Agreement boosts economic certainty

A new strategic engagement agreement with the Kaska Dena First Nations in northwestern B.C. will bring greater certainty to resource development in more than 10 per cent of the province. The agreement sets out government-to-government decision-making structures and processes that establish a co-operative approach to reviewing proposed development activities in the Kaska Dena traditional territory. This agreement sets out levels of engagement regarding resource permits, including the timely turn-around for reviewing those permits. The Kaska Dena Strategic Engagement Agreement complements the Dease-Liard Sustainable Resource Management Plan signed in January, which confirms that the majority of the management area is available for sustainable development. The strategic engagement agreement provides the Kaska Dena Council with up to $1.3 million over three years to implement the agreement. The Kaska Dena agreement encompasses 9.8 million hectares from the Fort Nelson area to the Cassiar Mountains down to Mackenzie. The agreement covers mineral exploration, forestry, tourism, guide outfitting, parks, wildlife, oil and gas related land sales and most major projects.