What was this engagement about?
The Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) and water partners are working on the next Water Stewardship Strategy Action Plan for 2021-2025.
The GNWT was seeking input from NWT residents to help shape the new Action Plan. We wanted to know what your priorities were regarding NWT waters.
Why is the NWT Water Stewardship Strategy important?
Northern Voices, Northern Waters: The NWT Water Stewardship Strategy (Water Strategy) was developed in collaboration with water partners – anyone with a role in water stewardship in the Northwest Territories (NWT), including Indigenous, territorial and federal governments, Indigenous organizations, communities, regulatory boards, non-government organizations, industry and academic institutions. It was released in 2010. Since the release, two five-year Action Plans (for 2011-2015 and 2016-2020) were developed with water partners to create a partnership-based approach to improve and promote water stewardship in the NWT.
The Water Strategy helps ensure that the waters of the NWT will remain clean, abundant and productive for all time. It sets a common path forward to steward our NWT waters. All water partners and all water users are encouraged to embrace the Water Strategy as a starting point for future actions. The goals of the strategy are to ensure:
- Waters that flow into, within or through the NWT are substantially unaltered in the quality, quantity and rates of flow.
- Residents have access to safe, clean and plentiful drinking water at all times.
- Aquatic ecosystems are healthy and diverse.
- Residents can rely on their water to sustain their communities and economies.
- Residents are involved in, and knowledgeable about, water stewardship.
- All those making water stewardship decisions work together to communicate and share information.
This five-year Action Plan (2021-2025) will build on the momentum of the past two Action Plans, ensuring continued progress towards achieving the goals and vision of the Water Strategy.
How could I participate?
NWT residents could complete a survey until March 15, 2021.
If you had comments or questions or wanted to provide your feedback outside of the survey, you could contact:
(867) 767-9234 ext. 53142
NWT residents were invited to read the NWT Water Stewardship Strategy, Northern Voices, Northern Waters, as well as the Action Plan 2016-2020 and the Plain Language Summary.
How will my input make a difference?
Comments received during this engagement period will be considered in the development of the Water Stewardship Strategy Action Plan 2021-2025.
Where can I find results?
Results from the public engagement will be summarized in a What We Heard report and made public once the new Action Plan is complete.
Where can I find more information?
Questions can be forwarded to nwtwaterstrategy@gov.nt.ca.
More information on the NWT Water Strategy and the Action Plan 2016-2020 can be found on our website: www.nwtwaterstewardship.ca