommended by Boards. | NAO will encourage Boards to direct mitigation measures to the appropriate regulatory authority and to ensure that mitigation measures are within the scope of the review process, to avoid "orphan and "out of scope measures. In addition, AANDC will review the issue of "orphan mitigation measures and develop options that might address the issue. This work will be completed in the course of planned legislative and policy reviews of the regimes in each territory over the coming 2-3 fiscal years as part of the Action Plan to improve Northern Regulatory Regimes. | March 31st, 2015 |