Question Period Note: Nunavut Devolution

On August 15, 2019, the Government of Canada, the Government of Nunavut and Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. signed an Agreement-in-Principle on the devolution of Crown Lands, resources, and rights in respect of waters in Nunavut.
The parties will work to negotiate a Final Devolution Agreement over the next two years. I remain confident that we can continue to make progress.
I am committed to working with the government of Nunavut, Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated, and other stakeholders to support the people of Nunavut to make decisions over land and resource management that affect their communities, culture, and well-being.

The devolution of province-like responsibilities to the territories is a long-standing federal policy objective. It seeks to ensure greater local control and accountability for decisions, and helps facilitate Crown reconciliation with northern Indigenous peoples. Nunavut is the last jurisdiction in the country remaining without responsibilities for public lands and resources. The parties negotiating this transfer are the Government of Nunavut, Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated, and the Government of Canada.
Agreement-in-Principle negotiations formally began in October 2014. Under the current Chief Federal Negotiator, Mr. Fred Caron, an Agreement-in-Principle was signed on August 15, 2019.
Negotiations on a Final Agreement are expected to resume shortly with the concurrence of all parties. The details of negotiations will remain confidential until a Final Agreement has been reached. Negotiations on offshore oil and gas will begin after the Final Agreement will be signed.

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