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Notice of Written Pre-Hearing Conference

Press Release

January 20, 2016

Pursuant to section 11.5.4 of the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement (NLCA) and section 51 of the

Nunavut Planning and Project Assessment Act (Canada) (NUPPAA), the Nunavut Planning

Commission (NPC) will conduct a Public Hearing on the Draft Nunavut Land Use Plan (DNLUP), tentatively scheduled for November 21 – 27, 2016, in Iqaluit at a location that has not yet been determined. In May, 2015, the NPC invited “Parties” and “Interested Persons” to become “Participants” in the process leading up to the public hearing, and subsequently held workshops for Participants’ technical experts. The NPC staff will be making refinements to the DNLUP in preparation for the public hearing, based on the technical feedback of Participants, and a refined version of the DNLUP will be released later in 2016, which will be reviewed by Participants and the NPC’s Commissioners at the public hearing.

The DNLUP may prohibit some uses of lands, and projects will have to conform to the DNLUP once approved. Inuit of Nunavut; Other Aboriginal Peoples listed in Article 40 of the NLCA including Makivik, Denesuline of Northern Manitoba and Northern Saskatchewan; residents of Nunavut; Nunavut Tunngavik Inc.; and Designated Inuit Organizations; Regional Inuit Organizations; municipalities; Community Land and Resource Committees; and departments and agencies of the federal and territorial government, and Hunters and Trappers Organizations (the

Parties), and others may be affected by it. If you wish to receive further notices of the Public Hearing, be consulted on technical and procedural matters, and provide evidence and submissions on the DNLUP at the Public Hearing for the NPC to consider when revising the DNLUP for final approval, you must become a participant as explained below. If you are already a Participant, you do not need to apply again.

A Pre-Hearing Conference will be held on the basis of written submissions due 12 noon Eastern Time February 22, 2016. Although you may still become a participant after these sessions and prior to the Public Hearing, if you wish to participate in the Pre-Hearing

Conference and are not already a Participant, you must seek Participant status as explained below. Written submissions, applications for standing or notice of an intention to participate must be received by the NPC at, or prior to the deadline, at one of the following addresses:

  • Jonathan Savoy at jsavoy@nunavut.ca; or
  • Nunavut Planning Commission, P.O. Box 2101, Cambridge Bay, Nunavut X0B 0C0; Phone:

867-983-4625 | Fax: 867-983-4626 | Website: http://www.nunavut.ca

Pre-Hearing Conference, Written Submissions due February 22, 2016

Participants and any interested parties seeking standing are invited to provide written submissions on the topics listed below by no later than 12 noon Eastern Time on February 22, 2016:

  1. Proposed process and timelines leading up to the public hearing including:
    1. March 4, 2016: Participants submit written comments on DNLUP or technical sessions;
    2. March 7 – 9, 2016: Caribou Workshop, Iqaluit NU.
    3. March 18, 2016: Participants submit any responses to written comments received

March 4, 2016;

  1. May 16, 2016: Release of refined DNLUP and Options and Recommendations Document (English only);
  2. June 13, 2016: Release of translated version of refined DNLUP online;
  3. June 16: 2016: Participants submit any experts reports to be put before

Commissioners in public hearing;

  1. August 15, 2016: Participants submit any expert reports responding to June 16, 2016 reports;
  2. August 29-31, 2016: In-person Pre-Hearing Conference, Iqaluit, for finalizing witness list, receiving any motions and final requests for variations to RPHPR or directions on procedure from participants to be ruled on by Commissioners when they meet in person (September), finalizing hearing procedures;
  3. September 30, 2016: Final deadline for filing written submissions on refined DNLUP, written evidence, or other materials to be relied upon in public hearing (subject to discretion of Commissioners – note this would be a variance of Rule 39.1 of RPHPR);
  4. November 4, 2016: Participants to advise NPC and other Participants of what previously filed materials they will rely upon, including but not limited to materials filed by themselves or other participants (variance of Rule 39.1 of RPHPR); and
  5. November 21-27, 2016: final public hearing.
  1. Proposed witnesses to present evidence in public hearing and format for hearing evidence

– whether in formal hearing process, witness panels, or roundtables;

  1. Topics and schedule of submissions for expert reports prepared for the NPC;
  2. Interpretation or variation of RPHPR and any requests for directions on procedure pursuant to section 4 of the RPHPR; and
  3. Other process issues Participants may wish to raise.

The NPC’s Commissioners will meet to consider the written submissions in March, 2016, although

Commissioners need not consider the submissions of any parties who are not first granted participant standing as outlined below. Participants and the NPC will discuss the proposed format and structure of the Public Hearing on the DNLUP to ensure that it supports the effective engagement of the participants. Participants may also propose issues to be addressed in the

Public Hearing and timetables for the filing of documents, and discuss other procedural matters.

Becoming a Participant – Deadline February 22, 2016

If you are a Party listed above and as defined in the NPC’s Rules of Procedure for Public Hearings and Public Reviews as amended on July 8, 2015 (RPHPR), you must notify the NPC of your intention to participate by no later than 12 noon Eastern Time on February 22, 2016 providing (this information will be made public):

  • Your name, address, telephone number, and if available your fax and e-mail address, and the most reliable and efficient address for service of documents, preferably via fax or e-mail;
  • If someone will be representing you, provide their complete contact information; and2
  • The language in which you wish to be heard.

If you are not a Party listed above, you must apply for standing to become a Participant. Submit a written application by 12 noon Eastern Time on February 22, 2016, and provide the following information (this information will be made public):

  • Your name, address, telephone number, and if available your fax and e-mail address, and the most reliable and efficient address for service of documents, preferably via fax or e-mail;
  • If someone will be representing you, provide their complete contact information;
  • The language in which you wish to be heard;
  • A brief summary of the reasons for your interest in the proceeding including the information, knowledge or views you possess that would be useful for the resolution of a matter before the NPC; and
  • The nature and scope of your intended participation – will you be making an oral or written submission, and is there a particular issue you are interested in.

The NPC may choose to grant standing if your interest is substantial and direct, your participation will further the public hearing, and your participation will contribute to the openness and fairness of the public hearing. A grant of standing may be limited to specific issues, and you may be asked to share a single grant of standing with others having interests similar to your own.

The NPC will post applications for standing on its website and existing participants may provide views on the application for standing in writing by 12 noon Eastern Time on February 24, 2016. The Commissioners will review the written applications and comments and decide standing at a meeting of the Commissioners in March, 2016.

The NPC may issue further public notices on additional procedural steps and timelines that will take place prior to the Public Hearing, including dates for the filing of documents, written submissions and responses, arguments, and the final date, time and location of the Public

Hearing. For a copy of the NPC’s Rules of Procedure for Public Hearings and Reviews, to obtain more information on participating, to review the public record of proceedings or for other related information, please contact the NPC at the addresses below:

  • Jonathan Savoy at jsavoy@nunavut.ca; or
  • Nunavut Planning Commission, P.O. Box 2101, Cambridge Bay, Nunavut X0B 0C0; Phone: 867-983-4625 | Fax: 867-983-4626 | Website: http://www.nunavut.ca

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