• A ‘reset’ or ‘one and done’? First Nations and first ministers set to hold historic meeting

  Source: CBC Politics
  Date: 2026-10-25 08:00:00.0
  Tags: [National, Indigenous, Governance, Infrastructure, Resources, Mining]

  The Assembly of First Nations, led by National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak, and Canadian first ministers are holding a historic, closed-door First Ministers' Meeting in Ottawa to redefine relations, discuss infrastructure, healthcare, and economic development, and address major project involvement. Notable absences include the premiers of Alberta, British Columbia, and Quebec, while several Indigenous leaders have expressed skepticism over meeting formats, speech restrictions, and stalled federal Indigenous legislation under Prime Minister Mark Carney. The federal government, through the Privy Council Office and Indigenous Services Minister Mandy Gull-Masty, plans to announce new community supports during the one-day conference.

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• Yukon government asks court to toss Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in lawsuit over mining regulation changes

  Source: Territories - Northern Affairs (Yukon, NWT, Nunavut)
  Date: 2026-10-23 18:41:15.0
  Tags: [National, Indigenous, Mining, Resources, Justice, Governance]

  The Yukon government filed a statement of defence in the Yukon Supreme Court asking to dismiss a lawsuit brought by the Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in First Nation regarding temporary amendments made in May 2025 to placer-mining, quartz-mining, and water-use regulations. The amendments, set to remain in effect until December 31, 2028, allow the territorial government to extend soon-to-expire permits and licences for eligible operators to mitigate a major permitting backlog. Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in's January lawsuit alleges that the territory failed to consult the First Nation in violation of its final agreement and seeks financial compensation, whereas the government argues it had no duty to consult during the legislative process and that the First Nation delayed legal action.

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• Q&A | Nunavut’s devolution is 6 months away. Here’s what the premier says to expect

  Source: Territories - Northern Affairs (Yukon, NWT, Nunavut)
  Date: 2026-10-19 10:00:00.0
  Tags: [National, Governance, Resources, Mining, Indigenous]

  Nunavut Premier John Main outlined preparations for the territory's April 1 devolution date, which will transfer responsibilities for Crown land and natural resources from the federal government to the Government of Nunavut. The transition involves establishing a new department responsible for lands and resources, transferring nearly 100 federal workers, and maintaining an 85 percent Inuit employment target within the new department. Initially, the Nunavut government will mirror existing federal regulations and mineral tenure rules before undertaking future legislative reviews to align policies with territorial priorities. Additionally, Premier Main addressed the financial restructuring of major regional employer Baffinland, owner of the Mary River Mine in the Qikiqtani region, emphasizing the importance of corporate viability for local employment and royalties.

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• Whitehorse city council punts proposed mineral framework back to staff

  Source: Territories - Northern Affairs (Yukon, NWT, Nunavut)
  Date: 2026-10-15 22:27:11.0
  Tags: [National, Municipal, Mining, Resources, Governance]

  The Whitehorse city council directed city staff to spend a month developing a consultation pathway for a proposed mineral framework that sets rules for mining activity within city limits. The framework, which proposes updating the official community plan and zoning bylaws, faced criticism from industry representatives like Jonas Smith of the Yukon Chamber of Mines regarding undefined technical standards and a lack of impact-based criteria. Councillors agreed that more technical information, expert guidance, and broader stakeholder consultation are required before proceeding.

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• Q&A | Years in the making: Tr'ondëk Hwëch'in chief weighs in on proposed Dawson regional land use plan

  Source: Territories - Northern Affairs (Yukon, NWT, Nunavut)
  Date: 2026-10-15 01:16:47.0
  Tags: [National, Indigenous, Resources, Mining, Environment, Governance]

  Tr'ondëk Hwëch'in First Nation Hahke (chief) Darren Taylor expressed hope that a final agreement on the Dawson regional land use plan will be reached with the Yukon government in 2027. The proposed plan outlines acceptable land uses across 40,000 square kilometres in north-central Yukon, balancing environmental protection, stewardship, and historic preservation with economic development and critical mineral resource extraction. Chief Taylor emphasized that without the plan, the First Nation will withhold support for regional mining and development projects unless companies negotiate direct Impact Benefit Agreements (IBAs).

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• Whitehorse City Council rejects potential mineral exploration expansion

  Source: Territories - Northern Affairs (Yukon, NWT, Nunavut)
  Date: 2026-10-15 00:11:57.0
  Tags: [Municipal, Mining, Resources, Environment, Governance, Indigenous]

  By a 4-to-3 vote, the Whitehorse City Council rejected a petition by Gladiator Metals to amend municipal bylaws and the official community plan to permit mineral exploration across three areas currently designated as greenspace within the Whitehorse copper belt. The defeated amendments drew divided public and council opinions concerning industrial environmental impacts versus economic reconciliation and resource development opportunities supported by the Kwanlin Dün First Nation and the Ta'an Kwäch’än Council. Council members opposed to the changes cited a lack of sufficient scientific and environmental justification, leaving the restrictive zoning status quo in place.

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• Proposed framework would nearly double land available for mineral exploration in Whitehorse

  Source: Territories - Northern Affairs (Yukon, NWT, Nunavut)
  Date: 2026-10-08 00:41:19.0
  Tags: [National, Municipal, Mining, Resources, Governance, Environment]

  City of Whitehorse staff have tabled proposed amendments to municipal policies, zoning bylaws, and the official community plan to establish a new mineral framework. The framework will nearly double the amount of land available for mineral exploration from 1,128 to approximately 2,200 hectares through the inclusion of "future planning areas," while implementing explicit regulations such as a 500-metre buffer between homes and exploration sites, a 100-metre setback from watercourses, mandatory bonding, and site reclamation standards.

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• Gov't consultations underway on shutdown of N.W.T.'s Ekati diamond mine watchdog

  Source: Territories - Northern Affairs (Yukon, NWT, Nunavut)
  Date: 2026-10-07 11:00:00.0
  Tags: [National, Mining, Environment, Indigenous, Resources, Governance]

  The Northwest Territories and federal governments have initiated consultations on the proposed dissolution of the Independent Environmental Monitoring Agency (IEMA), the watchdog organization that has monitored developments at the Ekati diamond mine for nearly three decades. The mine, operated by the now-receivership Arctic Canadian Diamond Company, ended production earlier this year and is currently a public liability managed by PricewaterhouseCoopers using a $326-million reclamation security fund. Territorial and federal officials are considering whether funds allocated to IEMA should be redirected directly to site reclamation activities. Indigenous governments—including the Tłı̨chǫ Government, Yellowknives Dene First Nation, Łutsel K’e Dene First Nation, North Slave Métis Alliance, and Kitikmeot Inuit Association—alongside IEMA executive director Mark Casas, are participating in the input process regarding the future of the environmental agreement and independent oversight.

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• Saskatchewan Approves Mineral Rights Transfers Supporting Three First Nations' Treaty Land Entitlement Agreements

  Source: Saskatchewan - Government News
  Date: 2026-10-01 22:00:00.0
  Tags: [Saskatchewan, Indigenous, Mining, Resources, Governance]

  The Government of Saskatchewan approved the transfer of Crown mineral rights to the Government of Canada to support Treaty Land Entitlement (TLE) agreements for three First Nations. The approvals include approximately 194.25 hectares (480 acres) for the Ahtahkakoop Cree Nation, 65.15 hectares (161 acres) for the Carry the Kettle Nakoda Nation, and 64.75 hectares (160 acres) for the Pasqua First Nation. These transfers advance the reserve creation process under historic treaty obligations, contributing to a total of approximately 900,970 acres transferred to reserve status in Saskatchewan under TLE agreements as of September 2026.

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• N.W.T. minister won't reconsider wind-down of Diavik oversight board

  Source: Territories - Northern Affairs (Yukon, NWT, Nunavut)
  Date: 2026-09-29 18:00:00.0
  Tags: [National, Environment, Resources, Mining, Governance]

  The Northwest Territories' Environment and Climate Change Minister, Jay Macdonald, has rejected a formal request from the Environmental Monitoring and Advisory Board (EMAB) to reconsider the scheduled wind-down of the Diavik diamond mine oversight board by March. EMAB chair Charlie Catholique and advocacy groups like Alternatives North argued that terminating independent monitoring before full site remediation is complete violates the mine's original social licence and public commitments. Meanwhile, the Ekati diamond mine remains under public receivership managed by PricewaterhouseCoopers, raising ongoing concerns among policy analysts and former legislators regarding the adequacy of territorial oversight, Indigenous co-management resources, and long-term environmental protection.

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• Clean-up almost done at abandoned mine site on First Nation settlement land in Yukon

  Source: Territories - Northern Affairs (Yukon, NWT, Nunavut)
  Date: 2026-09-22 17:54:56.0
  Tags: [National, Mining, Environment, Indigenous, Resources, Governance]

  The Yukon government spent approximately $750,000 to remediate the abandoned Discovery Creek placer mine site located on Little Salmon Carmacks First Nation settlement land west of Carmacks. Contracted through KBL Environmental, crews removed 300 cubic metres of contaminated soil and over 19,000 litres of diesel fuel hydrocarbons, alongside machinery, vehicles, and trailers, after land guardians discovered the site in 2022 following the owner's death in 2021. First Nation officials criticized the four-year gap between the site's discovery and cleanup, advocating for a formalized territorial framework and contingency fund to ensure rapid responses to environmental contamination on settlement lands.

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• Trump to speak at UN General Assembly amid trade war and tariff threats

  Source: Global News Politics
  Date: 2026-09-22 13:52:35.0
  Tags: [National, Trade, Economy, Resources, Mining, Governance]

  Prime Minister Mark Carney is attending the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly amid escalating trade tensions and tariff threats from U.S. President Donald Trump. Bilateral relations have deteriorated following failed trade negotiations, with Trump threatening tariffs and pursuing alternative potash imports from Belarus over Canadian suppliers. Additionally, tensions have risen following European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen's openness to Canada becoming an associate member of the European Union, a move labeled by Trump as a potential hostile act.

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• More Nova Scotians add their names to petition calling for return of uranium ban

  Source: Nova Scotia - Halifax & Regional News
  Date: 2026-09-08 16:34:55.0
  Tags: [Nova Scotia, Mining, Energy, Environment, Resources, Governance]

  More than 10,000 Nova Scotians have signed a public petition calling on Premier Tim Houston's government to reinstate a provincial ban on uranium mining. The petition includes over 8,000 existing signatures alongside more than 2,000 new signatures being tabled by the opposition Liberals and NDP at the Nova Scotia legislature. The ban, which previously required mining operations to cease if uranium was discovered at greater than 100 parts per million, was repealed by the Progressive Conservative government in March 2025. Petition organizers, community groups, and medical professionals such as Dr. Catherine Cervin of the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment argue that lifting the ban risks releasing radioactive material into air and water, while Premier Houston maintains that resource development is necessary to improve the provincial economy.

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• Yukon gov't touts its efforts to streamline mine permitting

  Source: Territories - Northern Affairs (Yukon, NWT, Nunavut)
  Date: 2026-09-03 19:51:59.0
  Tags: [National, Mining, Resources, Governance, Indigenous]

  The Yukon government announced that it has more than doubled the number of decision documents issued for mining and exploration projects so far this year, rising from 48 to over 100 compared to the same period last year. Mines Minister Ted Laking stated that permitting timelines have been reduced by over 50 per cent, with most decisions now issued within 90 days. The territory achieved these efficiencies by redeploying staff, reprioritizing workloads, streamlining internal processes, and working with other decision bodies while maintaining its consultation obligations with Yukon First Nations.

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• N.W.T. regulator and Ekati mine receiver reach resolution over unauthorized waste disposal

  Source: Territories - Northern Affairs (Yukon, NWT, Nunavut)
  Date: 2026-09-03 15:00:00.0
  Tags: [National, Environment, Mining, Resources, Governance]

  The Wek'èezhìi Land and Water Board resolved a dispute with the Ekati diamond mine's court-appointed receiver, PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), following the unauthorized dumping of approximately 32,000 kilograms of blasting emulsion into the Long Lake tailings and wastewater facility. Northwest Territories Environment and Climate Change Minister Jay Macdonald confirmed that while government inspectors did not authorize the discharge, PwC's post-incident response and corrective measures were comprehensive and sufficient to maintain confidence in site management. In response to the infraction, PwC implemented new corrective procedures including mandatory written authorization for all water and wastewater movements, a single on-site accountability point person, increased environmental staffing, and pre-approval requirements for out-of-plan activities.

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