Tracts reserved by the Canadian government for reindeer-grazing reserves in Canada's North have been offered for oil and gas exploration, according to a new media report.
Photo Credit: M. Milne/Government Northwest Territories/CP

Government offers land reserved for reindeer grazing in Canada’s North for oil, gas exploration

Land reserved for reindeer grazing in Canada’s North has instead been offered up by the Canadian government for oil and gas exploration, according to a Canadian Press report by journalist Steve Rennie. Companies interested in obtaining exploration rights in the Mackenzie Delta and Beaufort Sea region of the Northwest Territories were asked last year to show their interest.

Documents obtained by the Canadian Press under the Access to Information Act note that “Most Crown lands in the Mackenzie Delta are withdrawn from disposal under an order-in-council to allow for a reindeer-grazing reserve,” says a briefing note to a top department official from last August.

“These lands have been included in the call for bids, pending amendments to (the order-in-council) to confirm the Crown’s ability to dispose of these lands for oil and gas exploration.”

The office of Canada’s Aboriginal Affairs Minister Bernard Valcourt said the move is part of the government’s effort to balance resource development with environmental protection.

“The government of Canada continues to deliver on initiatives under the Northern Strategy to realize the economic and social aspirations of Northerners,” spokeswoman Erica Meekes said in an e-mail to the Canadian Press.

More information:
Canadian Press/Steve Rennie – Tories offered up land reserved for Arctic reindeer for oil and gas exploration: documents – here

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Categories: Economy, Environment & Animal Life, Indigenous, Politics
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