Benefits of devolution

Devolution will move the policy decisions regarding land management, including the regulatory regime, to the NWT. It will provide a Net Fiscal Benefit to the NWT, stemming the flow of millions of resource revenue dollars to Ottawa. Based on the proposed sharing formula with Canada, the NWT has already lost over $200 million in resource revenues over the last five years.

Once finalized, devolution will provide:

• The GNWT with province-like powers over NWT public lands and resources and rights with respect to water;
• Opportunities for NWT government to build new and better relationships, where governments coordinate and cooperate in the management of their lands and resources;
• A Net Fiscal Benefit based on the provincial equalization program
• A post-devolution resource development cooperation agreement with Canada addressing strategic infrastructure investment and projects of national significance; and
• The basis for a resource revenue sharing agreement with our Aboriginal government partners that is unprecedented in Canada.

Devolution means:

• More money to invest in the resource-based economy and infrastructure to develop the NWT into a self-reliant territory and provide for future generations;
• NWT residents will determine priorities for investment; and
• An opportunity for NWT governments to work together on NWT land use, natural resources stewardship and regulatory improvement.