The Department of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development was created in 1996 (effective August 19) from the amalgamation of three separate departments: Renewable Resources, Economic Development and Tourism, and Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources.
The Department of Renewable Resources' responsibilities included wildlife, fisheries, water, forestry, land management and environmental protection. It managed wildlife and forest resources and ensured that the option of resource harvesting was maintained as a lifestyle and economic option for future generations in the Northwest Territories. The department was responsible for the support of the renewable resource economy and acted as the management and regulatory authority for wildlife and environmental protection. Furthermore, it had key responsibilities in planning for use of land and inland water resources. It participated in a wide range of Federal/Territorial committees and boards that coordinated and advised on land, inland water and offshore regulation and management programs. The department also advised and provided a territorial perspective on other areas of renewable resource management where the primary authority remained with the Federal Government.
The Department of Economic Development and Tourism was responsible for the promotion and development of businesses within the Northwest Territories in order to create jobs and incomes for northerners. This was facilitated through the provision of financial assistance such as grants and loans, technical support and employment training programs. The department targeted development of employment opportunities within the arts and crafts, small business, gas and mineral, renewable resources and tourism sectors. The Department of Economic Development and Tourism was also responsible for the promotion and development of the Northwest Territories as a tourism destination, through marketing, development of tourist facilities and the territorial parks system.
The Department of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources was responsible for the management of the development and use of non-renewable and energy resources for the maximum social and economic benefit of the NWT. This was done primarily by securing a positive and stable investment climate for non-renewable resource development. Through competent and effective organization, the Department managed the development of NWT mineral, oil and gas and other energy resources, taking a lead role in the negotiations for the transfer of oil and gas management responsibilities from the federal government. Policies and programs were put in place to ensure the efficient generation and use of energy resources. Although the Department influenced how energy was used in the NWT, it could not determine such use. A substantial portion of the Department's budget was devoted to the Mineral Initiatives Program, which was funded under the Economic Development Agreement (EDA) in place with the Federal Government. The Department managed in-house GNWT energy management training programs, the energy management communications plan, and, at the time of amalgamation, was in the process of implementing various energy efficiency and alternative energy initiatives.
MLA Stephen Kakfwi was responsible for the amalgamation of Renewable Resources, Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources, and Economic Development and Tourism to create the new Department of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development (RWED) in 1996. RWED carries forward many of the responsibilities held individually by the three former departments. Priorities include promoting economic self-sufficiency and growth through the sustainable development of natural resources and enhancing the creation of new, sustainable opportunities in the traditional and wage economies. The Department manages and protects the condition, quality, diversity and abundance of natural resources and the environment. Their aim is to improve economic conditions by enhancing the creation of new, sustainable jobs in the NWT and maximize the number of residents that fill both new and existing jobs. The Department helps to create a positive business environment that will attract investment capital and stimulate investment, trade and manufacturing in the NWT. Collaborations with aboriginal organizations and the federal government create the potential for the establishment of arrangements for industry access to lands and resources.
For the 1997-1998 fiscal year, the Department was subdivided into four areas: Resource Management and Economic Development, Corporate Management, Forest Management, and Environmental Protection Services.
The Resource Management and Economic Development area consisted of the Trade and Investment, Wildlife and Fisheries, Minerals, Oil and Gas, and Parks and Tourism divisions, the Business Credit Corporation (BCC) and the NWT Development Corporation. Trade and Investment provided advice and support to business, arts and crafts, manufacturing, trade and investment and marketing sectors of the economy. They also provided support to the Business Credit Corporation and the NWT Development Corporation. Wildlife and Fisheries was responsible for maintaining populations of wildlife, encouraging sustainable development practices, providing assistance programs to promote a hunting and trapping economy, and supporting resource user organizations to enable them to become more involved in wildlife management. Wildlife and Fisheries was also responsible for developing plans and programs for the sustainable development of the fisheries resource, including the administration of the sport fishery. The Minerals, Oil and Gas Division worked to coordinate the transfer of provincial-type responsibilities from the federal government to the GNWT with respect to mineral, oil and gas resources. It also developed strategies for increased economic benefit from mineral, oil and gas development and worked with communities to realize opportunities from resource extraction activities. Parks and Tourism provided for the development, operation and maintenance of public tourism facilities such as parks, visitor centres, interpretive displays, and promotional signs. It also promoted strategic tourism development by providing guidance to NWT Arctic Tourism.
The Business Credit Corporation (BCC) was a territorial crown corporation, with a board of directors of up to 12 persons, accountable to the Minister of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development, who had the power to decide on loans and guarantees. The objective of the BCC was to stimulate economic development and employment in the Northwest Territories by making loans to business enterprises, guaranteeing loans made by financial institutions to businesses and by providing bonds to resident business enterprises. The BCC was established as an independent lending corporation, taking over for the Business Loan Fund. It is responsible for making business loans to northern businesses where conventional lending institutions are not prepared to participate. Its role, therefore, was as a blend of being a last resort lender and a developmental agency to provide financial support for higher risk entrepreneurial ventures.
The NWT Development Corporation was established by legislation in 1990 to promote the economic objectives of the GNWT by creating employment and income for Northerners, stimulating growth of businesses in the North, and promoting economic diversification and stability. The Corporation is able to meet these objectives by providing direct investment and operating subsidies to companies through one of three types of economic involvement: subsidiary companies, venture investments, and project and business development. The Corporation may also provide small contributions for businesses to develop products, markets or business plans. These contributions are often provided on a cost-sharing basis.
In 1999-2000, two additional divisions were added to the scope of the Resource Management and Economic Development area: Community Economic Development Services, and Diamond Projects. Community Economic Development Services coordinated the Department's Community Economic Development Strategy, which was aimed at stimulating increased private sector and community-based job creation activity. It provided services to the Business Development Centres as well as strategic planning, research, program management, and training support to regions and communities. The Diamond Projects Division was responsible for addressing the need for diamond value-added industries in the North, including sorting, cutting, polishing, grading and marketing initiatives. The Division worked to develop programs to address developing a skilled work force, taxation issues, financing, industry regulations, distribution systems, marketing, and security. In 2001-2002, the Investment and Economic Analysis Division was created from the responsibilities left by the Trade and Investment and Community Economic Development Divisions. The Division was responsible for providing advice, coordination and support to the business, arts and crafts, trade and investment, manufacturing and marketing sectors of society as well as a being a link to international businesses and organizations. Investment and Economic Analysis also provided support to the BCC and the NWT Development Corporation, making recommendations concerning their planning and operations.
In 1997-1998, the Corporate Management area consisted of the Directorate, Policy and Legislation, Strategic Planning, Finance and Administration, Human Resource Management and Information Systems divisions. The Directorate, responsible for the overall direction of departmental programs, consisted of the Deputy Minister, Assistant Deputy Ministers and the Executive Director of Resource Management and Economic Development. The Policy and Legislation Division provided policy, legislative, planning and communications support to enable the Department to respond to issues of concern to the NWT pertinent to the Department's mandate. Strategic Planning researched, developed and maintained an overall economic framework for the NWT as a basis for assessment of departmental programs and services. The Finance and Administration Division provided financial management and administrative services to the Department, including budget development and control services, financial transaction authorization, and financial reporting. The Human Resource Management Division provided staffing services to the Department, administering affirmative action and in-service training programs. This function provided senior management with personnel information, recommendations on human resource issues and the development of monitoring systems and procedures. The Information Systems Division provided access to remote sensing and geographic information systems (GIS), coordinating and compiling databases for the public and private sectors. It also provided computer services to the Department, including training and support for hardware and software use.
In 1998-1999, the responsibilities of the Finance and Administration, Information Systems, and Human Resource Management divisions of the Corporate Management Section were replaced by the Corporate Services Division. The new Community Economic Development Services Division assumed the role of economic and strategic planning for regional and community development. It also provided community economic development assistance to the regions. In 1999-2000, the Corporate Management Section was comprised of the Directorate, the Corporate Services Division, the Information Services, and the Policy, Legislation & Communication Division. Policy, Legislation and Communication effectively assumed the responsibilities of the Strategic Planning and Policy and Legislation divisions, while Information Services took over the remote sensing and GIS functions of the Corporate Services Division.
In 1997-1998, the Forest Management area consisted of the Forest Development and Forest Fire Management divisions. The Forest Development Division administered the development of the forest resources of the NWT. Timber permits issued helped to control harvest operations. Forest inventories were prepared to identify the location and size of forest resources. Silviculture programs, insect and disease monitoring in trees, and tree growth research were ways in which forest resources were assessed. The Forest Fire Management Division was responsible for the provision of forest fire management services on forested areas, including the protection of people, property and forest areas from wildfire and the use of prescribed burning to meet forest management and land use objectives. In 1998-1999, the Forest Fire Management Division became known as the Fire Suppression Division. In 2001-2002, the Presuppression and Program Management Division was added to the Forest Management area. Presuppression and Program Management was responsible for supporting forest management initiatives at the Regional and Territorial levels. This included forest fire presuppression, telecommunications and systems services, forest science research and planning, training and standards and the provision of supply and services in support of the programs.
The Environmental Protection Services area consisted of the Environmental Protection and Energy Management divisions. The Environmental Protection Division was responsible for programs in the areas of air quality, hazardous substances, waste management and impact analysis including monitoring and regulating activities that may impact the environment, as well as education and research. Energy Management was responsible for the development of economic energy projects with a community focus. Program areas include energy conservation, energy efficient technologies, alternative local energy source development and community energy planning. In 2001-2002, the Program Management Division was added. It was responsible for the planning, coordination, administration and management of divisional resources and programs.
On April 1, 2005, the Department was split in half; two new departments, Industry, Trade and Investment (ITI), and Environment and Natural Resources (ENR), were created.
In 1989, the Department of Safety and Public Services was created. Previously, the Department of Justice had responsibility for programs and services dealing with safety, labour and consumer affairs. The Department of Safety and Public Services was responsible for the administration of public safety in the Northwest Territories, including promotion and enforcement of public and worker safety, protecting the interests of workers and consumers and the distribution of alcoholic beverages throughout the Northwest Territories.
The Directorate was responsible for the senior management of the department, including monitoring goals and objectives, departmental policies and budgets and ensuring government priorities, policies and guidelines were followed. The Finance and Administration Division provided financial administrative services to the department, such as budget development and control, authorizing financial transactions and financial reporting. The Policy and Planning Division developed departmental policies, set department priorities, coordinated consultations on public safety and consumer issues at the federal/territorial level, identified responses to public safety and consumer issues which had an impact on the Northwest Territories and negotiated agreements between the two levels of government. Between 1996-97, the Directorate Division assumed two new functions. Investigating and Prosecution consisted of a contingency fund to provide funding in order to conduct investigations of major accidents and fires and to fund the cost of prosecuting. The Works Advisor Program assisted injured workers in their appeal to the Workers' Compensation Board. This program was administered by the Directorate but funded by the Workers' Compensation Board.
The Consumer and Corporate Affairs Division was comprised of three sections. The Consumer Affairs section was responsible for the administration and enforcement of the Consumer Protection Act, the Lotteries Act and the Residential Tenancies Act. In addition, this section handled consumer complaints, developed consumer information packages on a variety of subjects and published a quarterly newsletter, "Northern Consumer," which was circulated throughout the Northwest Territories. The Licensing section administered licensing and registration provisions of the Business License Act, Insurance Act, all (medical) Professions Acts and regulated the insurance industry. The Vital Statistics section registered all births, deaths, and marriages, name changes and adoptions in the Northwest Territories. This section also issued certificates or certified copies of certificates for these events.
The Safety Division encompassed regulatory and administrative responsibilities for fire, electrical, mechanical, gas and occupational and health and safety. These responsibilities included investigation of occupational related safety and health hazards, accidents and complaints, inspection of buildings and worksites and the review of plans to ensure compliance with codes, regulations and statutes. The Fire Safety section was responsible for training of volunteer fire chiefs and fire departments; investigation of fires and occupational-related safety and health hazards; the delivery of fire prevention programs; the inspection of buildings and work areas; and review of building plans to ensure compliance with the Fire Prevention Act and Regulations in the Northwest Territories.
Between 1990-1991, the responsibility for fire safety was moved to its own division. The Safety Division also became responsible for the inspection, installation and registration of boilers and elevators. The Boiler and Pressure Vessels section identified, registered and inspected all boilers in the Northwest Territories to ensure their safe operation. Enforcement was made under provisions of the Boiler and Pressure Vessels Act and Regulations. The Electrical and Elevator section ensured electrical and elevator installations complied with the provisions of the Electrical Protection Act. The Gas Section enforced provisions of the Gas Protection Act and Regulations through inspections, public education and registration of gas fitters.
In 1995, the department reorganized the former Safety Division and the Office of the Fire Marshal to establish one division with "one-window" access to all programs and services dealing with public safety matters. The Public Safety Division, now carried out responsibilities, which included investigations, inspections, review of construction, plans, technical advice, certification examinations and other systems to ensure compliance with building codes, regulations and statutes. This division also offered training programs to increase awareness of safety hazards, and offered a fire prevention program aimed at children. This division continued to have regulatory and administrative responsibility for electrical safety, boiler and pressure vessel safety and fire safety.
The Mine Safety Division administered and ensured the enforcement of the Mining Safety Act and Regulations along with other applicable legislation and safety codes. This division's responsibilities included: the provision of inspection services to mines, quarries, exploration sites and closed mines; the provision of mine rescue training and equipment to all Northwest Territories mines; the maintenance of mine rescue equipment; the setting of standards for mine supervisors and other key mining occupations; the provision of examinations and accreditation to ensure that required standards are met; the technical aspects of ground control, mine ventilation and dust and other pollutants; and the approval of all diesel powered mining equipment, braking systems, fire suppression systems and falling objects and roll-over protection. In 1996, the Occupational Health and Safety Division assumed responsibility for mine safety.
The Occupational Health and Safety Division was formed in 1996-1997 and had regulatory and administrative responsibility for workplace safety through the enforcement of the Safety Act and the Mine Health and Safety Act. These responsibilities included worksite inspections, accident investigation, documenting occupational specialties, reviewing plans, consulting with works and managers, withdrawing certification and prosecuting where necessary to ensure compliance with Codes, Regulations and Statutes.
In 1992-1993, the Department of Safety and Public Services assumed the responsibility for provision of administrative services for the Public Utilities Board. The Public Utilities Board was an independent agency regulating utilities in the Northwest Territories, under authority of the Public Utilities Act. The Board protected the public interest by establishing rates that were fair for the consumer, while at the same time allowed the utilities the opportunity to earn a fair rate of return.
Labour Services administered the Labour Standards Act and related legislation, which provided for the minimum conditions of employment, including hours of work, minimum wage etc. The Labour Standards Board was established by the Labour Standards Act. It heard appeals from any decision or order of the Labour Standards Officer. The Department of Safety and Public Services provided administration services for he Board.
Between 1993-1994, the department became responsible for the Liquor Commission and Liquor Licensing Board. The Liquor Commission purchased and distributed alcoholic beverages and provided the Government of the Northwest Territories with a source of revenue. The Liquor Licensing Board was established by the Liquor Act. The Board administered and enforced the Liquor Act and issued renewals, transfers, suspended and cancelled all liquor licenses. The Board controlled the conduct of licensees, the management and equipment of licensed premises and the conditions under which liquor was sold or consumed.
Between 1997-1998, the department transferred the Occupational Health and Safety programs and services to the Workers' Compensation Board. The other programs that were delivered by this department were either privatized or assumed by the Executive, Department of Public Works and Services, Department of Justice and the Department of Health and Social Services. The Department of Safety and Public Services ceased to exist at this time.