Debates of October 25, 2006 (day 15)

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. My questions today are for the Minister responsible for Environment and Natural Resources, the Honourable Joe Handley. As everyone is well aware, we did sign an MOU in Lutselk’e to look at the viability of establishing a protected area in the East Arm area. Lutselk’e, the Government of Nunavut, the Government of Canada, the Lutselk’e First Nations Council and the Akaitcho Territorial Government recently approved the Thelon management plan that would ensure better protection of the Beverly herd calving grounds in the Thelon area. This management plan has been provided to the government a little over a year ago, I guess, for their approval so they can begin work on extending this protection for the Beverly herd. With the dwindling, declining numbers of caribou and the Barren Ground Caribou Management Strategy that is coming out, why hasn’t the GNWT, being the last jurisdiction to approve this management plan, approved it to date? I just want to know what the hold-up is. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. The honourable Minister responsible for the Environment and Natural Resources, Mr. Handley.

Return To Question 189-15(5): Thelon Area Management Plan Implementation

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am not sure all of the reasons for the delay. I want to first congratulate Lutselk’e on the protected area and the MOU that was recently signed. In terms of delay, I am not sure of all of the reasons for it, Mr. Speaker. I can tell you, though, that there is a workshop being held in November of this year to work on some of the issues, to look at survey results and also to work with the people involved on a management plan for that caribou herd. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Supplementary, Mr. Villeneuve.

Supplementary To Question 189-15(5): Thelon Area Management Plan Implementation

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I realize that the workshop is coming up, but since this management plan has the approval of the Government of Nunavut, the Government of Canada, the Lutselk’e First Nations and the Akaitcho Territory Government, but not the approval of this government to move this plan forward, and with the declining numbers of caribou that we are addressing here today, why do we need another workshop for this government just to basically rubber stamp the plan and move it forward so the WWF in conjunction with the Lutselk’e First Nations and the Beverly Caribou Management Board can start moving on sort of working to develop and implement the protection of this critical caribou calving ground? Can the Minister commit to me, after this workshop, I think it is November 12th, that the government will give us a response, hopefully a positive response, as to when they plan on approving this management plan? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Villeneuve. Mr. Handley.

Further Return To Question 189-15(5): Thelon Area Management Plan Implementation

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will give the Member my commitment that we will be there. We will participate in the workshop. We will share our latest survey results and we will work with the other partners on a management plan with the objective of having an agreed to management plan by all of the partners. Mr. Speaker, we don’t have any particular reason to delay this. We have a lot of concern about the health of that herd and do want to make sure that the management plan we and all the partners come up with is one that takes advantage of the most recent survey information we have. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Short supplementary, Mr. Villeneuve.

Supplementary To Question 189-15(5): Thelon Area Management Plan Implementation

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Again, the plan has been approved by everybody but this government. I don’t know what the hold-up is. Basically what the people are worried about, Mr. Speaker, is that the claims that have been staked in that area are uranium exploration claims. The amount of activity is dramatically increased because the price of uranium has obviously gone up, so everybody is going in there and investing in their exploration towards mine development in this area. The people want to get some protection against the mines to ensure that the calving grounds of this Beverly herd are not damaged or developed. Can the Minister provide a commitment to the Lutselk’e and Nunavut residents who rely heavily on this herd as their main meat source, that this government will approve the management plan shortly after the workshop, within the next month or so? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Villeneuve. Mr. Handley.

Further Return To Question 189-15(5): Thelon Area Management Plan Implementation

Mr. Speaker, I will give that assurance but, at the same time, I want to discuss this further with the officials in ENR. But I don’t know of any reason why we would not be able to achieve what the Member is requesting. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Time for question period is expired. However, I will… Thank you, Members. The honourable Member for Hay River South, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to seek unanimous consent to return to Item 6 on the Order Paper, oral questions.