Mr. Speaker, today I would like to talk about the need to deliver environmental monitoring programs for residents of Fort Resolution and Lutselk’e. Mr. Speaker, Lutselk’e is a small, isolated community located on the East Arm of the Great Slave Lake. It is right in the heart of the proposed new national park and sees a lot of resource exploration. Fort Resolution is situated on the south shore of the Great Slave Lake near the mouths of the Slave and Taltson rivers, both of which have been impacted by hydro and tar sands projects and is a close neighbour to the former lead/zinc mine in Pine Point.
Mr. Speaker, both communities are located in prime ecological and wildlife treasures. Local residents have inhabited these areas for hundreds and hundreds of years primarily because of the abundance of fish and game which continue to support a subsistence lifestyle for some to this day. However, Mr. Speaker, times have changed; in activities such as resource development like diamond mining and the Fort McMurray tar sands, are having long-lasting negative effects on plants, marine, wildlife, animals, the water and the air.
Mr. Speaker, with all of these activities and recent changes in the climate, we need to do more and need to know more exactly what it is that is being affected. We need to properly and accurately collect records necessary on environmental and wildlife data on a regular basis so that we can measure and better mitigate and adapt to these impacts.
Mr. Speaker, many residents of Fort Resolution and Lutselk’e have lived there for generations. Not only are they not planning on leaving any time soon, Mr. Speaker, but these residents are very familiar with the land around their prospective communities.
Mr. Speaker, with all this resource development exploration, the Tu Nedhe people want to protect their environment, their water and their wildlife. They would like opportunities to monitor the land, wildlife and the water.
Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.
---Unanimous consent granted
Mr. Speaker, they are aware that the environment affects climate and it even affects discussions as far as future land claims and so on. Mr. Speaker, there is a complex environmental assessment process. There is a real need to have a good supply of environmental monitors, and what better candidates are there than those who live in Lutselk’e and Fort Resolution. Later today, I will have questions for the Minister of ENR. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. The honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre, Mr. Hawkins.
