Management of Mining Rights in Nunavut

Canada's North is rich in mineral resources and the development of these resources provides socio-economic benefits to Northerners.

In Nunavut and the Northwest Territories, Crown lands under the responsibility of the Minister of Northern Affairs are managed pursuant to the Territorial Lands Act and its related regulations.

In the Northern territories sub-surface lands include hard-rock minerals, precious gems and coal. The rights to these materials are administered through the Nunavut Mining Regulations, the Northwest Territories Mining Regulations and the Territorial Coal Regulations.

There is a distinction between sub-surface minerals and surface mineral substances that have specific purposes such as carving stone and building materials. These special use surface minerals are administered through the Territorial Quarrying Regulations.

For more information on the Nunavut Mining Regulations, the Northwest Territories Mining Regulations, the Territorial Coal Regulations, mining royalties, major mining projects, Mineral and Energy Resource Assessments for the purpose of determining park boundaries or for more information on policy and legislative issues or initiatives affecting mineral exploration and development in the North, please contact:

Petroleum and Mineral Resources Management Directorate
Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada
10th Floor, 25 Eddy Street
Gatineau, Qc K1A 0H4

Phone: 819-934-9181

For more information on the administration of subsurface rights and mining rights, including issuance of prospecting licences, minerals claims, claim maps, mining leases, or for information on mining records and reports of work, please contact the Mining Recorder's Office in Nunavut.