NPMO Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. What is the Northern Projects Management Office (NPMO)?
The Northern Projects Management Office (NPMO) is part of the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency (CanNor), and contributes to an integrated strategy to advance economic development across Canada's North. NPMO was created to help improve the timeliness, effectiveness and transparency of the environmental review process for major resource and infrastructure projects in the three territories. It does this by providing advice to industry and northern Aboriginal communities and coordinating the work of federal regulators in the three northern territories. NPMO also acts as the Crown consultation coordinator for major projects in the North.
Q2. What services does NPMO deliver?
NPMO's services are responsive and tailored to proponent needs, process-related issues, and the level of project review. They include:
- Advice and liaison through a dedicated NPMO advisor for project proponents;
- Support to project representatives about northern environmental assessment and regulatory processes ;
- Working with Aboriginal communities who want a more active role in planning to participate in and benefit from resource development projects that may impact them;
- Developing Northern Project Agreements which establish federal roles and responsibilities, performance measures, and timelines for the environmental assessment and regulatory processes for major projects;
- Coordinating territorial and project-specific committees and technical working groups that provide a forum for issue resolution, ongoing communication and coordination;
- Maintaining the official record of Crown consultations for projects in the NPMO portfolio, including working with other federal departments and agencies to coordinate Crown consultations; and,
- maintaining an online project tracker designed to monitor project status and completion of milestones and tasks.
Q3. How does NPMO support economic development in the territories?
In support of CanNor's economic development role, NPMO contributes to improved timeliness, predictability and transparency of regulatory processes for major resource development and infrastructure projects in Yukon, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut. NPMO brings a structured project management approach to the participation of federal regulators in northern environmental assessment and other regulatory processes by:
- Providing support and guidance to project proponents as they navigate through the environmental assessment and regulatory system;
- Providing support to Aboriginal communities as the project moves through the regulatory process;
- Coordinating the northern regulatory work of federal departments and agencies to ensure an integrated whole-of-government approach;
- Facilitating communication, coordination and issue resolution among federal and territorial governments, regulatory and review boards, industry and Aboriginal groups on major projects in the North, using a single-window customer-oriented approach and acting as an impartial convener; and,
- Monitoring the progress of major projects in the North against agreed-upon timelines and service standards for federal departments and agencies, and making this information available online to industry and the public.
Transparent and predictable environmental assessment and regulatory processes will help create a more stable and attractive investment climate, supporting economic prosperity in the territories.
Q4. How is NPMO linked to CanNor's economic development programs?
Large resource development and infrastructure projects are primary drivers of the northern economy, creating employment and business opportunities, and generating tax-revenues that benefit Northerners and all Canadians. NPMO's work to improve the efficiency of northern environmental assessment and regulatory processes will create a more stable and attractive climate for investment in this sector. Its work is aligned with CanNor's other tools and levers, as part of an integrated strategy to advance economic development across Canada's three territories.
Q5. What responsibilities does NPMO have for Crown consultation?
Under Section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982, the Crown has a duty to consult and, where appropriate, accommodate when the Crown contemplates conduct that might adversely impact potential or established Aboriginal or Treaty rights. Early, effective and meaningful consultation with Aboriginal Canadians on large resource development and infrastructure projects is an important part of resource development and of primary importance to the Government of Canada.
The Northern Projects Management Office is responsible for coordinating a process of consultation with Aboriginal people and maintaining the official Crown consultation record for projects coordinated by the NPMO. Consultation coordination includes working with responsible federal departments and agencies to develop and implement a project-specific consultation plan, which will be integrated with the environmental assessment and regulatory review process for projects in Yukon, Northwest Territories and Nunavut. The consultation plan forms part of a northern project agreement, which is one of the NPMO's tools for coordinating federal departments in the project review process. Having federal departments fulfill their legal duty to consult Aboriginal people in a coordinated, consistent and meaningful manner assists in streamlining the review process for development projects.
In addition to the Crown consultation plan developed for each project, federal departments and agencies are also guided by the Government of Canada's Aboriginal Consultation and Accommodation Guidelines: Updated Guidelines for Federal Officials to Fulfill the Duty to Consult (March 2011).
Q6. Does NPMO provide funding for resource development projects?
No, NPMO does not provide funding for resource development projects however CanNor may allocate funding to projects that are linked to resource development.
Q7. How can I contact NPMO?
The Northern Projects Management Office is headquartered in the Northwest Territories, with staff in Yukon, the Northwest Territories, Nunavut, and Ottawa.
Contact us at npmo.bgpn@cannor.gc.ca, or by telephone at 1-855-897-2667