• Introduction
• About the NWT
• Background
• Principles
• Overview diagram
• Land ownership
• Boards in the NWT
• Jurisdictions
• Land/Water Management – ISR
• Land/Water Management – MVR
• NWT Board Forum

NWT Boards Overview

There are several governing bodies and regulatory organizations that have different mandates and responsibilities for certain areas in the Northwest Territories. The term ‘boards’ refers to institutions of public government, and co-management and advisory bodies.

Today, there are 13 public boards involved in making decisions over the land, water and resources in the NWT. They are responsible for preliminary screening of development proposals, environmental assessments and impact reviews, land use planning, wildlife management and the issuance of water licenses and land use permits. Most have members nominated by Aboriginal organizations, the Government of Canada, and the Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT).

General functions of the boards:

• Prepare regional land use plans to guide resource development, and the use of land, water and other resources
• Conduct environmental assessment and environmental impact review processes
• Regulate the uses of land and water through the issuance of licenses and permits
• Manage wildlife and renewable resources
• Ensure land and water decisions protect the environment from any significant adverse impacts of proposed developments
• Consider the economic, social and cultural well-being of residents and communities of the region and the territory as a whole

Types of Boards

Land and resources are managed through four different types of boards in the Mackenzie Valley:

• Land use planning Boards
• Environmental assessment Boards
• Land and water regulation Boards
• Renewable Resource Boards

A board typically comprises members nominated and/or appointed by each of the federal, territorial and aboriginal governments. Details on individual board composition can be found in the Mackenzie Valley Resource Management Act (MVRMA), the NWT Waters Act, and in individual claim agreements.

Renewable resource boards, where they exist, act as the regional authority for wildlife management in the settlement region and these boards work cooperatively with the GNWT.