N.W.T. Government Seeks Increased Funding for Indigenous Participation

The government of the Northwest Territories (N.W.T.) is preparing to request additional funding from the federal government to enhance Indigenous communities’ participation in environmental assessments. This comes as the territory’s current budget for the Interim Resource Management Assistance (IRMA) program has been fully utilized. At a recent committee meeting, Robert Jenkins, the deputy environment minister, expressed interest in the allocation of $67 million in federal funds aimed at expediting regulatory processes.

The IRMA program, which supports Indigenous communities lacking land and resource agreements, operates on an annual budget of $1.5 million. Jenkins highlighted the necessity for expanded funding during discussions with the federal government. “We’re really interested in that conversation we’re going to have next week with Canada,” he stated, emphasizing the potential impact on Indigenous participation in environmental assessments.

During the meeting, Julian Morse, the Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) for Frame Lake, queried the N.W.T. government’s commitment to increasing its own funding for the IRMA program. Jenkins acknowledged ongoing efforts to persuade federal authorities to boost financial support but noted that the territorial government remains cautious about its own spending.

The issue of funding for Indigenous capacity-building in resource management has been termed “historically underfunded” by Kate Reid, MLA for Great Slave. She pointed out the growing relevance of such funding as Canada and the N.W.T. look to accelerate critical mineral development, including projects such as the Mackenzie Valley Highway and the proposed Arctic economic corridor. Reid argued that Indigenous governments require adequate resources to fully engage in the resource management regime, stating, “They need their resource capacity to work within these systems.”

N.W.T. Environment Minister Jay Macdonald recently met with Rebecca Chartrand, the federal Minister of Northern and Arctic Affairs, to discuss these pressing issues. Following the meeting, Macdonald noted that capacity-building has emerged as a recurring concern in discussions with Indigenous governments. He emphasized the need for sustained funding to ensure that Indigenous communities can effectively navigate the environmental assessment process and improve capacity at land and water boards.

In the 2023/24 fiscal year, the territory allocated $1.9 million to the IRMA program, with an annual budget of approximately $1.65 million planned moving forward. As the N.W.T. evaluates its role in the regulatory system, the conversation around expanding the IRMA program aligns with recommendations from a recent review of its regulatory framework.

Industry Minister Caitlin Cleveland commented on the necessity of building capacity within Indigenous governments, indicating that some territorial staff have been seconded to assist these communities. She stressed the urgency of addressing funding needs in light of geopolitical pressures, stating, “To have support and to have certainty you need that engagement and you need that relationship and partnership.”

Cleveland concluded that while the N.W.T. is contributing resources, the scale of funding required by Indigenous governments necessitates federal support to achieve effective collaboration. The upcoming discussions between the N.W.T. government and federal officials will likely shape the future of Indigenous participation in environmental assessments and resource management in the territory.