The Department of Government Services was established in 1980 from two divisions (Supply Services and Systems and Computer Services) in the Department of Finance as a result of the Commissioner’s Task Force on Administration. The reorganization of these two divisions led to the formation of five divisions: Supply Services (responsible for government purchasing, transportation/freight, and warehousing), Petroleum Products, Systems and Computer Services (responsible for the upkeep and updating of computer systems for all departments), Office Services (records management, forms design and management, manual writing, mail distribution, telecommunications, office machinery and furniture) and Finance and Administration (renamed Directorate in 1981-82 and responsible for the direction of the department and implementation of programs and policies). The Department's main task was to provide support to other departments to allow those organizations to deliver their respective programs. The Department provided a system of specialist services to enhance the efficiency of government departments and agencies, and to provide specific products and services for sale to the public, namely the provision of petroleum products to approximately 45 communities that were not serviced by the private sector. In 1982 the Department also became responsible for Motor Vehicles (the registry and licensing agency) and enforcing the Motor Vehicles Ordinance. In the same year the Department acquired the responsibilities of the Liquor Commission, which marketed and regulated purchase, storage and distribution of liquor products in the Northwest Territories. The Liquor Licensing Board became a separate entity from the Liquor Commission in 1982-83 and then in 1984-85 was transferred to the Department of Justice. In 1989 the responsibility for the Liquor Licensing Board and administration of the Liquor Act was transferred back to Government Services from Justice. In 1981-1982 the Department was briefly responsible for Energy Conservation before it was transferred to Public Works and also in 1985-1987 the Office of Emergency Measures before it was transferred to Municipal and Community Affairs. With the creation of the Department of Transportation, the Motor Vehicles Division was moved out of Government Services in 1989. In 1992 the Department was merged with the Department of Public Works to form the Department of Public Works and Services.
The Department of Finance was established in 1975. The Department reports to the Minister of Finance and has overall responsibility for the management of the Treasury, the development of fiscal policies for the GNWT and the regulation of the insurance and liquor industries. While the Department of Finance is not directly involved in the delivery of programs and services to the public, it provides support to the executive branch and program departments through the acqusition and management of financial resources.
The Treasury is responsible for managing the government's cash position, conducting the government banking and investing activities, tax administration, risk management and insurance industry regulation. Fiscal policy is reponsible for the provision research, analysis and recommendations for the fiscal policies of the government. Additionally it monitors economic conditions as they affect the government's fiscal policy including federal and NWT tax policies, intergovernmental fiscal relations and formula financing arrangements. The Department of Finance manages the sale, distribution and consumption of liquor in the NWT via the Liquor Revolving Fund, the Liquor Licensing Board, Liquor Licensing and Enforcement and the Liquor Commission.
In 2009/10 the functions of the Financial Management Board and Secretariat were transferred from the Department of the Executive back to the Department of Finance. Changes to the Financial Adminstration Act established the Minister of Finance as the Chair Financial Management Board, with the Deputy Minister of Finance becoming the Secretary of the Financial Management Board.
On April 1, 2017, the Department of Aboriginal Affairs and Intergovernmental Relations merged with the Department of the Executive to form the Department of the Executive and Indigenous Affairs (EIA).
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (ENR) was created on April 1, 2005 when the Department of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development (RWED) split to create ENR and the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment (ITI). RWED transferred the responsibilities of environmental protection, energy management, wildlife management and forest management to the newly formed ENR.
Four divisions of the Department functioned with few changes from 2005-2011. These divisions included Corporate Management, Environment, Forest Management and Wildlife. In addition, ENR is responsible for a secretariat function to assist with the implementation of the NWT Protected Areas Strategy (PAS) in partnership with Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC) and Aboriginal, environmental and industry organizations.
Corporate Management’s functions include the policy, legislation and communications (PLC) unit and corporate shared services, which includes finance and administration, informatics, and the NWT Geomatics Centre.
Environment division’s functions include program management, environmental protection and energy management (working with Arctic Energy Alliance). Forest Management division’s functions include program management, fire suppression and forest resources. Wildlife Management division’s functions include wildlife management and protected areas until 2010-2011 when Corporate Management hived off the responsibility for Land and Water (and later environmental assessment and monitoring), later creating it as its own division in preparation for devolution of responsibilities from the federal government on April 1, 2014.
As of April 1, 2023, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources merged with the Department of Lands to form the Department of Environment and Climate Change.
The Department of Environment and Climate Change was created April 1, 2023 as a result of the merger of the Department of Lands and the Department of Environment and Climate Change.
According to the Establishment policy, the mandate of the Department is to: "manage land, water, air, wildlife, and forests and lead and coordinate the Government of the Northwest Territories in understanding and adapting to a changing climate. This includes promoting, planning, and supporting the wise and sustainable use of natural resources, and protecting, restoring, and stewarding the environment for the social and economic benefit of all Northwest Territories residents, while maintaining
ecosystem health."
The Department is divided into branches: Corporate Management (including the Directorate and Finance), Policy and Strategic Planning (including the divisions of Conservation Planning and Sustainable Livelihoods; Land Use and Sustainability; and Policy, Legislation, Evaluation and Communications), Environmental Management, Monitoring and Climate Change (including the divisions of Climate Change, Cumulative Impacts and Knowledge; Environmental Protection and Waste Management; and Water Management and Stewardship), Regulatory, Assessment and Operations (including the divisions of Impact Assessment and Security Management; Land Management and Administration; and Regulatory and Permitting), Wildlife and Forest Management (including the divisions of Compliance and Officer Services; Forest Management; and Wildlife), and Regional Operations.
The Department of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources was formed from the Energy, Mines and Resources Secretariat in April, 1989. Its activities included the support and regulation of industry in the areas of electrical generation, oil and gas development, mineral development, mineral resources, energy mining and environment, land use planning, and development impact zones. A focus of the GNWT was to achieve northern control over oil and gas resources, particularly relating to a Mackenzie Valley pipeline project. The GNWT and the former Energy, Mines and Resources Secretariat had demanded that responsibility for northern oil and gas management be transferred from the federal Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development (DIAND). The signing of the proposal for the Northern Accord in September, 1988 opened the way for oil and gas resource management discussions and the potential for the exclusive management of onshore oil and gas development in the NWT by the Territorial Government. In 1989, the Department worked to develop a comprehensive position in consultation with the Dene/Metis, Inuvialuit, and Tungavik Federation of Nunavut groups before final negotiations with the Federal Government. The 'Proposal for the Finalization and Implementation of the Northern Accord' covered a full range of oil and gas issues affecting northern communities and an outline of the structures and processes in place once the transfer of responsibilities occurred. The GNWT acquired the Northern Canada Power Commission in May, 1988 and subsequently established the NWT Power Corporation. The Department also participated in the issuance of new exploration rights to resource companies, helped to train employees for mineral resource development, and worked in conjunction with Environmental Impact Review Boards and the Federal Environment Assessment Review Office (FEARO) on environmental assessments and reviews. Actions of the Department included making reports of industry activities available to local communities, affected parties, and other government agencies. The Department also provided comments for the federal Green Plan and the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, completed reviews of oil and gas royalty regulations, and formalized a Petroleum Contingency Plan for national and international energy crises. Under the federal/territorial Northern Oil and Gas Action Program (NOGAP), the Department developed and negotiated funding for the coordination of GNWT projects to improved government preparedness for hydrocarbon development. The Department also developed an energy supply and demand data system for the NWT, and helped the NWT Chamber of Mines conduct mineral exploration surveys annually. The Canada-NWT Mineral Development Agreement (MDA), a sub-agreement of the Economic Development Agreement, cost-shared with the federal government on a 70:30 ratio included the following programs: Geoscience Program, Northern Technological Assistance Program and the Northern Mining Information Program. The Geoscience Program's objective was to increase the mineral data base of the NWT and to assist and encourage mineral exploration. The Northern Technological Assistance Program was to assist private sector industries in the development of innovative technologies, to improve mining operations, and to adapt new technology to northern conditions. The Northern Mining Information Program's objective was to promote greater awareness of the economic importance of mining to the residents of the NWT by targeting both the general public and children in the school systems. The Development Impact Zone Program (DIZ) provided the public an opportunity to participate in decisions on resource development by sitting one of two councils, the Beaufort/Mackenzie Delta Group, or the Shihta Regional Council/DIZ Committee alongside members of the GNWT, DIAND and industry.