Thank you, Mr. Speaker. From time immemorial our elders were taught by their elders, just as I was taught by my elders. Mr. Speaker, the basics to me that was taught by the elders is that our land is alive, powerful and even holy.
Mr. Speaker, part of our understanding is about the value of our land, which also means the water; they are both the same. We understand the importance of clean water, the source of all life. Without it, surely we will all perish.
That’s why I am very concerned about the future of the Northwest Territories water quality. Two weeks ago the federal government suspended operations of 21 of the Northwest Territories 23 water quality monitoring stations. It also stopped activities in all 10 of Nunavut’s stations, two of them on Northwest Territories/Nunavut transboundary rivers.
It gets worse, Mr. Speaker. There is no funding to support the 18 water quality monitoring stations related to the Mackenzie Gas Project. Reduction of water quality monitoring is taking place right across Canada. Canada has suspended water quality monitoring stations in national parks. It will suspend the operation of water quality monitoring stations until Environment Canada completes a risk-based assessment to decide which stations will continue to operate on a reduced budget.
Mr. Speaker, this risk-based approach to water quality monitoring is too quick to take clean water for granted. We have reached a point where all water is at risk. Fish are showing signs of contamination.
In 2010 the Auditor General of Canada stated in a report that Northwest Territories water quality monitoring is not adequate. The Government of the Northwest Territories has made some real commitments to water quality. The Water Stewardship Strategy is their attempt to protect our most precious resource. The water stewardship is a shared responsibility. Our efforts are being depleted by our own federal government.
Mr. Yakeleya, your time for your Member’s statement has expired.
Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.
---Unanimous consent granted
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, colleagues. The federal government signed a Water Stewardship Strategy that includes action items to include water quality monitoring in the Northwest Territories. The federal government signed land claims agreements that committed to sustainable, unaltered water quality. The federal government signed a Devolution Agreement-in-Principle that was based on 23 active water quality stations in the Northwest Territories.
This is sad conduct on the government’s commitment to clean, abundant water. It’s an insult to the people of the Northwest Territories and all Canada. I am pleased that the Department of Environment and Natural Resources will fight these changes. I urge all Canadians and Northerners to report the efforts to protect our water systems. This was highly talked about at the Sahtu Secretariat Incorporated AGM in Colville Lake earlier this month. Water is not worth a few more barrels of oil, national defence or economic growth. Water is our most precious resource. Water is life.
Mr. Speaker, when will, or better yet, what will it take to tell our governments if we turn a blind eye from what has been done to our water, our life, we stop listening to our people, who will save our lives, Mr. Speaker? Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. The honourable Member for Yellowknife South, Mr. Bob McLeod.
