Government of the Northwest Territories Department of Infrastructure Dempster Highway Maintenance Camp Highway #8 Engagement Plan P.O. Box 1320, Yellowknife NT X1A 2L9 www.gov.nt.ca C. P. 1320, Yellowknife NT X1A 2L9 Table of Contents Introduction ................................................................................................................................................... 3 Affected Parties ............................................................................................................................................ 3 Past Engagement Activities .................................................................................................................... 4 Engagement Approach ............................................................................................................................. 4 Engagement Activities for the Project ............................................................................................... 4 Summary ......................................................................................................................................................... 5 P.O. Box 1320, Yellowknife NT X1A 2L9 www.gov.nt.ca C. P. 1320, Yellowknife NT X1A 2L9 Introduction The Government of the Northwest Territories, Department of Infrastructure (INF) is applying for a new Permit to construct, operate and maintain a highway maintenance camp (HMC) at KM 28.8 of the Dempster Highway (NWT #8). Comprehensive community engagement regarding the HMC has taken place since December 2017. As Public Servants, the GNWT is accountable and open to the public for discussion of all matters. As such, the Department and staff are well acquainted with the communities and community members along the highway, and engagement practices and community relationships are well established. Affected Parties The Affected Parties identified include: • Aklavik Indian Band; • Charter Community of Tsiigehtchic; • Ehdiitat Gwich’in Council (Aklavik) • Ehdiitat Gwich’in Renewable Resources Council (Aklavik) • Gwich’in Land Use Planning Board • Gwich’in Renewable Resources Board • Gwich’in Tribal Council • Gwichya Gwich’in Band (Tsiigehtchic) • Gwichya Gwich’in Renewable Resources Council • Gwich’in Tribal Council; • Tetlit Gwich’in Band; • Tetlit Gwich’in Renewable Resource Council; • Gwichya Gwich’in Renewable Resources Council; • Hamlet of Aklavik; • Hamlet of Fort McPherson; • Inuvik Native Band; • Nihtat Gwich’in Council (Inuvik); • Nihtat Gwich’in Renewable Resources Council (Inuvik); P.O. Box 1320, Yellowknife NT X1A 2L9 www.gov.nt.ca C. P. 1320, Yellowknife NT X1A 2L9 • Teel’it Gwich’in Band; • Tetlit Gwich’in Renewable Resource Council; • Tetlit Gwich’in Council (Fort McPherson); • Town of Inuvik. INF may engage with other Parties on a case by case basis as appropriate. Past Engagement Activities The Department of Infrastructure, formerly the Department of Transportation, has operated and maintained the Dempster Highway for the last 20+ years and during that time multiple opportunities to engage stakeholders have occurred. As a result the Department has kept community members and the public involved in an ongoing basis. Engagement Approach INF believes that meaningful community engagement is crucial to build and maintain good relationships with communities, community members and affected parties. Regional Offices are open for residents to provide in-person comments and concerns, or to ask questions regarding INF activities. As a result of INF open lines of communication, well-established relationships have been built with the people and communities of the Northwest Territories. Engagement Activities for the Project During the life of the Highway Maintenance Camp, INF will build on the engagement approach and there will be various opportunities for affected parties to learn about and provide input on the highway operations. This engagement plan will ensure that the people of the communities affected by the construction, operation and maintenance of the HMC are made aware of activities they need to know about. During the pre-submission engagement period, INF built on the engagement approach and opened lines of communication for affected parties to provide input on the project at a number of different steps in the process. P.O. Box 1320, Yellowknife NT X1A 2L9 www.gov.nt.ca C. P. 1320, Yellowknife NT X1A 2L9 Engagement for on-going operations includes activities such as: • Land Use Permit Renewals, Amendments or Extensions; • Construction/maintenance activities that could affect the public. If a community meeting is to take place, it will be open to all members of the community, including: • Youth; • Elders; and • Women and Men. Summary A summary of engagement triggers and methods is provided below in Table 1. Table 1: Summary of Engagement Triggers and Methods Engagement Primary Purpose Primary Methods Participants Land Use Permit To advise Written 22 parties Renewals, stakeholders of notification identified in Amendments, INF’s plans this plan. Extensions, or changes regarding the Land in the scope of work. Use Permit HMC Construction or To advise the Social Media (INF All members of Maintenance Activities public of any Website, Twitter). the public. construction or maintenance activities that could affect the public. Prior to any To advise of traffic Social Media (INF All members of disturbance to traffic disturbances Website, Twitter). the public. movement on public roads P.O. Box 1320, Yellowknife NT X1A 2L9 www.gov.nt.ca C. P. 1320, Yellowknife NT X1A 2L9 Occurrence of a spill Inform regulators Written and/or Regulators and and communities verbal communities as as required by communication. required. authorizations. Incident/wildlife Inform appropriate Written and/or Regulators, incident regulating verbal GNWT authorities and communication Environment other stakeholders and Natural if required. Resources, and stakeholders as required. Discovery of suspected Inform regulators, Written and/or Regulator, archaeological, PWNHC, GTC, and verbal Prince of Wales historical or burial site. communities communication Northern parties as required Heritage by authorizations. Centre, and Gwich’in Tribal Council Department of Cultural Heritage Prior to the start of Inform about the Social Media (INF All members of construction construction Website, Twitter). the public. schedule As required To provide updates Social Media (INF All members of on the construction Website, Twitter). the public. progress and schedule P.O. Box 1320, Yellowknife NT X1A 2L9 www.gov.nt.ca C. P. 1320, Yellowknife NT X1A 2L9 March 2021 13 Appendix E - Pre-Submission Engagement Record (Summary and Log) Template 1. Pre-Submission Engagement Summary: Dempster Highway Maintenance Camp Name of Proponent: GNWT – Department of Infrastructure Name of Affected Party: Aklavik Indian Band, Charter Community of Tsiigehtchic, Ehdiitat Gwich’in Council (Aklavik), Ehdiitat Gwich’in Renewable Resources Council (Aklavik), Gwich’in Land Use Planning Board, Gwich’in Renewable Resources Board, Gwich’in Tribal Council, Gwichya Gwich’in Band (Tsiigehtchic), Gwichya Gwich’in Renewable Resources Council, Tetlit Gwich’in Band, Tetlit Gwich’in Renewable Resource Council, Hamlet of Aklavik, Hamlet of Fort McPherson, Inuvik Native band, Nihtat Gwich’in Council (Inuvik), Nihtat Gwich’in Renewable Resources Council (Inuvik),Teel’it Gwich’in Band, Tetlit Gwich’in Council (Fort McPherson), Town of Inuvik GNWT – Department of Infrastructure hosted a community engagement session on March 1,2021, in Fort McPherson. Details are provided at the end of the engagement log. Name(s) of representative(s) Dates of Engagement (e.g. list dates or Reason(s) for Engagement Overview of Issue(s) Resolved Overview of of affected parties who range of dates) (e.g., application for timber Issue(s) participated in engagement harvesting) Unresolved Aklavik Indian Band Emailed October 2, 2020 to notify parties of Pre-submission engagement letters No comments provided during pre-submission n/a the Land Use Permit Application and the 2 for the Land Use Permit Application engagement letter. Debbie Greenland week comment period. for the Dempster Highway Maintenance Camp. Debbie called back on November 9, and asked Executive Director INF followed up with an email dated October whether anyone at the GTC responded. INF advised '[email protected]' 9 2020 to remind parties of the 2 week Follow up call. that Sharon Snowshoe forwarded a letter from opportunity to comment. Godlove Suh Ngeh from the Land Reserve engagement process. INF called on November 6 and left a voicemail. Charter Community of Tsiigehtchic Emailed October 2, 2020 to notify parties of Pre-submission engagement letters INF forwarded the letters to Grant again, along with n/a the Land Use Permit Application and the 2 for the Land Use Permit Application additional information about the location of the HMC. Grant Scott week comment period. for the Dempster Highway Grant responded and said they have no comments for SAO Maintenance Camp. the application. '[email protected]' INF followed up with an email dated October March 2021 Name(s) of representative(s) Dates of Engagement (e.g. list dates or Reason(s) for Engagement Overview of Issue(s) Resolved Overview of of affected parties who range of dates) (e.g., application for timber Issue(s) participated in engagement harvesting) Unresolved 9 2020 to remind parties of the 2 week Follow up call. opportunity to comment. INF called on Nov 6 to follow up. Ehdiitat Gwich'in