| Summary: | The emergence of Impact and Benefit Agreements (IBAs) in the Canadian minerals sector has been read by many as a positive innovation in environmental governance. Negotiated directly between mineral resource developers and Aboriginal communities with limited state interference, IBAs serve to manage impacts associated with the mine project and deliver tangible benefits to local communities. Notwithstanding their increasing use and potential significance, limited systematic analysis has been undertaken to determine whether they are meeting their intended aims. This thesis reports on one such analysis from the Northwest Territories, Canada. While some deficiencies were apparent and perceptions of effectiveness varied somewhat by community, the IBAs were generally found to be meeting their objectives. Most significantly, there is considerable evidence that they are delivering positive outcomes for Aboriginal communities affected by mineral resource development in the Canadian North, which represents a significant change to typical outcomes of the past.
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