Debates of June 9, 2016 (day 18)

Date
June
9
2016
Session
18th Assembly, 2nd Session
Day
18
Members Present
Hon. Glen Abernethy, Mr. Beaulieu, Mr. Blake, Hon. Caroline Cochrane, Ms. Julie Green, Hon. Jackson Lafferty, Hon. Robert McLeod, Mr. McNeely, Hon. Alfred Moses, Mr. Nadli, Mr. Nakimayak, Mr. O’Reilly, Hon. Wally Schumann, Hon. Louis Sebert, Mr. Simpson, Mr. Testart, Mr. Vanthuyne
Topics
Statements

Question 201-18(2): Remediation of Pine Point Mine and Town Sites

Marci cho, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In all fairness to the Minister, I’m going to be asking my questions in my own language.

[English translation not provided.] Marci cho, Mr. Speaker.

Speaker: MR. SPEAKER

Masi. Minister of Environment and Natural Resources.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. A little bit of a delay there. Pine Point, as the Member stated, was around for a long time and for a number of years it’s been shut down as I know, as I’m a resident very close to that community. Pre-devolution I believe the Pine Point mine site would have been a federal responsibility and I would have to look into that matter, but I believe prior to devolution it was under the responsibility of the federal government. Thank you for that, Mr. Speaker.

[English translation not provided]. Marci cho, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would have to check with the federal government if this is part of the devolution final agreement on contaminated sites and get back to the Member where that’s at if it’s part of devolution.

Marci cho, Mr. Speaker. [English translation not provided.]

I have had the opportunity to meet the Minister from the federal government, my counterpart, but we not had direct discussions on Pine Point Mine site.

Speaker: MR. SPEAKER

Oral Questions. Member for Tu-Nedhe-Wiilideh

Marci, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, [Translation] the people are saying there the Pine Point Mine, the work that was worked on all the chemicals that was used would be going into the water. The Fort Resolution bay might be affected by the chemicals that were used for the mine. It seems like the people are getting sick from it and we don’t know. I would like to ask the Minister when are you going to start doing an assessment on how the land is impacted, the extent of the impact? When are you going to do that? [Translation ends].

The Pine Point site falls under the Mackenzie Valley Land and Water Board. ENR works closely with all other departments. Related to this land use it would be the Department of Lands and ENR. Under ENR we’d have a water licence and all these things are monitored adverse to the Mackenzie Valley Land and Water Board. Back to the federal government, if it’s a federal government responsibility and we’re still trying to figure out how that’s working with devolution. The remediation plan will have to be coming probably from the federal government; no different than other federal sites.

Speaker: MR. SPEAKER

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Hay River North.