The Government of Canada is advancing responsible development in the North by supporting better data, stronger partnerships, and regulatory processes guided by Indigenous priorities.
Today, the Honourable Rebecca Chartrand, Minister of Northern and Arctic Affairs and Minister responsible for the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency, highlighted the recently launched call for expressions of interest under the Northern Regulatory Initiative to further strengthen Indigenous and system readiness across northern regulatory regimes.
This call directly complements investments in initiatives like the recently launched Regional Database and Major Project Review Tool, developed by the Mackenzie Valley Environmental Impact Review Board with federal support. This innovative platform will improve access to environmental, socio-economic, and project information, helping regulators, Indigenous governments, communities, and project proponents make more informed and coordinated decisions.
Through this initiative, Indigenous governments and organizations in Yukon, the Northwest Territories, and Nunavut are invited to submit expressions of interest for actions that:
- deliver timely, relevant data to support project applications, regulatory reviews and decisions; and,
- strengthen Indigenous readiness to participate in regulatory processes.
Successful applicants may receive up to $500,000 over three years to support Indigenous‑led initiatives that inform decision‑making and advance nation‑building and major projects in Canada's North.
By bringing together publicly available data into one accessible system, the tool strengthens transparency and supports a better understanding of cumulative effects across the Slave Geological Province. It is designed to enhance the efficiency, predictability, and integrity of environmental assessment processes for major projects in the Northwest Territories.
In the coming weeks and months, Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada will introduce additional measures as part of a strategic plan to invest $42 million over four years to ensure northern regulatory systems are well-equipped to accommodate the increased pace of development and economic activity in the North.
In addition to the call for proposals announced today, this will include investments to support co-management boards to increase their capacity and adopt innovative tools and technologies, support for the regulatory readiness of communities and Indigenous governments, and support to enable collaboration between co-management partners to address regulatory barriers and ensure predictability.
Together, these actions and investments demonstrate Canada's broader commitment to improving northern regulatory systems so they are clear, reliable, and responsive to the needs and priorities of Northerners and Indigenous Peoples, while respecting modern treaties and Indigenous rights.
