Debates of March 9, 2005 (day 52)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, last fall in the House, I made a statement about the contaminated soil mound in Tulita. I asked the Minister some questions. My question is to the Minister of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development in regard to his commitment to meet with the federal Minister of Natural Resources Canada about the federal government’s unacceptable delay in the cleaning up of contaminated sites in the Northwest Territories. Will the Minister please advise this House as to the result of that meeting? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. The honourable Minister of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development, Mr. Bell.

Return To Question 572-15(3): Cleanup Of Contaminated Sites

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have had discussions over the past months with both Minister Efford, the Natural Resources Canada Minister and Minister Dion, the Minister for the Environment, related to contaminated sites and their cleanup. Most recently, the Member is aware, I have reiterated these concerns in writing to Natural Resources Canada Minister Efford. He has agreed to start a process and ensure that the agency responsible for nuclear waste meets with the community of Tulita to begin a process and discuss options for the permanent removal of these contaminated soils from the community. So I look forward to that process. I think there are a number of options before us. It is important to work through some constructive process that the community is in support of. We will continue to push Natural Resources Canada and the nuclear agency to do that. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Bell. Supplementary, Mr. Yakeleya.

Supplementary To Question 572-15(3): Cleanup Of Contaminated Sites

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Can the Minister provide to the House here in terms of a strategy and a date when this agreement of seeing actual movements of these mounds of contaminated sites along the Mackenzie Valley will be moved out to some location outside of the Northwest Territories? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. Bell.

Further Return To Question 572-15(3): Cleanup Of Contaminated Sites

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I can’t give you the exact process that the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission is proposing to use at this point. They have indicated to me that a precursor to the development of a long-term waste management strategy for the soils is to sit down and define the waste volumes and ownership and some other issues around the site. The Minister has assured me that it is his goal to clean that up and make sure that the low level radioactive contaminated sites are dealt with. I want to, again, assure Members and the public that the Natural Resources Canada Minister has indicated to us that the research tells us that the community is not in any danger from these sites, but still recognizes a long-term strategy was never put in place and that needs to take place. The soils need to be removed from the community. I will continue to ensure the Natural Resources Canada Minister recognizes that this is a priority for our territory. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Bell. Supplementary, Mr. Yakeleya.

Supplementary To Question 572-15(3): Cleanup Of Contaminated Sites

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I understand the Minister may have a difficult time in terms of commitment on behalf of the federal government. I am looking forward to a commitment from the Minister in terms of meeting with the people in Tulita and Sahtu regarding these contaminated sites in that region and also right down to the border here in the Northwest Territories. In Ottawa, our federal government can say that these sites are not dangerous, but out of sight, out of mind. It makes it easier for them to say that. They have to live in the communities, so I would like to ask the Minister again, can he look at some commitments and dates in terms of meeting with the people who are affected by these contaminated sites? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. Bell.

Further Return To Question 572-15(3): Cleanup Of Contaminated Sites

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In response to my correspondence, the Natural Resources Canada Minister did indicate that he appreciated the invitation to meet and come to the Northwest Territories to meet with the people in the Sahtu to discuss this issue. I am going to have a chance, I believe, prior to that -- hopefully, in April -- as we set out meetings in Ottawa and look to arrange meetings. I am certainly going to attempt to arrange meetings with the Natural Resources Canada Minister and the Environment Minister. This is at the top of the list for discussions, so I will be able to engage him and remind him that he has this outstanding and longstanding commitment to come north and discuss the strategy for this low level waste management plan going forward. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Bell. Final supplementary, Mr. Yakeleya.

Supplementary To Question 572-15(3): Cleanup Of Contaminated Sites

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask the Minister, what is he doing to ensure that there is clear legislation and responsibility for these organizations to be fully responsible for their own site cleanup that they leave behind once a project is complete in the Northwest Territories. Is there any type of legislation coming forward? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. Bell.

Further Return To Question 572-15(3): Cleanup Of Contaminated Sites

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It is a very good question. I think our strategy and approach has been, through the devolution negotiations, to make sure that the federal government owns up to their responsibility for the cleanup of past contaminated sites. I think we have identified something in the neighbourhood of 700 sites in the Northwest Territories that are not our responsibility. They are a federal responsibility to clean up. They have identified monies recently -- $3.5 billion -- to start to move forward on some of this cleanup. We want to make sure that there aren’t sites out there that we don’t know about. I think, in future, the difference is going to be that we will have control over lands and resources. This government and aboriginal governments can make sure that when development takes place, these contingencies are put into place prior to the development going ahead so that we ensure that the cleanup does, in fact, happen. In regard to the pre-existing legacy of contaminated sites, we will continue to force the federal government to recognize their responsibility and make the commitment to clean them up through the devolution negotiations. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.