Economic Development Operations
The Economic Development branch serves the well‐being and self‐reliance of Nunavummiut by working to maximize and diversify economic opportunities. The branch includes the three Community Operations divisions and related supports, the Tourism and Cultural Industries division, the Minerals and Petroleum Resources division and the Fisheries and Sealing division.
This branch is also responsible for the administration of the Small Business Support Program, the Community Capacity Building Program, the Country Food Distribution Program, the Strategic Investments Program, and various program partnerships.
Economic Development Operations
Economic Development Operations are decentralized into four offices in Kugluktuk, Rankin Inlet, Pangnirtung and Pond Inlet, with support being provided by departmental HQ. Economic Operations ensure that departmental programs are delivered and administered to meet the economic development needs of each region and their communities. Community Operations also oversee business development services and Regional Socio-Economic Monitoring Committee activities.
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Qikiqtaaluk Community Operations
The Qikiqtaaluk Community Operations offices in Pond Inlet and Pangnirtung serve the communities of the Qikiqtaaluk region. The Pond Inlet office serves northern communities: Pond Inlet, Arctic Bay, Grise Fiord, Resolute Bay, Igloolik, Sanirajak and Clyde River, while the Pangnirtung office serves the southern communities: Pangnirtung, Iqaluit, Kimmirut, Kinngait, Sanikiluaq and Qikiqtarjuaq.
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Kivalliq Community Operations
The Kivalliq Community Operations office in Rankin Inlet serves Arviat, Baker Lake, Chesterfield Inlet, Coral Harbour, Rankin Inlet, Naujaat and Whale Cove.
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Kitikmeot Community Operations
The Kitikmeot Community Operations office in Kugluktuk serves Cambridge Bay, Gjoa Haven, Kugluktuk, Kugaaruk and Taloyoak.
The Small Business Support Program provides contributions to community-based businesses and organizations to develop business opportunities, foster entrepreneurial skills and provide business aftercare services.
The Community Capacity Building program provides a contribution to every Nunavut municipality to allow each to employ a qualified economic development officer. The program also supports community economic development projects and training.
This program supports the harvesting sector through investments and operations funding for modem energy efficient community freezers, retrofitting existing harvesting infrastructure, and by supporting locally identified harvesting and training initiatives that benefit the harvesting economy in every community of Nunavut.
The Strategic Investments Program supports the implementation of the economic development priorities identified in Turaaqtavut and the Nunavut Economic Development Strategy. The program contributes to business development and job creation and supports economic development projects sponsored by external organizations.
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Program Partnerships
This program supports Economic Development in Nunavut though targeted funding for partner organizations. It serves to ensure funding is available for a range of partner organization including Nunavut-wide economic development organizations, regional economic development organizations (including regional chambers of commerce and regional business development centers), and sector specific industry organizations.
Tourism and Cultural Industries
Tourism is an important component of Nunavut's economy. The department does its best to create an environment where tourism can flourish. To accomplish this goal, the Tourism and Cultural Industries division was created in 2010. It works with Nunavummiut to develop strong and sustainable tourism and cultural sectors throughout Nunavut. The division provides information and advice to businesses, and supports community organizations, non-governmental organizations, and sector associations. It also manages the implementation of the Government of Nunavut’s tourism development strategy, Tunngasaiji.
The Tourism and Cultural Industries division is responsible for supporting the Nunavut Film, Television and New Media Program, the Visitor Centres Program, and the Community Tourism and Cultural Industries Program.
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Nunavut Film, Television, and New Media Program
The Nunavut Film, Television and New Media program supports the growth and development of Nunavut’s film, television and new media industry. Funding allows for the provision of financial support for film, television and new media productions that use and emphasize local content and expertise.
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Visitor Centres Program
This program is designed to work in partnership with municipal governments and partner organizations to support the operations of established community and regional visitor centers.
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Community Tourism and Cultural Industries Program
The program strengthens community infrastructure and readiness for the tourism industry and enhances economic development in the full range of creative sectors.
Minerals and Petroleum Resources
Nunavut is recognized as one of Canada’s most attractive jurisdictions for mineral and petroleum exploration and investment. The development of our mineral and petroleum resources has the potential to generate significant economic benefits for Nunavut. In fact, over the past few years, Nunavummiut have benefited significantly from mine development, exploration, and gold production.
Control of land and resource management responsibilities is essential to long-term economic development and the territory’s self-sufficiency. Currently, the federal government controls the revenue generated from developed Crown lands in Nunavut. Devolution of authority for land management from the federal government to the territorial government is needed if Nunavummiut are to be self-reliant and benefit from future economic growth. Devolution will provide Nunavut with control and the opportunity to collect mineral and petroleum royalties.
The Minerals and Petroleum Resources division is responsible for encouraging and supporting the development of sustainable mining and petroleum industries in Nunavut. This support includes the development of a streamlined permitting and regulatory regime and legislation to support resource management and development. It also includes the development of geoscience information, financial and technical support for prospectors, the enhancement of investor confidence and liaison with key players including industry, local service sectors and potential workforce participants.
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Division Operations
The Minerals and Petroleum Resources division oversees program delivery, and the implementation of Parnautit, Nunavut's mineral exploration and mining strategy. It promotes investment in Nunavut's mineral and petroleum resources that brings the maximum benefit to Nunavummiut, while building awareness of resource issues locally and across Nunavut.
The division also participates as an intervener in the environmental assessment of resource development projects. This item also includes expenses related to Socio-Economic Monitoring Committee for each region in Nunavut. These committees were created with respect to Article 12, Part 7 of the Nunavut Land Claim Agreement.
Established under the Nunavut Prospector’s Program policy, this program provides contributions to Nunavut residents holding a valid prospecting licence who require financial assistance to carry out prospecting activities. Training in the form of the Introduction to Prospecting Course is delivered each year in various communities across Nunavut.
The Community Engagement Support Program promotes strong relationships between potentially impacted communities and mineral development companies via the targeted provision of funding to companies to support ongoing community engagement work throughout the life cycle of their projects.
This program supports activities that encourage students to pursue careers in science, technology, and engineering fields.
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Nunavut Geoscience Program
This program supports the Canada-Nunavut Geoscience Office, a partnership between Natural Resources Canada (Geological Survey of Canada), Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada and the Government of Nunavut, as represented by the Department of Economic Development and Transportation.
The Canada-Nunavut Geoscience Office mandate is to develop the geoscience knowledge of Nunavut and provide accessible geoscience information and expertise to support government and private sector decision-making for resource exploration and development, infrastructure development, and geoscience capacity building. Public awareness and geoscience education is delivered through publications and outreach activities.
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Nunavut Mine Training Program
The Nunavut Mine Training Program supports and facilitates partnerships that provide targeted skills training to Nunavut residents to allow them to participate in employment opportunities related to mineral exploration and mining. This funding will be used in alignment with the anticipated Nunavut Mine Training Strategy.
Fisheries and Sealing
The Fisheries and Sealing division focuses on developing viable and sustainable industries that will ensure all revenues and opportunities derived from territorial resources benefit Nunavummiut. The implementation of the Nunavut Fisheries Strategy is a priority. The division works towards maximizing economic opportunities for Nunavummiut while upholding the principles of conservation and sustainability.
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Division operations
The Fisheries and Sealing Division operates a number of programs. It acts as an advocate for the industries within Nunavut, Canada, and internationally. It provides advice on business development and investment opportunities; supports human resource development for the fishing and sealing harvesting sectors; and crews and operates Nunavut's two research vessels: the Research Vessel Nuliajuk and the Motor Vessel Papiruq. It sustains and builds partnerships with Inuit organizations, federal departments, and other Nunavut interest groups to support research and development in fisheries, marine and sealing sectors.
The Fisheries Diversification and Development Program provides financial assistance to Nunavut's fishing industry. The program supports research and development initiatives that are of industry wide benefit, and contributes to businesses, organizations and individuals undertaking viable fisheries development and diversification initiatives.
This program is a freight subsidy provided to Nunavut-based fish processing plants and businesses on commercially caught fish products to offset the high costs of operating in the north.
This program supports work on promotion and advocacy of the sealing industry within and outside Canada that benefits Nunavut.
This program provides financial assistance to individuals, organizations, businesses, or societies who wish to undertake projects and/or activities that support the promotion, advocacy, research, development and diversification of Nunavut's sealing sector.
This program provides grant funding for small applications that would otherwise be considered under the Seal Contributions Program.