The Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) has released its 2022 Socio-Economic Agreement (SEA) Report for mines operating in the Northwest Territories (NWT).  

NWT diamond mines contributed $1.2 billion to the NWT Gross Domestic Product in 2022. In total, the NWT’s three producing diamond mines spent nearly $755 million with NWT-based businesses and contributed the equivalent of 1,094 person-years of employment to NWT residents.

Socio-Economic Agreements were initiated with diamond mining to address concerns regarding impacts on NWT communities. They now play a major role in ensuring residents, communities and businesses are benefiting from resource activity. In addition, Socio-Economic Agreements provide a tool through which the government can track and address investments and initiatives associated with mineral and other natural resource extraction projects in the NWT.

The Socio-Economic Agreement report is being released this year as a companion report to the Socio-Economic Agreement Social Data Report released earlier this year and focuses exclusively on the cumulative economic benefits of the NWT’s existing mines.

In addition to highlighting Northern and NWT Indigenous employment, procurement spending, and training for 2022, the report includes features on Northern leadership, community and wellness initiatives, and NWT women in mining.

Quote(s)

“Diamonds are foundational to our private sector economy thanks in large part to the partnerships forged and grown between our mines, Indigenous governments, and communities in the form of Socio-Economic Agreements. These partnerships have established a better way of doing business in the NWT and have evolved to realize the collaborative, and socially and environmentally conscious management of mining and exploration that exists today.”

- Caroline Wawzonek, Minister of Industry Tourism and Investment

Quick facts

• Four SEAs were in effect in the NWT in 2022: Ekati (Arctic Canadian Diamond Co.), Diavik (Diavik Diamond Mines Inc.), Gahcho Kué (De Beers Canada) and Snap Lake (De Beers Canada).
• 15.3 per cent of employees in the NWT Mining industry are women.
• 32 apprentices were employed by NWT mines last year.
• $5.6 Million in resource revenues (royalties) was shared with Indigenous Government signatories to the Devolution Agreement in 2022.  

Related links

• Backgrounder: Socio-Economic Agreements
• 2022 Socio Economic Agreement Report
• SEA Social Data Report 2022

For media requests, please contact:

Drew Williams

Asst Director, Strategic Communications  

Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment

Government of the Northwest Territories

Drew_williams@gov.nt.ca

(867) 445-373