As with other provinces and territories, the GNWT, the Government of Canada, and Indigenous governments all play a part in making sure companies follow the rules and the NWT’s natural resources are well-governed.
Under this arrangement, for some activities, lands, water, and natural resources are governed by the GNWT, while other activities are governed by the Government of Canada and Indigenous governments. The GNWT can only make laws that govern those activities on NWT lands, and for those natural resources for which it is responsible.
The federal government holds jurisdiction on all offshore natural resources, including the petroleum in the Beaufort Sea. Since Devolution in 2014, the GNWT has had a role to play in governing onshore — meaning not in the ocean — lands and natural resources. There are some exceptions. For example, the Norman Wells oil field is a federally-governed site.
There are also various land claim and other agreements with Indigenous governments which grant these governments ownership over natural resources.
For detailed information on how the NWT’s oil and gas is managed, click here.
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