The Northern Regulatory Initiative
Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada leads the Northern Regulatory Initiative component of Canada's Critical Minerals Strategy. The Northern Regulatory Initiative provides the resources and support needed to ensure that northern regulatory regimes reflect and respect the unique contexts across Canada's territories.
Table of contents
- About
- Indigenous participation in Northern resource management
- Multi-party regulatory dialogues
- Mackenzie Valley Operational Dialogue
- Regional, baseline and cumulative effects studies
- Slave Geological Province regional study
- Yukon: pilot initiative to support Indigenous-led baseline and cumulative effects studies
- Improved participation in land use planning and impact assessment processes
- Critical mineral potential in the North
- Contact us
- Related links
About
Yukon, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut have unique environmental and resource management regimes based in modern treaties. The Northern Regulatory Initiative aims to increase confidence and efficiencies in northern regulatory regimes by advancing:
- Indigenous participation in resource management processes
- Collaborative, multi-party dialogues to action common regulatory priorities
- Regional, baseline, and cumulative effects studies in priority areas
- Indigenous participation in land use planning and impact assessment processes
Indigenous participation in Northern resource management
The Northern Regulatory Initiative advances the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act by supporting Indigenous-led studies and participation in resource management processes.
- Learn about how Canada collaborates with Indigenous peoples in the sustainable management of natural resources.
- Find out about the regulatory regimes in the North.
Multi-party regulatory dialogues
Regulatory dialogue forums create opportunities for governments, rights holders and stakeholders to come together to identify and advance common regulatory priorities in each of the 3 territories.
Each regulatory dialogue is unique and dependent on partner priorities. Organizational structure, frequency of meetings and topics for discussion are developed in collaboration with northern partners through steering committees and working groups.
Mackenzie Valley Operational Dialogue
The Mackenzie Valley Operational Dialogue provides an opportunity for partners to convene and discuss operational and regulatory priorities in an open and cross-cutting manner.
- Find out more about the Mackenzie Valley Operational Dialogue
Regional, baseline and cumulative effects studies
Regional, baseline and cumulative effects studies are important decision-making tools in northern regulatory regimes. By collecting comprehensive baseline information and investigating different visions that governments, rights holders and stakeholders may have for a region, these studies can inform short-term and long-term decision-making. Studies are being supported in priority areas for critical mineral exploration, development and/or enabling infrastructure projects.
Conducting regional, baseline and cumulative effects studies in collaboration with governments, rights holders and stakeholders is key to supporting more informed and efficient northern regulatory processes.
Slave Geological Province regional study
The Tłı̨chǫ Government formally requested that a regional study be conducted in the Slave Geological Province. Canada is currently collaborating with Indigenous and territorial partners to inform next steps for a regional study in the Slave Geological province.
Yukon: pilot initiative to support Indigenous-led baseline and cumulative effects studies
Canada is supporting the development of proposals for Indigenous-led baseline and cumulative effects studies in areas of critical mineral and/or enabling infrastructure potential in Yukon.
Improved participation in land use planning and impact assessment processes
Land use plans direct how land, water and natural resources will be treated in order to achieve the vision and goals for an area. Funding under this activity will support Indigenous governments and organizations' full and informed participation in land use planning activities. This will contribute to the advancement of land use plans that affect their territories, rights and interests.
Impact assessments are used to assess the potential positive and negative effects of proposed projects. These consider a wide range of factors and propose measures to mitigate projects' adverse effects. The Northern Regulatory Initiative provides financial support to potentially impacted and otherwise unfunded Indigenous governments and organizations to increase their capacity to participate in land-use planning activities. This includes supporting participation in early stages of impact assessment processes, decision-making phases, and post-assessment activities like community-based monitoring initiatives or advisory groups.
Land use planning and impact assessment activities help ensure effective project regulatory oversight. Support is provided on a case-by-case basis. Applicants may contact us to determine eligibility for funding under the Northern Regulatory Initiative.
Critical mineral potential in the North
Yukon, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut have significant known critical mineral deposits and potential for new discoveries. This includes copper, lithium, graphite, nickel, cobalt, and rare earth elements.
- Discover why Canada is a world leader in mining and how mining contributes to Canada's economy.
- Find out more about critical mineral mining in Canada through this interactive map.
Contact us
Have questions or comments?
Email us at Initiativedereglementationdunord-Northernregulatoryinitiative@sac-isc.gc.ca.