Debates of May 15, 2007 (day 7)

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my questions today are for the Minister of Environment and Natural Resources with regards to an area just east of Lutselk’e that is a unique, sheltered oasis within the Arctic tundra region. It is rich in wildlife, contains the Beverly caribou calving grounds, it’s rich in fauna, and unfortunately it’s also rich in uranium. There’s also been a real long, 13-year, planning process that’s been in the works since October 1994 into a management plan. The area I’m talking about is the Thelon Game Sanctuary, Mr. Speaker. The Thelon Game Sanctuary Management Plan has been worked on for a number of years and has also been approved in principle by the Lutselk’e First Nations, the Akaitcho Government, the Government of Nunavut, Government of Canada, the KIA, the Nunavut Wildlife Management Board, many stakeholders and interest groups that have been working diligently for years to get this plan, move this plan into action. I just want to know why this government has been the only interest group and stakeholder that hasn’t formally approved this management plan to date. Can the Minister give me a status on that? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Villeneuve. The honourable Minister responsible for Environment and Natural Resources, Mr. McLeod.

Return To Question 84-15(6): Thelon Game Sanctuary Management Plan

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Thelon Management Plan is something that has been supported by this government. There’s been a lot of work that’s been done, as the Member has indicated. There’s been consultations with many parties, many governments that are impacted by this plan and that support it or, in some cases, there’s governments that are requesting to have a seat at the table for discussion. Some requests have come forward recently that we’re considering and we’re having those discussions and we’ll decide how to move forward following that. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Supplementary, Mr. Villeneuve.

Supplementary To Question 84-15(6): Thelon Game Sanctuary Management Plan

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I think, you know, like I stated earlier, the basic proponents and the people that are most affected by this management plan and should have the most input have approved this plan in principle. The longer we wait, the more people are going to come forward and say they should have a seat at this management committee for the Thelon Game Sanctuary when the Thelon Game Sanctuary doesn’t even cross their borders or go into their areas. I would encourage that this Minister maybe who arranged the meeting in Lutselk’e just this last February, Mr. Speaker, just to reaffirm that the parties are still in approval in principle of the plan. Apparently they are and they’re just kind of wondering who is going to give the approval. Is it the Minister’s office or do they need Cabinet approval? Whose approval do they need at the end of the day? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Villeneuve. Mr. McLeod.

Further Return To Question 84-15(6): Thelon Game Sanctuary Management Plan

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We have to ensure that we have all the people that have an interest in this area and this sanctuary have a say in it. There has been a process out there. Some aboriginal governments have indicated to us that they have a desire to speak to the issue. We want to take the opportunity to hear them out and decide what our next steps are going to be, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Supplementary, Mr. Villeneuve.

Supplementary To Question 84-15(6): Thelon Game Sanctuary Management Plan

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I guess for the interest of the Akaitcho First Nations, the Lutselk’e First Nations and probably the Nunavut Government, could the Minister tell us who are these other interest groups and why do they want a seat on this management board all of a sudden? This has been in the works for 13 years and why are they only coming forward now when the plan is in next to the final stage of approval, Mr. Speaker? Why did we wait so long to hear from them and who are we waiting for? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Villeneuve. Mr. McLeod.

Further Return To Question 84-15(6): Thelon Game Sanctuary Management Plan

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. There’s a number of representatives that come to the table to discuss this plan and that includes the governments that the Member has mentioned: the Lutselk’e council and the Akaitcho territory and Deninu Kue First Nations. There’s other jurisdictions in Saskatchewan and there’s also the NWT Metis that have indicated they want to speak to this issue. So there are a number of things that we’re looking at so that before we can vote on it, we need to make sure we have all the information. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Final supplementary, Mr. Villeneuve.

Supplementary To Question 84-15(6): Thelon Game Sanctuary Management Plan

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Can I get the Minister to come forward with some indication to the proponents who, to my knowledge, have already approved the plan in principle of who we are waiting for to come forward to give their interest or state what their claim and interest in this management area? If they are totally legitimate, I don’t see why not, but if they’re really not that legitimate and we’ve been working on this thing for 13 years now, Mr. Speaker, so you know, why can’t we just approve, because this is just a plan in principle. So why can’t we just move forward with that and move along with some action on the management? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Villeneuve. Mr. McLeod.

Further Return To Question 84-15(6): Thelon Game Sanctuary Management Plan

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the NWT Metis Nation is the primary government that has come forward lately. The other issue that has, I guess, caused us to take a second look at this is the process that we’re going to use. Is it a protected area strategy that we’re going to be pursuing? So we’re kind of taking a step back, but at the same time there is another government that has come forward and asked us to speak to us. So we’d like to do that prior to moving forward.