Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question is directed to the Minister of Environment and Natural Resources in regards to a letter he received from the chief of the Inuvik Band Council, Mr. Herb Blake. It’s in regards to arsenic levels in Inuvik, and also it was sent to the Minister of Environment, Jim Prentice. Several properties that are owned in Inuvik by the Gwich’in Tribal Council and Gwich’in Development Corporation were tested for contamination, and high levels of arsenic were located on those pieces of property. Because of that, there is a question of liability and what you can do with those properties. Through those tests, they also revealed there are other properties in Inuvik, especially the location of the new Arctic Research site in which there was a public tender just released by Public Works and Services. It documents that arsenic levels are on this site and that people bidding on this contract should be aware of that.
I would like to ask the Minister of the Environment what is this government doing to identify the arsenic levels in Inuvik by way of testing, and also what are you doing to inform the Gwich’in Tribal Council and the band in Inuvik with regard to the properties they own in that community?
Thank you, Mr. Krutko. The honourable Minister of Environment and Natural Resources, Mr. Miltenberger.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In the attempt to deal with what has been identified as naturally occurring incidents of arsenic in the soil, there has been a working group struck. There have been consultants brought in to examine the issue, to do the testing. There are meetings going on this month. Work has been done, things are being analyzed as we work towards getting enough information to determine what next steps should be in terms of remediation and other steps. Thank you.
Again, I would like to ask the Minister what is this government doing to include the aboriginal governments in that community, especially the First Nations government and the Gwich’in Tribal Council and the band in Inuvik? What role are they playing? Because, as I understand it, they are totally out of the picture and are not being consulted. Thank you.
My understanding is that all the affected stakeholders, property owners, were invited to sit on this stakeholders committee to oversee the work, to look at what the issues were and look at the work plan that was being laid out and agreed to. Thank you.
As we all know, the standards that are set by the Canadian Council of Ministers of Environment, they set the national standard for arsenic at 12 mg/kg. From the results that we are getting, it’s well past that in regards to Inuvik. So by exceeding these national standard numbers, what are the public health concerns relating to the possibility of cancer and other effects that we hear about arsenic? What is the health risk to the people in Inuvik?
This issue is being looked at. It has also been dealt with in Yellowknife, where the rates are 160 parts per million for residential and 340 parts per million for industrial, when they looked at areas like the old Con Mine and such. So I don’t think we should get ahead or predetermine the outcome of the work of the consultants and the stakeholder committee. I just want to reassure the people that this is being looked at. All the appropriate people are involved and we are looking forward to the results of that work. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. The time for question period has expired; however, I will allow the Member a third supplementary. Mr. Krutko.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, if the Minister can take it onto himself to call the president of the Gwich’in Tribal Council, Mr. Richard Nerysoo, and give him an update on where these things are at, because I met with Richard Nerysoo prior to coming back down to the House and he is the one that brought this issue to my attention and that they are being totally excluded from this process. Yet, Mr. Speaker, this government has a right to consult with First Nations under court cases in Canada and I would just like to impose on the Minister to take it onto himself to make that phone call to the president of the Gwich’in Tribal Council.
I understand on September 8th, Inuvik Mayor Derek Lindsay invited the Gwich’in Tribal Council and Nihtat Gwich’in Council to participate in the stakeholder committee. It doesn’t tell me whether they agreed to do that or not, but I will commit to make sure that there has been a proper flow of information on all the stakeholder groups. The aboriginal governments are fully privy to the work that’s underway. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Before we go any further, colleagues, I would like to draw your attention to the gallery to a group of Aurora College students. They are all part of a group of Social Studies 130 and part of their class content is the study of Canadian government, so I guess they’re here to observe how we are operating. Welcome to the Legislative Assembly.
