Info on new N.W.T. land and water superboard to be posted online

Information on the N.W.T.'s new land and water superboard should be posted online on Mar. 1, says Zabey Nevitt, the executive director of the Mackenzie Valley Land and Water Board.

That's one month before the launch of the new, Yellowknife-based superboard that will replace the current system of regional boards — a plan that has drawn much criticism from aboriginal groups. 

Currently, four boards issue land use permits and water licences for resource extraction in the Mackenzie Valley:

• the Mackenzie Valley Land and Water Board, which is based in Yellowknife and oversees the unsettled Akaitcho and Dehcho regions, as well as projects that cross more than one boundary;
• the Wek'eezhii Land and Water Board, which is based in Wekweeti and Yellowknife and covers the Tlicho region;
• the Sahtu Land and Water Board, based in Fort Good Hope;
• and the Gwich'in Land and Water Board, located in Inuvik.

Starting in April, a revamped, 11-member version of the Mackenzie Valley Land and Water Board will become the sole issuer of permits for the entire Mackenzie Valley. 

Aboriginal groups have objected to the concept because they say it runs contrary to their land claims. The Tlicho government is suing the federal government in an attempt to preserve the Wek'eezhii Land and Water Board.

Groups are also worried the amount of regional representation will decline on the new board. 

For example, the Wek'eezhii Land and Water Board currently has a chair and four members, at least two of whom are drawn from the Tlicho region. But the Tlicho government will only be allowed to appoint one Tlicho member to the new board. 

All other board nominees — representing the federal government, the territorial government, plus the Sahtu, Gwich'in, Akaitcho and Dehcho regions — will be approved by the federal minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development.

Each board currently has a staff of people who help carry out the regulatory process.

None of those positions will be eliminated after the amalgamation of the boards, says Nevitt.