Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I want to follow up from my Member’s statement and ask some questions of the Minister of Environment and Natural Resources. He’s also the Minister responsible for the remediation project at Giant Mine.
I’d like to first ask the Minister: Assuming, because it has been signed off by a GNWT representative, the final submission has a number of statements that present positions that Yellowknife residents are happy with the project going forward and so on, I’d like to know from the Minister whether or not Cabinet was involved in the preparation of or the approval of the positions that are expressed in this final statement.
Thank you, Ms. Bisaro. The Minister of Environment and Natural Resources, Mr. Miltenberger.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It was not an issue that came before Cabinet for any type of approval or review.
Thanks to the Minister for that clarification. I guess I would like to then know whether or not the GNWT, as a government, and the executive and members of Cabinet support the positions expressed in this final submission to the Mackenzie Valley Environmental Impact Review Board. If it has been signed off by a government representative, does that then mean that this is our official GNWT position and that we support the lack of a long-term care plan, that we support the approach that’s being put out there, that we support that there are no concerns from Yellowknife residents?
I prefer to frame things in the positive. It means that we are actively involved in the remediation of this project; that we have committed about $27 million to look at assisting in the land surrounding the immediate site; that we have officials and people that have been working for years now on advancing this project; that we are working with the federal government and all the other stakeholders, the Aboriginal governments, to try to advance this very complex project, one of the largest remediation sites in Canada; and that we are committed to that process, recognizing that it’s very complex and it is the subject of great attention and there is a multitude of opinions. In spite of all that, we are trying to move forward in the best way possible.
To the Minister, I appreciate this is a very long and involved process. It’s an issue which has been ongoing for many, many years, and it will continue to be an issue because many residents in my riding, in my city, and me as well, are concerned about some of things that are proposed in this remediation plan.
I’d like to know from the Minister: if we are actively involved as a government, and if we are committed to following through and proceeding forward with the plan and looking after the site, I’d like to know how the Minister can explain to me that he is protecting my interests, and the interests of the residents in my riding, and the interests of the people of Yellowknife by supporting the position that’s expressed in this final submission.
I would point out that while we are an active participant in this, this is a major federal site. It will continue to be a federal site in perpetuity going forward. We are involved. The issue is I would have to have the Member show me or prove to me in this area where there is a multitude of opinions, while we may disagree how what it is being done does not protect those interests. They may not agree. They may not like them. They may prefer another approach. Decisions had to be made and were made and we’re doing the best job possible. I would be happy to have that discussion with the Member. But I would say that we are actively involved in remediating this site and we are very, very cognizant of the impact on the community and the concerns of the community and protecting the safety of the land and the people.
Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Final, short supplementary, Ms. Bisaro.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’m happy to accept the challenge that the Minister has offered, and I would be happy to sit down with him and discuss with him some of the things which we are at odds with.
I do need to reiterate to the Minister that if we are involved but if the federal government is taking the lead – which is kind of what I’m hearing him say – why then do we, as a participant, sign off on things which we necessarily may not agree to?
We have some very capable staff, highly qualified individuals that have been on this file for many, many years, and I take great comfort when we’re presented with the best steps forward and then we agree to sign off based on that best advice.
Once again, I would be prepared, if there is an interest of committee, to have a briefing from the GNWT on the work we’ve done and the positions we’ve taken. I would be happy to come forward with our officials to have that full, in-depth discussion.
Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. The Member for Sahtu, Mr. Yakeleya.
