Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions today are for the Minister of Finance. I’d like to ask him some questions around the issue of financial liability at Giant Mine. With the environmental hearings that were held a couple weeks ago here in Yellowknife, a number of constituents have spoken to me about Giant and about the financial situation that we are in as a territorial government. My first question to the Minister would be if he could advise me and advise the public and my constituents what is the nature of our partnership with AANDC, the federal government department responsible for the cleanup at Giant Mine?
Thank you, Ms. Bisaro. The Minister of Finance, Mr. Miltenberger.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This is a federal waste site that they’re remediating. We are in partnership with them. We’ve booked about $27 million, the federal government in the neighbourhood of $300 million, as initial figures. Clearly, it is one of the biggest waste site remediations in the country, so it is fundamentally a federal responsibility.
Thanks to the Minister for that explanation. I have to say, I’m a little bit concerned when I hear the Minister say that $27 million is an initial figure. I have to say, I’m a little concerned when I hear him say that it is basically a federal responsibility. I’d like to know from the Minister: Do we anticipate further financial requirements on this government to do with the cleanup of Giant Mine? If the $27 million is an initial figure, what are we in the long haul for?
We have committed to that amount of money. This is a federal responsibly. In fact, as we take over devolution, the signed devolution to take over land, water and resource development, Giant will be a separate issue that will stay under the purview of the federal government. At this point, the hope is, the plan is that that money will be sufficient. If there’s any more money required, once again, this is a federal responsibly.
I appreciate the Minister’s response. He says that it is a federal responsibility. A question from my constituent was pretty much relative to devolution and our current situation and the situation following devolution. My question to the Minister would be: If it is basically a federal responsibility, once devolution occurs will the federal government be able to come back to us and tell us as a territorial government that we will have responsibility for cleanup there?
As I indicated, this particular waste site, Giant, is separate and not included in the devolution agreement. It is going to stay within the responsibility of the federal government to maintain and clean up and do all the things necessary to bring it back to proper use.
Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Final, short supplementary, Ms. Bisaro.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I guess my last question to the Minister would be, again, about money. If we are committed at this point to $27 million, and that we – as the Minister says he hopes we don’t use more than that – are we going to see a supplementary appropriation sometime down the road to go beyond the $27 million that we’re now committed to?
There is no such anticipation at this juncture. Our involvement is for a lot of the ancillary land and commitment to try to assist to the extent that we have with the $27 million. At this point, that is the extent of our commitment and there are no indications as Finance Minister, nor am I aware of any at this point that would require any further contribution on the part of the territorial government.
Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. The Member for Deh Cho, Mr. Nadli.
