2016 Draft Nunavut Land Use Plan

Press Release

June 23, 2016, Iqaluit Nunavut: The Nunavut Planning Commission is pleased to announce that the final Draft Nunavut Land Use Plan is now available on our website at: http://www.nunavut.ca/en/draft-plan. It is currently available online in English and will be available in Inuktitut, Inuinnaqtun, and French on our website in July. Copies of the translated documents will be distributed by the Commission in August.

The Draft Nunavut Land Use Plan is a product of extensive consultations that included visiting all 25 Nunavut communities at least twice. After listening to the residents of Nunavut, governments, industry stakeholders and other interested parties including the Dene residents from Northern Manitoba and Saskatchewan, Inuit from Northern Quebec, the Draft Nunavut Land Use Plan provides clear guidance that directs resource use and development in the Nunavut Settlement Area.

The Draft Nunavut Land Use Plan provides for protection of Caribou calving and post-calving grounds and critical bird habitat; identifies traditional on ice travel routes with special management tools to protect them, areas of mineral potential, as well as areas with potential for tourism activities. The Draft Plan also provides Nunavummiut a voice in determining the future of development in the Nunavut Settlement Area at the land use planning level.

Sharon Ehaloak, Executive Director of the Nunavut Planning Commission, added “As directed by Commissioners, the Commission encourages all community members, planning partners and any other interested parties to make the most of the opportunity to participate in the information sessions on this final version of the Draft Plan”.

Final public Information Sessions on the Draft Nunavut Land Use Plan are scheduled to take place starting this fall, leading to a Public Hearing planned for March 2017 in Iqaluit, Nunavut, subject to funding availability.

For more information contact:

Sharon Ehaloak, Executive Director, at sehaloak@nunavut.ca

About the Nunavut Planning Commission :

The Nunavut Planning Commission is an Institution of Public Government established under the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement (NLCA). It is a co-management organization with distinct authority and decision making responsibilities protected under the NLCA with Commissioners appointed by Nunavut Tunngavik, the three Regional Inuit Associations, the Government of Canada and Government of Nunavut. The Commission consults with government, Inuit organizations and many other organizations but it is the Commission’s responsibility to make the final decisions on how land use plans will be developed and how the plans will manage the land in the Nunavut Settlement Area. Once these decisions are made the plans are sent to the Nunavut Tunngavik and Governments for approval.

http://www.nunavut.ca

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