Mining and minerals in Nunavut

What's new

Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada is developing a web-based system allowing for the selection of mineral claims on a map of Nunavut.

Map selection will change the way mineral claims are acquired. Instead of planting ground stakes, people applying for mineral claims will choose pre-defined grid units on an online map. These units will define the area of the mineral claim.

The decision to implement this system was made as a result of the department's consultations with the mining industry, Nunavut Tunngavik Inc., regional Inuit associations along with the support of the Government of Nunavut.

Limited functionalities of the system are already accessible for external clients. It allows them to learn how to use the system and print basic reports related to mineral rights.

The implementation of the fully functional Map Selection System requires modifications to the Nunavut Mining Regulations. The proposed Regulations amending the Nunavut Mining Regulations were published on May 25, 2019 in Part 1 of the Canada Gazette.

Interested persons may make comments to the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development with respect to the proposed Regulations within 30 days after the date of publication. All such comments must be addressed to:

Dominique Quirion
Senior Geologist
Petroleum and Mineral Resource Management Directorate
Natural Resource and Environment Branch
Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada
25 Eddy Street
Gatineau, QC K1A 0H4

Phone: 819-360-4070
Email: dominique.quirion@canada.ca

The launch of the fully functional Map Selection System is planned for 2021. This launch will happen 90 days after the modifications to the Nunavut Mining Regulations come into force. The modifications will include transitional measures to help the mining industry switch to the new mineral regime. Additional information is available on the page Online map selection of mineral claims in Nunavut.

Canada's North is rich in mineral resources and the development of these resources provides socio-economic benefits to Northerners.

Crown lands in Nunavut and the Northwest Territories are managed pursuant to the Territorial Lands Act and its related Regulations.

In the northern territories sub-surface lands include hard-rock minerals, precious gems and coal. The rights to these materials are administered through the Nunavut Mining Regulations the Northwest Territories Mining Regulations and the Territorial Coal Regulations.

There is a distinction between sub-surface minerals and surface mineral substances that have specific purposes such as carving stone and building materials. These special use surface minerals are administered through the Territorial Quarrying Regulations.

For more information on the Nunavut Mining Regulations, the Northwest Territories Mining Regulations, the Territorial Coal Regulations, mining royalty, major mining projects, Mineral and Energy Resource Assessments for the purpose of determining park boundaries, or for more information on policy and legislative issues or initiatives affecting mineral exploration and development in the North, please contact:

Petroleum and Mineral Resources Management Directorate
Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada
10th Floor, 25 Eddy Street
Gatineau, Qc K1A 0H4

Phone: 819-953-2087
Fax: 819-953-5828

For more information on the administration of subsurface rights and mineral tenures, including issuance of prospectors' licences, prospecting permits, minerals claims, claim tags, claim maps, minerals leases, or for information on mineral rights records and reports of work, please contact the Mining Recorder's Office in Nunavut.

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