Bathurst Inlet Port & Road (Archived)

Nunavut

Description: Nuna Logistics and Kitikmeot Corporation have proposed to construct the Bathurst Inlet Port and Road, a planned development which extends from a port facility on the south-west side of Bathurst Inlet, approximately 290km southwest of Cambridge Bay, to near the Northwest Territories territorial border at Contwoyto Lake. The proposal includes the development of a marine port, and an all weather road between Bathurst Inlet and Contwoyto Lake.

Federal Responsible Authority(ies): Indian and Northern Affairs Canada and Fisheries and Oceans Canada

Status: Indian and Northern Affairs Canada and Fisheries and Oceans Canada have cancelled this environmental assessment on June 20, 2008 because it was determined that this project does not trigger the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act.

Start Date: May 17, 2002

Public Notice

Application of Canadian Environmental Assessment Act in Nunavut Settlement Area

On June 12, 2008, the Honourable Chuck Strahl, Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development and Federal Interlocutor for Métis and Non-Status Indians, announced changes to the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement to eliminate the potential for duplication resulting from the application of two federal environmental assessment processes in the Nunavut Settlement Area.

As a result of the amendment, projects proposed in the Nunavut Settlement Area will no longer be assessed under the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act. However, if the proposed project is subject to the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement, it will continue to be assessed by the Nunavut Impact Review Board, an institution of public government created under the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement. Details regarding projects being assessed by the Nunavut Impact Review Board can be found on the Board's site.

Indian and Northern Affairs Canada on behalf of the federal government worked in full partnership with Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated, and with the support of the Government of Nunavut, to develop the amendment and reach consensus on the final wording. For further details, please see Indian and Northern Affairs Canada's website at www.inac-ainc.gc.ca, or contact Anne Snider, Chief, Environmental Policies and Studies at (819) 997-0046.