ITI facilitates Reporting on Socio-Economic Measurements

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The Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment is hosting a series of community meetings to report on 2016 measurements collected and compiled in relation to Socio-Economic Agreements (SEAs) signed with each of the NWT’s operating diamond mines.

Officials from the Government of the Northwest Territories and the NWT’s producing diamond mines will meet with community Chiefs and Councils to present and discuss social and economic indicators that highlight potential linkages between the opening and ongoing operation of the NWT’s diamond mines - and the social health and economic well-being of NWT communities and their residents.

Measurements and data from Behchokǫ̀, Detah, Gameti, Łutselk’e, Ndilǫ̀, Wekweèti and Whatì, in particular, are distinguished due to their geographic proximity to the operating mines.

The information is also publically available in the GNWT’s Communities and Diamonds report released last year.

In addition to receiving updates from the GNWT and the NWT’s diamond mines, the meetings will provide a forum for questions from community members.

Scheduled meeting include:

  • January 29 - NWT Metis Nation
  • January 31 – Tlicho Government
  • February 1 – Tlicho Kwe Beh Community Chiefs
  • February 2 – Lutsel K’e
  • February 7 Native Women’s Association of the NWT

Meetings with the Yellowknife Dene First Nation and the Deninu Kue First Nation are also scheduled but remain to be finalized.

Socio-economic agreements are one of the ways in which the GNWT is working to ensure that NWT residents capture and retain as much benefit as possible from mining activities in the territory. The agreements provide priority opportunities to Aboriginal and other communities in their local areas. Government uses the revenues that mining and other businesses generate to help provide community and public services including health care, transportation and education.

ITI leads the GNWT’s work to negotiate, implement and report on SEAs. These annual meetings offer a tangible demonstration of the GNWT’s commitment to transparency, and community engagement.