Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, when I previously raised this issue in March of 2023, I was pleased to learn that the Premier was listen to the concerns from the Tu NedheWiilideh riding. I am hopeful that the Prime Minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau, is also listening to the serious concerns raised here today. However, Mr. Speaker, KOSMOS 954 has been around for decades and the voices of the people most impacted have been unheard.
Has the Premier had any discussions with the Prime Minister of Canada since I raised this issue in the House in March 2023? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member for Tu NedheWiilideh. Madam Premier.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. No, at this point, since March 2023, I haven't had any meetings with the prime minister, so this has not been addressed with the prime minister. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Yeah, thank you, Mr. Speaker. This matter is one that should be major concerns for the Government of the Northwest Territories. Regardless of the status of discussion with the Government of Canada, what will she do to help the serious cumulative impact of KOSMOS 954 in the Tu NedheWiilideh riding? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Actually, when it was first brought to my attention last sitting I can't remember if it was March, it was the first I've heard of it in honesty. I stated, I mean, I was here in the '70s, I just wasn't paying attention to the sky at the time. But I did do a little bit more research after that and looked into it. I think that there was a lot of research. I mean, there was a lot of research done at the time. The research found that there was no causal link between the debris from the satellite with cancer incidents, specifically in the Fort Resolution area. The research also stated that the particulate fallout, the dust, was insoluble and lacked some of the more dangerous products thereby lessening the potential environmental impacts.
In saying that, Mr. Speaker, I know that Indigenous people for many years have been told, don't worry, it's good, and then bad things have come. So I think in fairness to the Member, if there are concerns from the community, if the Member feels that it would be any benefit, I'd be more than willing to if the Member invites me, to go into his community and listen to the concerns of people if that's what the Member would like. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Yeah, thank you, Mr. Speaker. And thank you, Premier, for your feedback and some of the research you've done. But a lot of that stuff you just mentioned could also be brought out through a public hearing and public inquiry with facts and evidence so that's what that's what I'm going to be calling for. However, Mr. Speaker, with new technology available today that could help us detect sources of radiation that could shed light on the real impacts of the Kosmos 954, will the Premier direct her government to pursue a modern approaches to radiation study in the areas impacted by Kosmos 954 in the Tu NedheWiilideh riding. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. At this point, I'm not too eager to jump on that at this point. I think that there should be maybe a followup with the prime minister. My understanding, I think, is that this would be federal jurisdiction versus territorial. We don't control the sky. But, again, if the Member would like, I think that I have no problem; I can write a letter to the prime minister asking if there's been any more research or anything more that he could report on this if that would appease the Member. And also, again, I understand I empathize, I hear, and I've seen it myself, how people are mistrusting of governments so if the Member feels that there's anything I can do for his community, then I'm more than willing to go in and listen. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Madam Premier. Final supplementary. Member for Tu NedheWiilideh.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And earlier the Premier had mentioned that they did a study and it talks about cancer, etcetera. But I attended a lot of Dene Nation assemblies, Akaitcho assemblies in my in the Akaitcho region and over the years and decades, I've been to many, many funerals and a lot of them were cancerrelated. We just don't know where and what. So that's why if we were to have a public inquiry, a lot of this stuff will be fleshed out and give a clearer picture.
Mr. Speaker, the Giant Mine remediation project is the model that could be used to address the impacts of Kosmos 954, including a multiyear project to study impacts and mitigate damages while ensuring the community and those affected receive through, one, public inquiry, which includes:
An environment assessment and this could include the Canadian nuclear safety commission; compensation for the historic harm done to the land and trappers and communities in the Tu NedheWiilideh riding; and lastly, is the public apology.
My question to the Premier is will the Premier Cochrane work with the Prime Minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau, to call for a public inquiry and fund a public inquiry immediately and through this environmental assessment process? Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I don't have the ability to be able to tell the prime minister what to do, what to fund, etcetera. I wish I did have that power; we'd be a lot better off in the Northwest Territories. However, I don't. So what I can do, though, is, like I said, I will write a letter to the prime minister. I'll explain the concerns of the MLA, that he's hearing these from his people, and I'll ask the prime minister what new research has been done with this and raise the request to do a public inquiry. We won't do it as the GNWT but I will write a letter to the prime minister. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Madam Premier. Oral questions. Member for Monfwi.
