Bill 7: Public Lands Act

Businesses most affected are those that use, lease, or hold permits on public lands in Nunavut — including mining and resource extraction companies, outfitters, tourism operators, construction firms, pipeline and power companies, and anyone holding surface rights or land-use permits. Day-to-day activities touched include applying for land permits, paying royalties on mineral leases, complying with surface-use regulations, and maintaining terms of existing licences or leases. Existing permits and authorizations under the old federal Territorial Lands Act carry over automatically, so current licensees won't need to reapply, but they'll be subject to this new territorial law going forward. Both solo operators and larger corporations are affected, with administrative monetary penalties scaled differently — up to $25,000 for individuals and up to $100,000 for corporations per violation.