Resource revenue sharing and Intergovernmental Council agreements signed

YELLOWKNIFE (February 27, 2014) – Premier Bob McLeod announced today the signing of the Northwest Territories Intergovernmental Resource Revenue Sharing Agreement (RRS) and the Northwest Territories Intergovernmental Agreement on Land and Resource Management by the Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT), Inuvialuit Regional Corporation, Northwest Territory Métis Nation, Sahtu Secretariat Incorporated, Gwich’in Tribal Council, and Tłįchǫ Government.

“The Northwest Territories is providing national leadership in its recognition of Aboriginal governments as important partners in our work to support the success and wellbeing of people and communities across the NWT,” said Premier McLeod. “Nowhere else in Canada have resource revenues from public lands been offered to Aboriginal governments on this level. These new revenues will help them build capacity and meet community needs, strengthening the territory.”

The Resource Revenue Sharing agreement sets out terms and conditions for the sharing of resource revenues from public lands in the NWT among the GNWT and Aboriginal government signatories to the Devolution Agreement. The GNWT has committed to share up to 25% of its resource revenues with these Aboriginal governments – an unprecedented sharing arrangement in Canada.

“In addition to Resource Revenue Sharing, our Aboriginal government partners in devolution have also helped lay the foundation for how we will cooperate and collaborate in the area of land and resource management,” said Premier McLeod. “Once again, the GNWT is breaking new ground and setting an example for others to follow in formalizing its relationships with Aboriginal governments.”

The Land and Resource Management agreement establishes a new relationship among the GNWT and participating Aboriginal governments in the territory.  It creates an Intergovernmental Council to facilitate cooperation and coordination among northern leaders on land and resource management across regions, while respecting the authority of each government in its respective jurisdiction.  Through this council, northern governments can find efficiencies and work together to ensure land and resource management policies and practices are economically robust, mutually supportive and reflect north priorities like sustainable land use and environmental protection.

These agreements are required to fully implement the provisions laid out in the Northwest Territories Lands and Resource Devolution Agreement, which transfers administration and control of public land and resources in the territory from the Government of Canada to the Government of the Northwest Territories on April 1, 2014.  For more information, visitdevolution.gov.nt.ca.

For more information: Brenda Norris Media Liaison Office of the Press Secretary Government of the Northwest Territories Tel: (867) 669-2302

Backgrounder: Backgrounder – Resource Revenues

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