Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to direct my questions to the Minister of Environment and Natural Resources and focus on the Giant Mine Remediation Project. Aboriginal Affairs Northern Development Canada, GNWT’s partner on this remediation project, has filed a water licence application to carry out demolition of the roaster complex at the Giant Mine, requiring removal of 700 tonnes of deadly arsenic trioxide and 90,000 cubic metres of waste, but there are serious concerns with the federal government plan for site. Most disturbing is a lack of a comprehensive dust management and air quality monitoring component. The demolition is metres from the Ingraham Trail and boat launch, and upwind from the city.
Why has this proposal gone forward without rigorous dust control and air quality monitoring provisions, and will the Minister consult with his co-proponent to correct this deficiency? Mahsi.
Thank you, Mr. Bromley. The honourable Member of Environment and Natural Resources, Mr. Miltenberger.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Member has raised a very specific concern. I will commit to consult with my ENR officials first, and then we will look at what steps need to be taken up to and including the recommendation by the Member that we talk to our federal partner on this. Thank you.
Mr. Speaker, thanks to the Minister. This is a very serious concern, obviously, dealing with arsenic trioxide.
The water licence applications submitted under the auspices of an emergency, which excuses it from review process and so on, contains additional provisions to carry out work underground. So this work will not be regulated by environmental conditions governing the overall remediation project. AANDC argues the underground work is urgent, but YKDFN, the Yellowknives Dene First Nation, doesn’t agree, and others question the work qualifies for the emergency exemption required to go ahead now.
We have some very capable individuals that are at that table representing our interests. So they have collectively come to that decision, but the Member has raised, once again, another specific issue and I will check back with the officials at ENR to look into the specifics of that concern. Thank you.
I appreciate the Minister’s response again. I think we really want to use those emergency provisions only when there is an emergency, otherwise it needs the oversight. Now, these problems could have been avoided if we had an effective community-based mechanism for independent oversight. Yet, despite six drafts of an oversight discussion paper and eight drafts of an Environmental Agreement, the working group hasn’t met since last August.
The Minister stated his support for independent oversight at a March 2012 workshop. So will the Minister direct his department and encourage our federal partners to get to work on independent oversight moving to conclusion? Mahsi.
Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Final, short supplementary, Mr. Bromley.
Music to my ears. Thanks again. Given the imminent and long sought powers of devolution, we could ensure Giant Mine is the last massive liability dumped on the taxpayer. This government introduced environmental security requirements for activities on Commissioner’s land. What is the government’s plan for moving swiftly to extend these requirements to new legislation through devolution to use of the land we’ll be taking control of following devolution?
Thank you. I didn’t quite catch the whole question. So I will take it as notice, I’ll check Hansard and I’ll get back to the Member. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. The Member for Yellowknife Centre, Mr. Hawkins.
