NWT RESEARCH DATABASE

Regions: North Slave Region

Tags: renewable energy, public policy

Objective(s): To provide a comprehensive, interdisciplinary ‘snapshot’ of domestic energy provision in the Arctic.

Project Description: The objectives of this research project are to: 1) provide a comprehensive, interdisciplinary ‘snapshot’ of domestic energy provision in the Arctic, 2) provide a foundation to help guide future research efforts regarding sustainable energy in Canada’s Arctic; and, 3) inform policy debates. The proposed report seeks to inform practitioners, key policy makers, academics, and Non-Governmental Organizations, and industry leaders. Through partnership with Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada the research team have reached out to some Northern partners, which are comprised of representatives of these groups, to provide their input throughout, as active engagement will be a part of the project process. The research team is forming links with Northern partners, comprising of thought leaders from these groups both as a way to communicate the findings, and to validate and refine them. Current Northern partners consist of representatives from the Governments of Northwest Territories, Yukon, and Nunavut. Yukon College and the Arctic Energy Alliance are also partners. The aim is that each of the key audiences will be able to use the project information that the research team present in the report to either directly improve government policies or provide a foundation for improvements. The team also expects that the approach taken will also generate new and novel ideas for ways to address old and new policy problems. The study will rely on both quantitative and qualitative methods. Data collection will be based on desk-based research, data from the various statistics agencies (e.g. Northwest Territories Bureau of Statistics), interviews and focus groups. Quantitative methods include economic modeling and qualitative methods include conducting and analyzing interviews and focus groups, as well as analysis of policies and case studies. While the bulk of the report will be based on secondary sources, the research team are seeking insights from Northerners. The research team are planning on running a focus group and conduct interviews. Through conducting these interviews and focus groups, the team are aiming to shed further insights in terms of local priorities as they pertain to energy and identified by interviewees and participants themselves (e.g. are key priorities to wean their community off diesel given the economic and environmental costs? or is a key priority to build up capacity in terms of manufacturing decentralized energy options? both? The idea is that the report will feed into larger discussions at the political level, providing a venue through which alternative viewpoints (diverse narratives/priorities) can be voiced. A key tenet inherent in this work at the School of Public Policy and Administration (SPPA) is the importance of ensuring relevancy to policy makers and practitioners - including the means through which to engage participants throughout the process and distribute research insights/results. Options include publications through more 'user friendly' outlets (beyond the conventional norms of academic journals). One idea for publication is a journal entitled Northern Public Affairs, spearheaded by several PhD students who are working with a colleague at the SPPA. Another option is to publish the rich details by interviewees in a publication more amenable to a generalized audience. In addition to these written forms oral presentations either in person or via the web/teleconference could be options. The fieldwork for this study will be conducted from December 13, 2014 to December 31, 2014.