Five Ways the NWT’s Mineral Development Strategy Is Working

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Novbember 23, 2018

The Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) released its Mineral Development Strategy in 2014.  

The document — a result of broad engagement with industry, Indigenous governments and other stakeholders — promised to be a plan of action that would  help to unlock the mineral potential in the territory and promote the NWT as an attractive investment opportunity.

Almost five years in, we consider five key areas in which the Strategy is, in fact, encouraging the continued growth of the NWT’s mining and exploration sector.

1. Incentives To Keep Explorers Exploring

In a tough marketplace, the territory introduced two incentive programs to help companies cope with volatility as part of the strategy.

These kinds of programs demonstrate the territorial government’s willingness to support mineral explorers in their high-risk pursuit of new opportunities.

The Mining Incentive Program now invests $1 million in qualifying exploration projects annually. Companies and individuals have benefitted from this program for four years, and more than $8 million of additional exploration spending has been realized.

Visit www.iti.gov.nt.ca/MIP for more information.

The Assessment Work Credits Program has made exploring easier in tough economic times. The program adds a 50% credit to qualifying geological work, lessening the burden for explorers to maintain their mineral claims. It has provided nearly $3.5 million in benefit to companies since its launch in 2014.

Click for more information.

2. Evolving Legislation

With a strong stated principle of bringing more certainty to the table for those doing business, the territorial government is concluding its policy development for new legislation to govern the extraction of mineral resources in the NWT. 

It’s the first new legislation drafted by the government since taking responsibility from the Government of Canada in 2014 for managing public land, water and resources in the NWT; it promises to be a positive development for the mining sector.

Look for the legislation to be introduced in late 2019. Visit Engage-ITI.ca/MRA to keep up with the latest.

3. More Mapped Geology

Increased strategic investment is augmenting the geoscience information provision role of the NWT Geological Survey — strengthening its capacity to both facilitate and instigate exploration investment and the scientific study of NWT geology.

The investment has led to the opening of a core library — including the largest, publicly available kimberlite core collection in the world — investments in  new reports on the southeast and southwest areas of the territory; numerous aeromagnetic studies; and a series of geochemical assessments of the Lac de Gras region that stimulated interest and staking. Expect even more work in the future.

Visit nwtgeoscience.ca for maps, mineral showings and reports on the NWT’s massive potential.

4. World-leading Indigenous Participation

The Mineral Development Strategy recognized the importance of preparing Indigenous governments and communities to capitalize on mining and exploration. With millions invested in capacity-building and training, and the institution of a pioneering body where Indigenous governments have a tangible say on, and share in the benefits of, mineral development, Indigenous participation in the mining sector is at an all-time high. That involvement at every level is one reason why projects get going, and stay going in the NWT.

Read the industry minister’s case on why this is a business advantage at: www.iti.gov.nt.ca/NWTDifference

5. Strong Local Workforce

Mining companies are always encouraged to hire locally. Yet the Strategy recognized that the government has a role to play — investing in local training initiatives to build a pool of qualified talent. Since the Strategy’s inception, the government’s investments in initiatives like the Mine Training Society have seen hundreds of qualified employees enter the workforce, and training tailored to what the local industry needs to succeed.

See some examples of the training we’ve sponsored at minetraining.ca.