Federal budget makes vague reference to updating Territorial Lands Act

Tucked away on page 492 of the federal government’s 2025 budget are two short paragraphs that propose legislative amendments to the Territorial Lands Act.

What those amendments could be are anybody’s guess.

The inclusion was “surprising,” said Nunavut MP Lori Idlout in an interview, adding she has asked Prime Minister Mark Carney’s office what the government is considering.

She has thus far not received a response.

Idlout said she also met recently with Rebecca Chartrand, minister for northern and Arctic affairs, and asked her about it too.

Chartrand “wasn’t too sure herself” what those amendments might mean, Idlout said.

“She promised to look into and let me know.”

The Territorial Lands Act governs use of Crown land in the Northwest Territories and Nunavut, including its sale or lease, mining rights and environmental regulations.

The budget gives no details about what the proposed amendments are. It only says they would “advance the national interests of Canada and the interests of Inuit in Nunavut.”

It also said amendments would benefit Inuit “by supporting resource development initiatives that advance local and national interests.”

The budget also says these proposed amendments would benefit people across age and gender spectrums, but men would stand to benefit most because they make up the majority of those employed in “resource extraction industries.”

It’s unclear how the ongoing devolution process — which will transfer the vast majority of Crown land to Nunavut administration — will impact any changes to the act.

The Nunavut government signed onto devolution in January 2024. The land transfer is scheduled to come into effect April 1, 2027.

Idlout said she wants to make sure that whatever the amendments are, there is regulation included to protect wildlife and the environment.

“My immediate response is that I’d be concerned that it would make changes to the environmental assessment process, to help expedite decisions regarding major projects,” she said, adding she “absolutely” believes the amendments would impact Inuit beneficiaries.

When asked for details, a spokesperson for the federal department of Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs only reiterated what was stated in the budget.

“[The] Territorial Lands Act referenced in budget 2025 would protect and advance the national interests of Canada and the interests of Inuit in Nunavut as a measure of Arctic sovereignty and security,” said Anispiragas Piragasanathar in an email Monday.

Piragasanathar said there was no specific timeline for tabling amendments, as legislation still needs to be drafted and will be done in consultation with the Nunavut government and Inuit organizations like Nunavut Tunngavik Inc., the beneficiary organization for Inuit in the territory.

“[We] will engage Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. on the legislative proposal and the expected impacts on their lands, rights and interests,” Piragasanathar said.

Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. spokesperson Ivaluarjuk Merritt indicated her organization is aware changes are proposed and expects to engage in consultation throughout the process.

“Nunavut Tunngavik is waiting to hear more details about the proposed amendments,” she said in an email.