Transcript Document

An overview of the
Northern Resources Development
Program and role of the
Bowser/Sustut project
Northern Resources Development Program
David J. Scott
February 27, 2004
Context for the Bowser / Sustut project?
NRCan’s Earth Science Sector (GSC +GC) has restructured
its science activities to focus on prioritized issues, including:
Strong and Safe Communities, A Clean Environment,
Sustainable Development of Natural Resources, Development of
the North
• Seventeen national Programs created to address these issues;
• Northern Resources Development Program comprises 13
projects across Canada that deliver geoscience knowledge to
address Development of the North;
• Bowser / Sustut project is one of 6 energy-focused projects.
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Northern Resources
Development Program
Rationale:
• Responsible development of energy and mineral resources
will be the basis for future economic sustainability and
quality of life for northern Canadians, many of whom are
First Nations or Inuit.
• Across much of the North, the geoscience knowledge base is
currently so inadequate that it impedes the private sector
investment that will drive the development of energy and
mineral resources needed to build robust and sustainable
Northern economies.
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Northern Resources
Development Program
• Many northern communities have few economic options
other than responsible development of their natural resources;
an improved geoscience knowledge base will catalyse new
private sector investment that will deliver new economic
opportunities to northern communities.
NRD Program Vision:
The NRD Program will assist northern Canadians in
attaining economic self-sufficiency, social stability and
improved quality of life by delivering new geoscience
products to stimulate exploration, discovery, and responsible
development of energy and mineral resources.
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NRD Project
TGI-2 Component
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Working with partners to deliver...
Outputs...
• Regional digital geoscience map compilations using surface and
subsurface data;
• New multi-thematic regional geoscience analyses and syntheses;
• Digital basin syntheses and petroleum resource assessments of
northern basin areas.
… and Outcomes
• Web-enabled geoscience data contributing to energy and mineral
exploration investment decisions in the North.
• Investment in northern exploration, development and resource
extraction increases 50% from 2002 levels.
• Northern communities aware of how to use geoscience information
in developing geoscience/natural resources career opportunities.
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Working with partners to...
• Deliver new geoscience products for regions
where the current knowledge base is not
adequate to support exploration;
• Contribute to reducing exploration risk to
catalyse new private sector investment;
• Help to create new economic opportunities for
northern communities;
• Contribute to improving the quality of life of
northern Canadians
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