Rules of Procedure

Article 13 of the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement and sections 52 and 53 of the Nunavut Waters and Nunavut Surface Rights Tribunal Act require the NWB to hold public hearings in an affected community before making certain types of decisions regarding the use of water or deposit of waste. The person asking for approval from the NWB for the use of water or deposit of waste is called the proponent. A public hearing will involve the proponent, interested persons and members of the public. 

The NWB will determine whether a public hearing will be through written materials provided by the participants or if an in-person hearing will be held in the affected community or communities. Before a public hearing is held, a technical meeting and community session will be held in the affected community or communities to gather information and focus the issues that will be decided at the public hearing. 

Publication and advertising are used to ensure public awareness and participation. To foster participation, the written materials from the participants and the verbal presentations at the technical meeting, community session and public hearing are translated into English, French and Inuktitut. Although a public hearing is not intended be as formal as a court proceeding, the NWB has established Rules of Procedure to give all participants an understanding and expectation of how a public hearing will operate.