Twenty years ago, socio-economic impact assessment (SEIA) was almost an afterthought in Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) in the Northwest Territories (NWT), but it has evolved and now carries far more weight in planning, making decisions and implementing projects than it used to. The meaningful participation and support of Indigenous communities in EIA and other aspects of the integrated resource management system are essential for success in the regulatory process for any project. Socio-economic impact assessment and Indigenous engagement are of at least the same importance as the biophysical environment, technical and fiscal considerations. While currently, the NWT is experiencing a slow period in the resource development cycle, there is an opportunity to critically examine the collective experience and improve practices related to engagement, and the assessment and mitigation of social, cultural and economic impacts.
There has been extensive experience in the NWT by various parties involved in resource development. These include communities, governments (Indigenous, Territorial, Federal), regulators, proponents, the public, and non-government organizations. This experience covers not only the SIEA and Indigenous engagement aspects of EIA, but also project construction, operation, and decommissioning. EIAs have been completed for many resource development proposals, (both mineral development and oil and gas), with an approach that considers the environment, including the social, economic and cultural well-being of people in the NWT.
There have been ‘lessons learned’ and an evolution of expectations and practices. What do these experiences and trends in SEIA and Indigenous engagement offer in terms of successful outcomes? What are the key factors and implications going forward? This presentation will look at the evolving importance of SEIA and Indigenous engagement in the resource development sector.