Nunavut premier releases draft versions of devolution legislation

In a move that Premier John Main described as “not common,” he tabled versions of four bills MLAs must pass as part of devolution Thursday in the legislature.

“These bills are foundational to Nunavut’s future authority over lands and resources,” Main said Thursday in his minister’s statement.

“They establish the legal framework that will allow Nunavut to exercise powers currently held by Canada and are therefore among the most significant pieces of legislation associated with devolution.”

The bills are titled the Public Lands Act, the Waters Act, the Surface Rights Tribunal Act and the Archaeological and Palaeontological Sites Act.

Two additional devolution-related bills are still in the works: the Petroleum Resources Act and the Oil and Gas Operations Act.

Nunavut is “mirroring” federal legislation with these new bills, he said.

“Existing rules, processes, and regulatory requirements will remain substantially the same, while decision-making authority will shift from the federal government to the Government of Nunavut,” Main said. “This approach follows the examples for the Yukon and Northwest Territories devolution processes.”

Normally, bills are made public after they are adopted on first reading. In tabling draft versions before first reading, Main said he hopes MLAs and the public read the bills and share their feedback.

“Allowing this review period now will help support a more efficient legislative process when these bills are formally introduced during the fall 2026 and winter 2027 sittings,” he said.

The GN, Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. and the Government of Canada signed the Nunavut Lands and Resources Devolution Agreement in Iqaluit on Jan. 18, 2024.

The devolution implementation process has been ongoing the last two years. The agreement takes effect April 1, 2027.

Main has been providing updates on the progress towards devolution throughout the current legislative sitting.

Last week, he announced the creation of the new territorial Department of Mines, Natural Resources and Land, or MNRL, that will support the territorial government’s new post-devolution responsibilities.

He also said the GN is building relationships with federal employees whose jobs will be transferred to the territorial government, with the hopes they will stay in their roles post devolution.