Nunavut and Northwest Territories Key Conflicts
National Energy Board (NEB) Review
Questions about drilling in the arctic were highlighted by the 2010 Gulf oil spill. This led the National Energy Board to conduct an arctic offshore drilling review. It should be noted that this review only covers existing regulations and does not provide the opportunity to discuss whether drilling should take place in the Arctic in the first place. The NEB published a report in December 2011 as well as filing requirements for offshore drilling in the Canadian Arctic. A key concern throughout this process related to the need to drill a relief well to contain a well blowout within the same season it was drilled. The NEB will continue to require that same season relief wells be drilled or that a company can demonstrate an equal or better method of containing an out of control well.
Inuit resource development summit
In response to the growing interest in resource development in the North, the Inuit Circumpolar Council (an organization representing Inuit from Alaska, Canada, Greenland, and Russia) held a two-day summit on resource development in February 2011. The purpose was to learn more about resource development and come to a consensus on development, specifically in relation to mining and oil and gas development. The summit included circumpolar Inuit from Canada, Russia, Alaska, and Greenland. The result was “The Circumpolar Declaration on Resource Development Principles in Inuit Nunaat.”
The Mackenzie Valley pipeline was first proposed in March of 1974 and remains undeveloped to this day. Years of debate and investigation over whether the project should proceed have left the area undeveloped. In March 2011, the federal cabinet approved the project, which was the last step in the federal government approval process. It is now up to investors to decide if they will proceed. Whether it goes ahead or not, the project has been historically significant because it led to serious debate (The Berger Inquiry) about development in the North and how this relates to local people and consultation processes.
Seismic testing in Lancaster Sound
The federal government’s 2010 plan to conduct seismic testing in Lancaster Sound while also claiming that it would establish a marine protected area raised concerns in the surrounding communities. The proposed seismic testing was planned as part of the government’s Geomapping for Energy and Minerals (GEM) project, which was established in 2008 to gather more information about energy and minerals in the North. Miscommunication and inadequate consultation led the Qikiqtani Inuit Association to seek legal action and they were successful in stopping the seismic testing in the area by way of a court injunction. A similar struggle over seismic testing has been taking place in the Baffin Bay/Davis Strait area. In May 2015, however, a consortium of three energy companies canceled plans to conduct seismic testing in the area even though there was no mandate brought forward from court.
Arctic leaders: Lancaster Sound plans in conflict
Seismic test plan for Lancaster Sound unchanged
Lancaster Sound seismic tests go to court
Nunavut Inuit furious over seismic testing decision
Clyde River, Nunavut takes on oil industry over seismic testing
Seismic testing off Clyde River cancelled for 2015
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The content for this province was peer-reviewed in Oct 2013. We’d like to acknowledge the assistance of the external reviewers and Leah Fusco who authored this webpage content.
