The Land and Water Boards of the Mackenzie Valley (LWBs) have released an updated Engagement and Consultation Policy, emphasizing the importance of early and meaningful engagement for well-planned projects and efficient regulatory processes. The newest version of the policy document, which has been several years in the making, is critical in helping the LWBs carry out permitting, licensing, and preliminary screening in the Mackenzie Valley.

The Mackenzie Valley Land and Water Board is pleased to announce that Dr. Kathleen Racher has accepted an offer to become the next Executive Director (ED) of the organization. She will replace Dr. Shelagh Montgomery when she leaves the Board at the end of March 2023.

The final Virtual MVRMA Workshop Series of 2022 will take place during the mornings of Dec. 15 and 16. 

The fourth workshop will focus on how decision-making within the co-management system is adapting to climate change. 

Registration remains open and the draft agenda and other information can be found on our MVRMA Workshop page.  

Please email Kate Mansfield at kmansfield@reviewboard.ca for any further questions or comments. 

Protecting the way of life of Indigenous people under Section 35 of the Constitution Act and established Treaties is a critical part of the decision-making process when considering who can use an area in the Mackenzie Valley. 

The Land and Water Boards of the Mackenzie Valley (LWBs) will be closed on Friday, November 11 in honour of Remembrance Day. 

Staff and Board members acknowledge the sacrifice that Canada's Veterans have made so that we can live in peace and freedom.

Regular office hours will resume on Monday, Nov. 14 at 8:30 a.m.

Lest We Forget. 

The Land and Water Boards of the Mackenzie Valley will be closed on Friday, Sept. 30 in recognition of the second National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.

Our office will reopen on Monday, Oct. 3.

We recognize the day’s importance in raising awareness of the truth and history of residential schools in Canada.

The Mackenzie Valley Resource Management Act Workshop Planning Committee requests your feedback on the two remaining 2022 virtual workshops and the 2023 workshop.

Please visit our Share Your Feedback page to learn more. 

The next virtual Resource Co-management Workshop will focus on Engagement and Consultation and will take place on Wednesday, Sept. 28 and Thursday, Sept. 29.

You are invited to register for the event through our webform found here.

This workshop will be the third of four scheduled in 2022 and it will be hosted by the Land and Water Boards of the Mackenzie Valley, the Mackenzie Valley Review Board, the Government of the Northwest Territories, and the Government of Canada.

The Mackenzie Valley Land and Water Board (MVLWB) will be hosting its second virtual workshop of 2022 in an effort to help residents become more familiar with the co-management system. 

Please see the scheduled events here. 

The WLWB will be holding a public hearing for Nighthawk's Water Licence Amendment Applications and Land Use Permit Applications today and tomorrow (April 12 &13, 2022), from 9 to 4pm daily, at the Explorer Hotel, as well as via Zoom. You can view the hearing live below, or on Cabin Radio's Facebook page. 

The MVRMA Workshop Planning Committee is pleased to host a series of four virtual workshops in 2022 related to the Mackenzie Valley Resource Management Act. The topics of the workshops were selected based on the results of a Fall 2021 survey given to participants of the MVRMA co-management system.

The Wek'èezhìı Land and Water Board is currently hiring for a joint Communications Officer position with the Wek'èezhìı Renewable Resources Board, located in Yellowknife, NT. This job-share position is open for applications until April 3, 2022. For details about the position, and to apply, click here. 

In collaboration with Trail Films, the Tłı̨chǫ Government has developed the film Kǫ̀k’etı̀: Walking with Caribou.

We are pleased to announce the release of the Strategic Plan for the Land and Water Boards of the Mackenzie Valley 2022-2026. The purpose of this 2022-2026 Strategic Plan is to outline where the Boards will focus their efforts and how they will go about their collective work over the next five years.

Are you interested in helping shape the future here in the NWT? Consider joining a resource management Board! The Government of Canada is looking for dynamic people who have an interest in this important work and are self-motivated! The Boards that you could serve on include:

Photo credit: Fran Hurcomb.

On February 22, 23, and 24 the WLWB will be holding a Public Hearing for DDMI Diavik Mine’s Type A Water Licence Amendment Application (W2015L2-0001). The hearing will be held in a hybrid in-person and virtual format. The WLWB recognizes the ongoing COVID situation and will be implementing COVID protocols to allow for in-person participation where possible. The WLWB is still determining how many participants will be able to attend in-person.

The Land and Water Boards of the Mackenzie Valley (LWBs) are pleased to announce the release of the Standard Water Licence Conditions and Schedules Template, Version 2.0. This version of the Template includes new Schedules, which provide the detailed information requirements associated with some conditions in the Security, Construction, Waste and Water Management, and Closure and Reclamation sections of the Template.

The LWBs, GNWT, and CIRNAC have released an updated version of the Guidelines for Closure and Reclamation Cost Estimates for Mines. See the news release below. To view the document, click here.

On January 18-20, 2022, the MVLWB will be holding a Technical Workshop for the De Beers Snap Lake Closure and Reclamation Plan (MV2019L2-0004). The purpose of this workshop is to give De Beers and Parties the opportunity to discuss any outstanding concerns regarding closure criteria, closure and post-closure monitoring, AEMP action levels, and monitoring frequency prior to submission of version 1.2 of the closure plan, and AEMP Design Plan. This Workshop will be held virtually via Zoom only, as a result of the ongoing COVID-19 situation.

The WLWB is holding a Technical Workshop for Diavik Diamond Mine (DDMI)’s Type A Water Licence Amendment, December 8-10, 2021.

The Workshop will be held in a hybrid in-person and Zoom format. Participants who are able and comfortable doing so, are encouraged to attend in person. The Workshop will be held in Yellowknife, NT, at the Quality Inn in the Copper Room. 

From December 13 to 16, 2021, the MVLWB will be holding a Public Hearing for Canadian Zinc Corporation’s Prairie Creek Mining and Mineral Exploration Application. The Hearing will be held both in-person at The Explorer Hotel in Katimavik D and E, and online via Zoom.

Coming up November 30 to December 3, 2021, the WLWB will be hosting the Ekati Closure Criteria Workshop. The Workshop will be in a hybrid in-person and Zoom format. Participants who are able and comfortable doing so, are encouraged to attend in person. The Workshop will be held at the Chateau Nova Hotel in the Caribou Room. Zoom details will be provided the week of the Workshop to those who have RSVP'd.

On November 23 to 26, 2021, the WLWB will be holding a Public Hearing for Ekati’s Point Lake Application. The hearing will be held both in-person at the Chateau Nova, in the Caribou Room, and online via Zoom. The first three days will be full days, the fourth, a half day. For those wishing to attend in person, please arrive between 8:00-8:30am on Tuesday, November 23rd to undergo COVID-19 measures. You will be required to sign in, provide proof of vaccination, and wear a mask when not sitting. Please contact Rhiana Bams if you need the Zoom link.