Introduction
The Government of the Northwest Territories is proposing amendments to the NWT’s oil and gas laws — the Petroleum Resources Act and the Oil and Gas Operations Act. These amendments were introduced in the legislative assembly during the February-March sitting in the form of two Bills: An Act to Amend the Petroleum Resources Act and An Act to Amend the Oil and Gas Operations Act.
If passed, the Bills would make targeted legislative changes as the first step towards modernizing the territory’s oil and gas regulatory framework.
Understanding Changes to NWT Petroleum Laws
The Government of the Northwest Territories has produced informational material to help you understand what these amendments are meant to accomplish, why they were chosen, and why there are some differences between what was proposed in this project’s Engagement Paper and what was ultimately put forward in the Bills.
This material is broken down into several information packages. They are titled:
- The Basics
- Sharing Responsibility for Managing Land and Resources
- Transparency and Public Accountability
- Significant Discoveries
- Administrative and Technical Improvements
If you prefer print-ready versions of this material, click here to access the PDF packages in the folder "Understanding Changes to NWT Petroleum Legislation."
Opportunities for Feedback
The Government of the Northwest Territories encourages NWT residents to take part in the legislative process, and provide their feedback when opportunities are offered.
The Bills are currently being considered by the Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment.
The Committee has announced the dates of public hearings on theses Acts. See the chart below for the schedule.
| Date | Community | Time | Venue |
| May 6 | Inuvik | 7:00pm | Midnight Sun Complex |
| May 7 | Norman Wells | 7:00pm | Melnyk Hall, Royal Canadian Legion Canol Branch #287 |
| May 8 | Yellowknife | 7:00pm | Legislative Assembly Building, Committee Room A |
| May 9 | Behchokö | 7:00pm | Kö Gocho Centre |
| May 10 | Fort Simpson | 7:00pm | Community Hall |
To learn more about the legislative process in the Northwest Territories, visit www.assembly.gov.nt.ca/visitors/what-consensus/legislative-process
For more information or to make written submissions
Michael Ball, Committee Clerk
Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories
Phone: 867-767-9130 ext. 12016
E-mail: Michael_ball@gov.nt.ca
Fax: 867-920-0432
For departmental inquiries
Mike Westwick
Senior Communications Officer
GNWT - Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment
1-867-767-9202 ext. 63039