With Nunavut devolution 1 year away, what’s happening?
Here’s a look at how leaders are getting ready for sweeping changes coming to territory’s governance
From left, federal Northern Affairs Minister Daniel Vandal, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Premier P.J. Akeeagok and Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. president Aluki Kotierk celebrate in Janaury 2024 after signing the Nunavut devolution agreement at the Aqsarniit hotel in Iqaluit. (File photo by Jeff Pelletier)
Federal and territorial leaders have many ways to describe how big of a deal Nunavut devolution is.
It’s an “historic moment” and the signal of a “new era.” But it’s also a “lot of paper” that covers two million square kilometres.
The Nunavut government is planning a renovation at the main federal office at Qimugjuk Building in Iqaluit, which will be transferred to the territory after Nunavut devolution agreement takes effect on April 1, 2027. (Photo by Arty Sarkisian)
As of Wednesday, there is one year left until the 200-page devolution agreement comes into effect. So Nunatsiaq News looked into what specifically is going to change for Nunavut on April 1, 2027.
What are we devolving anyway?
Federal workers and the houses they live in are all covered by the deal signed by leaders the federal and territorial governments and Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. in January 2024.
The main federal office —the Qimugjuk Building — that has been the centre of the Crown’s power since the creation of Nunavut, will also be transferred to the territory.
The Nunavut government is already planning renovations, said Stephen Mansell, chief devolution negotiator, in an email.
As part of the renovation, the “building signage will be updated to reflect the transfer to the GN,” he said.
The red building, which sits next to Nunavut’s legislative assembly, has large Government of Canada sign on its facade.
As well, some federal employees in Nunavut will start getting job offers from the territorial government in October, Jacinthe Goulet, a spokesperson for Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs, said in an email.
The department estimates 85 to 95 federal workers will start working for the Government of Nunavut as soon as the devolution is implemented, without having to go through a separate hiring process. Their housing units will also move under GN’s purview.
Those workers will make up a new territorial department responsible for lands and natural resources, Mansell said.
“We are confirming staffing models, reporting relationships, and finalizing the detailed financial, operational, program, and human resources matters that will support success on day one,” Mansell said of the new department.
‘Final pen’
The federal government currently manages roughly 1.7 million square kilometres — or 83 per cent — of Nunavut’s land mass. The remaining 350,000 square kilometres, or 17 per cent, are designated Inuit Owned Lands and managed by regional Inuit associations.
The huge federal swath (with a few exceptions, such as contaminated sites) will be under the purview of the territorial government as of next year, making devolution the largest transfer of land in Canadian history.
Nunavut will have the “final pen” for project approval, said then-premier P.J. Akeeagok in January 2024.
With this new power comes responsibility. The territorial government will be tasked with monitoring, administering permits, and doing on-site inspections on all of this newly acquired land.
All four of Nunavut’s operating mines are on Inuit owned land and pay royalties to the regional Inuit associations and Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. (Photo by Arty Sarkisian)
The territorial government would also receive royalties from any potential mining projects that might take place on that land.
All four of Nunavut’s operating mines are located on Inuit Owned Lands, meaning royalties from these mines go straight to Inuit organizations. That translated in 2024 to just under $100 million in royalties for Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. and the regional Inuit associations where the mines are located.
Devolution could mean a slightly less restrictive permitting process on what is now federal land which could in turn lead to increase in mining developments, said Hudson Lester, acting executive director of NWT & Nunavut Chamber of Mines.
“Whenever you have, I think, less players, less voices, less opinions in the mix, it makes things a lot simpler,” he said.
While proposed projects will still be screened by the Nunavut Planning Commission and Nunavut Impact Review Board, the territorial government will have more say about who sits on the boards of these two bodies.
What remains to be done?
The most visible sign of devolution might be the removal of the Government of Canada sign from downtown Iqaluit.
But the bulk of the work is behind the scenes, where Nunavut and federal government officials are hammering out the legislative framework of devolution.
The federal government will have to replace federal legislation that governs the management of Nunavut lands. That includes the Nunavut Waters and Nunavut Surface Rights Tribunal Act; Nunavut Planning and Project Assessment Act; and Canada Oil and Gas Operations Act.
For now, Nunavut will mirror those acts as territorial legislations to finalize the transfer of power.
That work is still ongoing, Mansell said.
I’m still not convinced that devolution will result in a net benefit to Nunavumiutt in terms of better services of a stronger government. What I see is the federal government happily off loading responsibilities onto the territorial government and the financial obligations that go along with that. Any mining royalties that may come to the GN appear to be so small that they won’t compensate for everything else
I think we got snookered by the Feds on this one.
Having observed from afar, it would appear that the GN did not take enough time to figure out what devolution really means. There is far more responsibility without a whole lot more authority. And the GN can’t manage what it has responsibility for now. The GN snookered itself for a photo op.
Sounds a lot like the last “Self-Government” project the Provincial Government of Quebec tried to foist upon Nunavik.
Can’t wait to see what our Oui-Oui boot lickers come up with next round.
As part of the Devolution deal, GN gets $85M in ongoing unencumbered funding, plus some one time funding.
What CIRNAC spends on Lands and Waters administration currently in Nunavut is lower than that.
What will undoubtedly happen is that GN will “pocket” this $85M and end up using it for other purposes.
It is likely that some of this federal money will end up being spent in such diverse areas as Nunavut health and education.
Devolution is not meant to make land and water administration better or more efficient in Nunavut. It is meant to allow for territorial decision making.
The benefits from Devo will primarily be a bit more “free” money.
“As well, some federal employees in Nunavut will start getting job offers from the territorial government in October”
if you know the perks and salary the Feds receive, how receptive do you think they will be once they see the offer from the GN?
it’s been a long time coming. but knowing what is to come, it’s also a little scary and I guess we shall see what’s on the horizon. But those who remember the boondogle of “one time zone” for Nunavut and how that played out.
But hey, one can hope right.
Why is this article written like the entirety of federal employees are going to the GN? Devolution on this agreement covers things like lands and resources. There are plenty of federal employees that are staying federal.
Like the crown, rcmp, cra, defence, border. All of them remain fed. You should clarify that
The ones you mentioned are fed for every PT. They’re irrelevant to Devo. The fed jobs that will transfer to GN are lands and resources related, inclusive of Ministerial decision making power.
Imo, we are not ready! It may be chaos for the first couple of years then hopefully sort itself out. Nervous!