Approved Land Use Plans

The Nunavut Planning Commission (NPC) implements two approved land use plans, the North Baffin Regional Land Use Plan (NBRLUP) and the Keewatin Regional Land Use Plan (KRLUP). These approved land use plans provide guidance and direction for the conservation, development and utilization of land within their respective planning regions. 

Both plans contain a policy framework that recognizes the importance of conserving natural and cultural resources, establishing protected areas, and promoting self reliant, long term, sustainable economic growth. 

The NPC recognizes that the successful implementation of the NBRLUP and the KRLUP requires a collaborative effort. Plan implementation relies heavily on government departments, Inuit organizations and industry working together towards a stronger, prosperous region. 

Purpose 

The NLCA sets out the following purposes for a land use plan;

• to protect and promote the existing and future well-being of the residents and communities of the Nunavut Settlement Area, taking into account the interests of all Canadians; 
• to protect, and where necessary, to restore the environmental integrity of the Nunavut Settlement Area.

Both the KRLUP and NBRLUP provide a framework that supports the well-being of residents, and environmental integrity. They contain actions, recommendations and requirements that guide land and resource use in the region in accordance with the principles of the NLCA. 

How to Read the Plans

The approved land use plans consist of issues, objectives, terms, conformity requirements, recommendations, and action items to guide land and resource use. 

• Issues; topics that have been identified by communities, government and a number of national interest groups as important to the region.
• Objectives; provide achievable goals for managing Issues.
• Terms provide requirements for land and resource use in the planning region. They are implemented using Conformity Requirements, Action Items and Recommendations. 
• Conformity Requirements, Action Items and Recommendations; are tools used by the Commission to implement the land use plans. They outline requirements that should, and in some instances must, be adhered when land use activity is proposed in the Region.  

The NPC Conformity Review Process

A review of a project proposal by the NPC is triggered when a project proposal that is located within a planning region requires a licence or authorization from a land use authorizing agency, such as a Designated Inuit Organization or Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada. 

In the event a project proposal located in a planning region requires a license or authorization, the project proposal will be forwarded directly to the NPC by the authorizing agency or agencies. Upon receipt, the NPC will review the project proposal for conformity with the approved land use plan(s). 

In general terms, a project proposal will be determined to conform to the approved land use plan if the NPC considers it is a type of use contemplated by, and consistent with, the principles of the approved land use plan. 

If the NPC determines that a project proposal conforms to the approved land use plan(s), the proponent will be required to comply with a set of requirements, action items and/or recommendations when carrying out the project. The requirements are project specific, are consistent with the terms of the approved land use plan(s), and must be agreed to by the proponent prior to the issuance of a positive conformity determination.

The Commission will forward its determination and any recommendations to the appropriate land use authorizing agencies, which will ensure the licenses and authorizations it issues implement any applicable requirements indentified in the determination. If it is determined that a project proposal conforms to a land use plan, the Commission will also forward the project proposal, with its determination and any recommendations, to the Nunavut Impact Review Board for screening, unless the project proposal is exempt from screening pursuant to Schedule 12-1 of the NLCA.