The government of Canada is giving mineral lease holders in Nunavut an extra six months to pay rent on leases that became due during the Covid-19 pandemic.
This applies to mineral leases on Crown lands that fall under the Nunavut Mining Regulations and become due between March 13, 2020 and October 29, 2020.
The Nunavut Mining Regulations have also been amended to waive for one year, upon request in writing to the department, the payment of yearly rent on mineral leases due in the one-year period from March 13, 2020 to March 12, 2021.
Any rent that has been paid before the amendment comes into force is waived in the following year.
"Clearly, the impacts of Covid-19 have created extraordinary circumstances throughout Canada and across the globe. In Nunavut, Covid-19 has created a negative economic environment for the mining industry making it difficult for holders of mineral leases to meet certain time limits established by the Nunavut Mining Regulations. The steps announced today, represent a further commitment by the Government of Canada to support and maintain the competitiveness of the mining industry in Nunavut,” commented Northern Affairs Minister Daniel Vandal.
The governments of Yukon and the Northwest Territories oversee separately the management of mineral tenure across their regions.