Question Period Note: West Kitikmeot Resources Corporation’s Grays Bay Road and Port

N.A.

• The Grays Bay Road and Port project will support Canadian sovereignty, security and northern development.
• This Inuit-led regional infrastructure project is a priority for the Government of Nunavut and Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated and has been referred to the Majors Projects Office.
• The Nunavut Impact Review Board is assessing the project.
• Established northern resource co-management frameworks allow a broad range of interests to be considered – all while supporting environmentally responsible development that respects Indigenous rights.

N.A.

If pressed on referral to the Major Projects Office
• At this time, the project has not been designated as a national interest project and listed under Schedule 1 of the Building Canada Act.
• On March 12, 2026, as part of the plan to defend, build and transform the North, Prime Minister Carney announced that the Grays Bay Road and Port Project has been referred to the Major Projects Office along with its sister project, the Northwest Territories’ portion of the Arctic Economic and Security Corridor. If pressed on the Arctic Economic and Security Corridor
• The proposed Arctic Economic and Security Corridor is an all-season road of approximately 400 km through the Slave Geological Province to the Nunavut border, where it will connect with the Grays Bay Road. The project has also been referred to the Major Projects Office.
• These nation-building infrastructure projects have the potential to align with several of our Government’s goals, including strengthening infrastructure, supporting strong local and regional economies, and ensuring the Canadian Arctic and its people are safe, secure and well-defended.
• The Arctic Economic and Security Corridor will be subject to its own regulatory process. Opportunities exist for cooperation between co-management boards in assessing transboundary issues for these projects. Such cooperation supports regulatory efficiency while ensuring potential impacts to Indigenous rights and the environment are effectively raised and considered. If pressed on the consultation/review process
• The Government of Canada relies on the Nunavut Impact Review Board’s assessment process to assist in discharging the Crown’s duty to consult, owed to potentially affected Indigenous groups.
• The Board’s process is robust. It provides the opportunity for potentially affected Indigenous groups to express their views and concerns with respect to potential project-related impacts.
• The Government of Canada consults with potentially affected Indigenous groups on the Board’s recommendations before making a final decision. If pressed on transboundary agreements
• The Mackenzie Valley Environmental Impact Review Board was approved to enter into an agreement with the Nunavut Impact Review Board, to participate in the examination of the project’s effects in the Mackenzie Valley.
• The Boards’ Cooperation Plan sets out how the Boards will work together to ensure matters of importance to both Nunavut and the Mackenzie Valley are reflected throughout the assessment process. If pressed on participant funding
• To date, the Department has committed over $1.8 million through the Northern Participant Funding Program to support meaningful participation in the assessment.
• This funding helps ensure parties, particularly Inuit and Indigenous governments and organizations, can bring interests and concerns to the Nunavut Impact Review Board for its consideration – including potential impacts to rights. If pressed on the Inuvialuit Settlement Region
• The Government of Canada is aware of the proponent’s submission of an application to the (Inuvialuit) Environmental Impact Screening Committee for a screening under the Inuvialuit Final Agreement, and subsequent correspondence.
• Depending on the outcome of the screening, if it is determined that further review of the project is required, the Committee may refer the project to the (Inuvialuit) Environmental Impact Review Board or may choose to rely on the Nunavut Impact Review Board’s assessment process. If pressed on the Judicial Review
• The Government of Canada is aware of Oceans North’s application before the Federal Court seeking a judicial review of the Nunavut Impact Review Board’s scoping determination for the project. Our Government is reviewing the Notice of Application and working with the Department of Justice on next steps in the court process. As the process is ongoing, we are unable to comment further on this matter.