Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions are for the Minister of Environment and Natural Resources in follow-up on my Member’s statement on the 21st of February and some questions then.
I believe it was two weeks ago today that I described the stalled effort to create an independent oversight body to watchdog the Giant Mine Remediation Project. I pointed out there were six drafts of an oversight discussion paper and eight drafts of an environmental agreement. The work is dead in the water and the working group hasn’t met since August.
On February 21st the Minister committed to direct his department and encourage our federal partners to get the work going. Nothing has happened. What has the Minister done on this and when will the working group be contacted and called together again? Mahsi.
Thank you, Mr. Bromley. The honourable Minister of Environment and Natural Resources, Mr. Miltenberger.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We’ve taken that discussion in the House. The Member also put in written questions that we are looking at responding to. We are having the discussions. Once we’re through this budget process, we’ll be able to pay more attention to the matters of the day. I have been thoroughly occupied here in the House, so there hasn’t been a lot that’s happened out of my office other than the initial contact with the department at this juncture. Thank you.
I will await the Minister getting in gear. Since the close of the Mackenzie Valley Environmental Impact Review public hearings, the board has taken the uncommon step of opening up the public record again with the request to the developers – that’s us – for further information on the plan to dump toxic waters into Back Bay. Apparently the board is determined that the project proposal contains insufficient information to make wise decisions on this dilution of pollution solution.
Can the Minister update us on our activities to provide this solution and whether we will push to have this project element removed in favour of complete water treatment if the results prove unsatisfactory? Thank you.
Thank you. The Member has quoted a number of technical issues at some length and I don’t have it before me. So I will get in gear and I will take that question as notice. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. The Member for Sahtu, Mr. Yakeleya.
