OVERHEARD

Mr. Ron Elliott (Quttiktuq) on uranium mining in , NWT Premier Bob McLeod’s Opening Address, and Ms. Wendy Bisaro (Frame Lake) on the NWT’s Anti-Poverty Strategy. P h o t o

c r e d i t :

N o r t h e r n

P u b l i c

A f f a i r s . Nunavut Legislative Assembly, Iqaluit, Nunavut, 2011.

Nunavut will support the exploration and mining of uranium subject to five principles. My questions are based around those principles. Mr. Speaker, Principle 2 of the Government of Nunavut’s uranium policy states that “Nunavummiut must be the major beneficiaries of uranium explo- ration and mining activities.” My question to the minister is: what policies or mechanisms does the Government of Nunavut have in place to ensure this On October 26, 2012 Mr. Ron Elliott (Quttiktuq) asked will occur? Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Minister of Economic Development and Transportation, the Hon. Peter Taptuna, about the Government of Speaker: Thank you, Mr. Elliott. Minister respon- Nunavut’s uranium mining policy. sible for Economic Development and Transporta- tion, Minister Taptuna. r. Ron Elliott: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I Mwould like to direct my questions to the Min- Hon. Peter Taptuna: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I ister of Economic Development and Transportation. thank the member for that question. Mr. Speaker, it’s On June 6, 2012, the minister tabled the Gov- written down quite clearly in the Parnautit strategy ernment of Nunavut’s uranium policy statement. In for mining and we use those on a case-by-case basis. that statement, it clarified that the Government of That strategy is used by all proponents, all compa-

8 Northern Public Affairs, Fall 2012 nies, and throughout the regulatory processes that the Hon. Peter Taptuna: Again, the processes of en- Nunavut Impact Review Board [NIRB] goes through vironmental regulations and screening are through with the proponents and all interested parties. It the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement. The body of states that very clearly there. Nunavut Impact Review Board has an obligation to consult with every community and determine and Mr. Ron Elliott: Principle 5 states that “Uranium make recommendations to the Minster of Aboriginal exploration and mining must have the support of Affairs and Northern Development of Canada. Nunavummiut, with particular emphasis on commu- Once all the facts are gathered, that’s when NIRB nities close to uranium development.” Can the min- makes a recommendation to the minister responsible ister describe what would constitute support for for that. Nunavummiut and the affected communities? If, throughout the process, there are indications of environmental mitigations that can’t be handled Hon. Peter Taptuna: The process is set out quite by the proponent and if it’s not a sustainable project, clearly in the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement through it’s not beneficial to Nunavummiut, those determi- the regulatory process. If there’s any indication that nations are made known to the public through the the project is not going to be beneficial to Nunavum- recommendations of the Nunavut Impact Review miut, whether people are going to be affected, the Board to the Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and environment, wildlife, and if the project is not sus- Northern Development of Canada. tainable, of course, we do have a process that goes through the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement, that being NIRB goes through the environmental regulations and processes, and have close consultations with the communities. The process is based on that.

Mr. Ron Elliott: Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. [NTI] has a very comprehensive uranium mining policy, of which certain financial agreements and arrange- ments have been attached to certain mining and ex- ploration companies. This was promised to be Northwest Territories Premier Bob McLeod’s reviewed and when that review occurred, no signifi- Opening Address at the continuation of the Third Session of cant changes were made. the 17th Legislative Assembly on October 17, 2012. Obviously NTI is in support of uranium explo- ration, mining, and development. Is this what the r. Speaker, I would like to welcome Members minister is referring to in regard to support from the Mback to the continuation of the Third Ses- communities? sion of the 17th Legislative Assembly. I hope every- body was able to enjoy some time with family and Hon. Peter Taptuna: I didn’t necessary allude to friends this summer and have come back rested and that. NTI has their own policy on uranium explo- ready to continue working on behalf of the people ration and mining and whatever they do there is up of the Northwest Territories. It has been almost one to them. We abide by the land claims agreement en- year since we took office. As we get started with this vironmental processes and our own strategy that was session, I would like to look back at some of the developed for Nunavummiut in our Parnautit strat- things we have accomplished together this past year. egy. Mr. Speaker, this Assembly has a vision of a strong and prosperous Northwest Territories that provides Mr. Ron Elliott: As the minister is aware, residents all our residents with opportunities in their regions from Baker Lake, one of the affected communities and communities. Building effective working rela- close to uranium development, and had tionships with other northern governments, business, petitions that were introduced into this House. Both industry and social and environmental organizations did not support uranium mining. Again, if the min- is a critical factor in our success. This has been a ister could clarify what the Government of Nunavut major focus for us during the past year: means by Principle 5 of the Government of Nunavut’s Uranium Policy Statement, which states • We continue to meet and engage with Abo- that it will not move forward on uranium develop- riginal and other northern governments to find ment unless Nunavummiut support it. areas of agreement where we can work together

Northern Public Affairs, Fall 2012 9 to advance our mutual interests and the interests with 28 participants in Hay River in June and of the people of the Northwest Territories. another in Inuvik with 26 participants in early Since we took office, members of Cabinet have October as part of our work towards a compre- had 45 meetings on a government-to-govern- hensive, broad-based Northwest Territories ment basis with Aboriginal governments and Anti-Poverty Strategy. leadership. • In April we began implementing Building • This past May we took an important step for the Future, our strategic framework for hous- when the Sahtu Secretariat Incorporated signed ing delivery that includes a new, more equitable the Devolution Agreement-in-Principle. Devo- public housing rental scale and new supports to lution has been a priority of this government help renters make the transition to home-own- and Aboriginal governments for years and we ing and to help people maintain the homes they were pleased to have the Sahtu rejoin the own. process. • In May, with the input and recommenda- • In June we released Respect, Recognition, tions of Regular Members, we allocated an ad- Responsibility, our government’s commitment ditional $1 million to early childhood to working on a government-to-government development programs and are continuing to basis with Aboriginal governments. A comple- work on plans for ensuring our children get a mentary guide for staff helps to ensure that we good start in life. continue to build strong working relationships in • This past June we released A Shared Path all our engagements with Aboriginal govern- Towards Wellness, our action plan on mental ments. health and addictions that will involve and en- • In July we signed Working Together, an gage communities in solving the problem of intergovernmental agreement with the Tlicho mental health and addictions and includes the Government. The agreement acknowledges the creation of the Minister’s Forum on Addictions. unique and evolving relationship between the • Earlier this month we launched a new res- two governments and identifies areas of coop- idential schools curriculum in partnership with eration, including housing, income support, in- the Government of Nunavut and the Truth and frastructure and community governance. Reconciliation Commission to help us address • Just last Friday I was in Aklavik, where the one of the major underlying causes of many of Gwich’in Tribal Council formally signed the the problems in our homes and communities. Devolution Agreement-in-Principle. Devolution • We are also working to help inmates in represents a major opportunity for this territory the North Slave correctional facility begin their to become self-sufficient and prosperous, and I own healing journey when the Truth and Rec- am pleased to have the Gwich’in return to the onciliation Commission takes statements from negotiating table with us. them at the end of this month. This will be the • We also signed an intergovernmental um- first time that the Truth and Reconciliation brella agreement and contracting MOU in Commission will have entered any correctional Aklavik. These agreements underscore our com- facility in the country. mitment to maintaining government-to-govern- ment relations with Aboriginal governments and Social development and economic development provide a means for ensuring the Gwich’in share go hand in hand, Mr. Speaker. We need a strong and in the benefits of a strong Northwest Territories diversified economy that uses resources wisely and economy. provides economic opportunities for our people and financial resources to fund public programs and serv- A strong and sustainable territory starts with ices. healthy, educated people. Over the past year, our gov- Other successes from the past year include nego- ernment has worked to address the social needs of tiating an increase to our borrowing limit with the the people of the Northwest Territories: federal government. This will help give us the ability to continue making strategic investments in the in- • We have created an Anti-Poverty Steering frastructure we need to support economic develop- Committee that includes representation from all ment in our territory. During the spring we the federal, territorial and Aboriginal govern- successfully negotiated new four-year collective ments, business, the No Place for Poverty Coali- agreements with the Union of Northern Workers, tion and a person who has experienced living in the Northwest Territories Medical Association and poverty. We held an anti- poverty roundtable the Northwest Territories Teachers’ Association, pro-

10 Northern Public Affairs, Fall 2012 s r i a f f A c i l b u P n r e h t r o N

: t i d e r c o t o h P Freya, Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, 2009. viding certainty for our employees and stability for Arctic Council when Canada begins to chair it in our ongoing operations. 2013. We have also been recognized nationally for the We are almost a year into our mandate, Mr. quality of our work and our working environment. Speaker. We are making progress on our goals and In August our government was recognized by the In- priorities as an Assembly and I would like to thank stitute of Public Administration of Canada for our Members for their efforts to help us move forward. I innovative approach to involving Aboriginal govern- look forward to working with them in this session and ments in planning work for the Mackenzie Valley over the next three years. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Highway. Last week our government was recognized as one of Canada’s Top 100 Employers for 2013. ◉◉◉ This recognition places us among a select group of Canadian employers who lead the nation in their On October 17, 2012 Ms. Wendy Bisaro (Frame Lake) commitment to their employees. We value our em- asked NWT Minister of Justice, the Hon. Glen Abernethy, ployees and respect the good work they do in imple- about the territory’s forthcoming Anti-Poverty Strategy. menting our direction and providing services to Northerners. s. Wendy Bisaro: Thank you, Mr. Mr. Speaker, we took office with a commitment MSpeaker. I would like to follow up on my to doing things differently and getting things done. statement and ask some questions of the Minister This government has been living up to that commit- of Justice, who also happens to be the Minister re- ment. We still have plenty of work ahead of us. We sponsible for the social issues committee of Cabi- continue to address the high cost of living, through net. investments in transportation infrastructure, alterna- The Premier spoke a bit in his statement earlier tive energy projects like the Fort Simpson solar in- about the actions of the government in relation to stallation, our anti-poverty work, and new and development of an Anti-Poverty Strategy and I’d enhanced programs to help homeowners. like to ask the Minister responsible for the social is- Devolution remains a priority. We hope to con- sues committee if he would provide a bit further in- clude negotiations before the end of 2012, and it will formation, an update for us as to just what work the take 18 months after signing to fully implement the Anti-Poverty Strategy group has done — kind of agreement. We are working on a plan to address de- where we’re at. centralization to help increase employment opportu- nities in our communities. We are looking for Mr. Speaker: Thank you, Ms. Bisaro. The Hon. northern Premiers to take a more active role in the Minister responsible for Justice, Mr. Abernethy.

Northern Public Affairs, Fall 2012 11 Hon. Glen Abernethy: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Ms. Wendy Bisaro: A draft-like, that’s an inter- As I’ve mentioned previously, we have a steering esting term. I appreciate it. I think that’s a commit- committee in place which consists of government ment to have a document out there that Members and non-government NGOs and individuals who and the public can actually have some input on. have lived in poverty. There is also a working Can the Minister at this point give us any indica- group, which the Member has mentioned herself, tion of what kind of consultation with the public which has pulled together and done two roundta- will be done once this draft or draft-like document bles where they’ve had an opportunity to bring dif- is available? ferent information to the table. They all come with their own perspectives and program areas. They’ve Hon. Glen Abernethy: I strive to come up with had an opportunity to discuss the different program new and creative terms. We will have the draft areas and set some priorities for an Anti-Poverty available. It will be shared with committee. We’ve Strategy for the Northwest Territories. also committed to taking this draft out to commu- Originally we had indicated that we wanted to nity governments, Aboriginal governments, sharing have an Anti-Poverty Strategy in place by Christ- it with the NGOs, sharing with individuals who are mas of this year. However, based on comments actively engaged in trying to address poverty in the from Members, based on a suggestion and a re- Northwest Territories. We will take that out in that quest from the working group and the steering way and have everybody give us some feedback be- committee, Cabinet has agreed to extend that fore we finalize this NWT document. deadline. We have extended the deadline to March 31, 2013. Mr. Speaker: Thank you, Mr. Abernethy. Final As the Member has indicated, we want an supplementary, Ms. Bisaro. Anti-Poverty Strategy that is right for the people of the Northwest Territories. It’s not just a govern- Ms. Wendy Bisaro: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’m ment strategy, it’s a strategy for the people, for gov- glad to see you didn’t cheat me of my last question. ernments, all governments, NGOs and industry. We To the Minister, I’d like to ask, I appreciate the want to get it right. We have extended the deadline. commitment that we’re going to, I think, have broad consultation on the document once it’s out Ms. Wendy Bisaro: I’d like to thank the Minister there. I’d like to know if the Minister has any idea for that update and elaborate a bit on what the Pre- how long it will take, once the document is final- mier had said earlier. I know that both the steering ized, to start implementation. committee and the larger group at the roundtables have been working very hard and I know that they Hon. Glen Abernethy: As I’ve indicated, this have been working on preparing a draft strategy, isn’t a GNWT document exclusively. This is a doc- some kind of a document. I’d like to know from the ument for Aboriginal governments, community Minister when this draft document might be avail- governments, Government of the Northwest Terri- able and at that time, when it is available, will it be tories, federal governments, NGOs and industry. It given to Members and the general public for com- will have recommendations that every organization ments. and government can help to set their priorities for combating poverty. When we get the document fi- Hon. Glen Abernethy: We had hoped that we nalized, it will come to the House for more discus- would have something prior to Christmas for the sion and hopefully we’ll see some of the activities Members to look at, but we are in negotiation with begin to roll out through the business planning the working group right now, trying to discuss when process. I couldn’t say when any individual activity exactly we might be able to get something to com- will take place because, quite frankly, I don’t know mittee and to the public. As soon as I know that, what those individual activities will be.◉ and I will have conversations with the lead depart- ment on that, I will get that information to the Editor’s note: Statements edited for length. Procedurals ad- Member. We hope to have something early or dresses to the Speaker have been omitted for clairity. something draft-like for the Members to see prior to Christmas.

12 Northern Public Affairs, Fall 2012 FROM THE YUKON ARCHIVES . 7 0 4 7 #

A T / d n o F d d i T y r a M d n a e d u a l C / s e v i h c r A n o k u Y

: t i d e r c o t o h P The Hotel Royal Alexandra — Dawson City’s leading hotel — in 1932.