Mr. Speaker, everywhere I go I hear the same story: Freezing of the arsenic in the ground is the best temporary solution, but people are expecting something better at the Giant Mine site. Yes, they know that the best engineering of the day is being implemented, but they don’t want that as the long-term solution. There lies the problem, Mr. Speaker.
Some of the world’s greatest innovators of our time have always found a way by facing down insurmountable challenges with both genius and, certainly, perseverance. The Giant Mine problem, as we know it, has left a costly legacy of arsenic in the ground for Northerners and Canadians alike. This problem, some will say, is way too big to solve. I say this problem is way too big to ignore.
As stated by the experts, it will cost $1.9 million every year to operate this mine in perpetuity by freezing that arsenic under the ground. I say that’s unacceptable. We could all agree that almost $2 million a year definitely will add up and it could go in better areas where we need it.
It’s not too late to start asking, have we done everything we could, have we done everything we can on this particular problem. Sometimes our greatest challenges are no less our greatest opportunities. All over the world there are talented individuals out there waiting to be inspired by this problem. Just a scratch away, they could solve it. We need to get out there and find these people. To stimulate innovation, I propose a lump-sum payment such as maybe 10 or 20 million dollars to inspire that innovation. For the successful innovator who can solve the Giant Mine problem permanently, this Giant Mine enigma, the reward would create inspired thinking and ingenuity across the world that would save the world rather than ignoring this problem.
If a solution is not found, we all know it would cost nothing, but we could do so much more with this potential of trying to get people engaged in our problem. We are not alone, so stop tackling the problem alone as it is. This could be a landmark contribution, whether it’s to the environment field or even just simply to humankind by saving our planet. People have always been motivated by the advances of science and opportunity. Here lies an opportunity. Let Churchill remind us clearly, “pessimists see the difficulty in every opportunity; optimists see the opportunity in every difficulty.” It is time to reach for that opportunity through innovation. Today is the day.
I will be asking the Premier to see if he will work towards creating a partnership with our AANDC folks to stimulate innovation on solving the Giant Mine problem. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. The honourable Member for Frame Lake, Ms. Bisaro.
