Chamber of Mines News Briefs – November 6 - 7, 2012 [Note: News headlines are hyperlinked to their stories in this document.] Arctic Sovereignty and Security News ...... 1 Minister of the Arctic Council Leona Aglukkaq Visits YK ...... 1 Northern MPs argue over Arctic Council leadership ...... 2 The Role of the on the Arctic Council...... 2 NWT News...... 3 Devolution negotiations progressing, slowly ...... 3 Bridge set to open on Nov. 30 ...... 4 Deh Cho Bridge to open Nov. 30 ...... 5 GNWT gives $2 million more to Inuvik-Tuk Highway ...... 6 GNWT finds diamond plant buyer ...... 7 N.W.T. barren-ground caribou herds recovering slowly ...... 8 Resource Development and Energy News ...... 8 MAC welcomes bill that could spur Nunavut mining development ...... 8 Northern Jobs and Growth Act will streamline review process: Nunavut government ...... 9 Canadian Orebodies to acquire 100-per cent ownership of Nunavut iron mine project ...... 10 Geoscience welcome ...... 10 Giant Mine team seeks water licence ...... 11 Navigable Waters Act at committee one last time ...... 12

ARCTIC SOVEREIGNTY AND SECURITY NEWS

Minister of the Arctic Council Leona Aglukkaq Visits YK CJCD Radio – November 5, 2012 , N.W.T. - The incoming Minister of the Arctic Council Leona Aglukkaq made a stop in Yellowknife this past weekend to engage in round table discusses on establishing Canada's Arctic Council chairmanship priorities. Aglukkaq said right now she is meeting with all Northerners including members of the Legislative Assembly, aboriginal leaders, and a number of private sector stakeholders to hear what they want to see during the country's chairmanship. Aglukkaq said there is one major thing she will be putting forward in her position. "Development for the people of the North through Canada’s chairmanship, putting people first." She said when requests are put forth by different groups to ban any kind of hunting within the North she will be able to explain how this can affect Northerners. "My point as a person from the North is that we need to look at the collective impact of groups like that on the people that depend on the wildlife. It would be like me taking your pig or your cow or your lamb away." Aglukkaq said when groups put these policy directions forward without meeting with the people the motive behind these broad statements should be questioned.

Chamber News Briefs 1 Northern MPs argue over Arctic Council leadership Bevington says Foreign Affairs minister should be chair, not Aglukkaq CBC News – November 6, 2012 Northern MPs Leona Aglukkaq and Dennis Bevington are in a spat over who should chair the Arctic Council. Aglukkaq, MP for Nunavut, was appointed to the position months ago. She'll become chair when Canada assumes leadership of the Arctic Council in January. On Monday, Western Arctic MP Dennis Bevington said in ’s Hill Times newspaper that Canada's foreign affairs minister should be appointed chair instead. He said appointing Health Minister Aglukkaq means Canada may be less effective in leading the international body. Aglukkaq responded in a written statement, saying she disagreed and accused Bevington of preferring to have a non-Northerner chair the council. She went on to accuse Bevington of hypocrisy for his planned trip to Finland to discuss Arctic issues. Aglukkaq said if Bevington believes only the Foreign Affairs minister can talk about the Arctic, he should cancel his trip.

The Role of the Northwest Territories on the Arctic Council NWT Hansard – November 6, 2012 Mr. Speaker, the Northwest Territories is being presented with an exciting opportunity to engage on Northern priorities on both the national and international stage. On May 13, 2013 Canada will be taking over Chairmanship of the Arctic Council for a two-year term. The Arctic Council is a consensus-based high-level intergovernmental forum that works to promote the social, environmental, and economic aspects of sustainable development in the Arctic region. All eight circumpolar nations sit on the council and receive direct input from the six Permanent Participant organizations representing the Indigenous people of the Circumpolar Arctic. As Canada begins preparing for the upcoming Chairmanship, and recognizing the power of a pan- territorial approach, the Northwest Territories, Yukon and Nunavut have been closely working together to define our common interests. As articulated in the pan-territorial document A Northern Vision, the territories are committed to speaking as a unified northern voice in advancing Canada’s participation in the Arctic Council. I have communicated our commitment to support Canada on the Arctic Council to Minister Leona Aglukkaq, Member of Parliament for Nunavut, who was recently appointed as Canada’s Chairperson to the Arctic Council and will guide the Arctic Council vision over the two years of the Canadian Chairmanship. I have committed to Minister Aglukkaq that the Northwest Territories will play a larger role in supporting Canada as they prepare for their Chairmanship of the Arctic Council and throughout the entire two years. The Arctic Council is Canada’s premier forum to advance its Arctic Foreign Policy, which is the international dimension of Canada’s Northern Strategy. Many of our Government of the Northwest Territories priorities complement the pillars of the Northern Strategy and we will work with Canada throughout its Chairmanship to advance these common interests. Our commitment was further reiterated by Deputy Premier Lafferty on my behalf this past weekend, when he met with Minister Aglukkaq during her visit to Yellowknife as part of her Northern Engagement Tour. This Northern tour has been an opportunity for Minister Aglukkaq to engage with the territories on Canada’s Chairmanship theme which is “Development for the People of the North”.

Chamber News Briefs 2 Deputy Premier Lafferty, accompanied by Minister Ramsay, Minister Abernethy and Minister Beaulieu presented many of our priority issues such as search and rescue, cost of living, sustainable housing, employment opportunities, energy, infrastructure and climate change as important issues being faced by communities and regions across the Northwest Territories and the circumpolar north. During her visit, the Minister also hosted three separate roundtables with Government of the Northwest Territories Ministers, Aboriginal and Municipal Leaders, and Northwest Territories stakeholders. The roundtables gave participants an opportunity to engage with the Minister and provide input on Canada’s theme of “Development for the People of the North”, and three sub-themes of arctic resource development, responsible and safe Arctic shipping, and sustainable circumpolar communities. Canada’s theme and sub-themes align well with our territorial and pan-territorial priorities, and we hope to continue to engage with Minister Aglukkaq in a more formalized role during Canada’s Chairmanship. We appreciate Canada’s commitment to the Arctic Council and support them in their theme and positions on many topics including sustainable development, the inclusion of new Observers to the Council, and support for Permanent Participants. The Chairmanship is an exciting opportunity for Canada’s North. The Northwest Territories is an ideal location to host many Arctic Council discussions throughout the two year Canadian Chairmanship and presents an opportunity to showcase the immense potential of Canada’s Northern communities to the rest of the circumpolar world. We look forward to supporting Canada in achieving our many common goals, while bringing tangible benefits to the North, and Canada as a whole. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

NWT NEWS

Devolution negotiations progressing, slowly Northern Journal – November 6, 2012 Jack Danylchuk Fresh from his first round of devolution talks, Gwich'in Tribal Council President Robert Alexie had little to say about the September meeting in Ottawa, except that "it was an eye-opener," and "discussions are on the right track." As to the details: "a lot can't be shared with the public." The Inuvialuit were more forthcoming. The current edition of the Inuvialuit Regional Corp. newsletter sums up progress on devolution with a single paragraph: "There continue to be delays in negotiation of a Devolution Final Agreement. There appear to be major differences between the parties on: waste sites, human resources, Norman Wells, onshore-offshore coordination and bilateral negotiations." Talks resume in Toronto next week, but the Inuvialuit take on progress doesn't sound promising for Premier Bob McLeod's schedule. The premier wants to wrap up negotiations by the end of this year so the transfer of federal responsibilities and jobs will be complete by 2014. The Gwich'in Tribal Council signed the devolution Agreement in Principle just in time to join the September talks, dropping a court challenge that might have stalled negotiations, noting that "if we're not at the table, we can't make changes," Alexie said. What the Gwich'in want to change is confidential, said Alexie, but advice the tribal council got from Lew Voytilla, a retired senior financial advisor to the territorial government, was that resource royalties are too low and program transfer payments won't cover costs, which will leave the territory strapped for cash and trapped in an endless round of development.

Chamber News Briefs 3 The GNWT will get $65.3 million a year to support programs transferred to the territorial government, which Weledeh MLA Bob Bromley thinks is "a bit light." "I think it will cost about $20 million more than Ottawa has agreed to give them," he said. Martin Goldney, the GNWT's chief negotiator, defended the program cost estimate – even though it was made in 2006. "We're very confident, in part because we've learned from previous devolution transfers how important it is to get that component of the deal right," he said. "The Yukon took what Canada was spending on the programs and services. We argued Canada wasn't spending enough, that more was needed. I can't say that the Yukon fell down on this. Things have worked out well." After devolution, the GNWT will retain 50 per cent of royalties that now go to Ottawa. This year, that would have amounted to more than $65 million. Aboriginal governments that sign on will get a quarter of that pie, according to the Agreement in Principle. Despite GNWT arguments that the resource should benefit Northerners, Ottawa is not giving up revenue from the Norman Wells proven area that has delivered $1 billion to federal coffers over the last 30 years. "We agreed that Canada's interest would not be transferred, but we would discuss how those revenues are treated," Goldney said. Post-devolution, Imperial Oil's two-thirds interest in Norman Wells and everything outside the proven area will be taxed by the GNWT. With the Mackenzie Gas Project in play, the GNWT's royalty revenues could have reached $100 million by 2020, according to government estimates. Development of the Norman Wells field could make up for delayed revenue from the moribund gas and pipeline project. Stephanie Irlbacher-Fox, a consultant on the devolution file with First Nations governments for the past decade, said present royalty rates are the fundamental flaw in devolution. "Mining companies are making billions while 10 per cent of Yellowknife is working poor and the communities are living in Third World conditions," she said. "If royalties are pushed up, we could have a reasonable devolution deal. It could actually benefit people of the territory and put money in the heritage fund the government opened last year. Even Sarah Palin stood up to the oil companies and raised royalty rates." But McLeod won't budge on that argument, despite examples of Alaska and Norway – both difficult and expensive development jurisdictions - having royalty rates higher than Canada's Northern territories. "I know that AANDC (Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada) reviews rates on a regular basis and the last time they reviewed it they concluded that the rates were fine," he said in a recent interview. "The royalty rates recognize the fact that we are in a higher cost jurisdiction. It's not our objective to scare away any interest by jacking up the rates. Our immediate objective is to have a smooth transition." The GNWT will review royalty rates, the premier said, "a couple of years in the future – at least."

Bridge set to open on Nov. 30 Long wait nearly over for $202-million project as government readies span across Mackenzie River Yellowknifer – November 7, 2012 Svjetlana Mlinarevic The four-year saga of the Deh Cho Bridge over the Mackenzie River is expected to reach its conclusion by the end of this month. "Nov. 30 is when it will open. There will be a ceremony with a vehicle taking special guests across (for the first crossing). I can't tell you who, you'll have to come and see for yourself," said a smiling Earl Blacklock, manager of public affairs and communications for the Department of Transportation.

Chamber News Briefs 4 The 190-metre-wide, 53-metre-high bridge is suspended by cables set on two A frame pylons and spans 1,045 metres. Construction of the bridge began in 2008 and during the four years of construction the initial budget of $55 million ballooned to $202 million. "The difficulties we experienced with the Deh Cho Bridge comes down to a principle factor. In bridge construction, a large part of construction must take place during the warm weather season and our warm weather season is short so the delay pushed everything back," said Blacklock, referring to unseasonal weather conditions during construction. In order to pay for the rise in costs, the government will impose toll charges of $91.25 to $275 per commercial vehicle, depending on the number of axles. Personal passenger cars will not be charged a toll. "Someone has to pay for it. I don't entirely agree with it but 100 per cent will go back to the consumer," said Blair Weatherby, president of the NWT Transportation Association, regarding toll and administration costs associated with shipping freight. Weatherby said the cost to consumers will be "minute," resulting in a "couple of pennies" tacked on to consumer goods. "To the consumer, there is a cost associated with not having a bridge and then having a bridge," said Blacklock. "We won't have six weeks in spring when (the ferry and ice bridge) are out of service and you'll likely pay extra to have the goods brought in .... The tolls were established to recover at a level lower than the average cost to shippers from delays by the ferry and ice road." Penalties for commercial vehicles failing to pay the toll can range from $1,725 to $2,875. Based on traffic numbers from the Merv Hardie ferry, the department estimates 75,485 vehicles will pass over the bridge, 24,888 of which will be commercial. It's estimated that $3.85 million will be collected every year in toll revenue. Once the bridge opens, the ferry and the ice road will no longer be utilized, Blacklock said. "The ferry will be moved to a new location wherever the assessment determines it's needed. For the winter it will be in Fort Providence but it won't be in use," he said. Once complete, the bridge is expected to have a life span of at least 75 years or longer with regular maintenance.

Deh Cho Bridge to open Nov. 30 Merv Hardie ferry's last crossing will be part of opening ceremony CBC News – November 6, 2012 N.W.T.'s Deh Cho Bridge will officially open Nov. 30, the territory's minister of Transportation announced Tuesday. The $202 million bridge over the Mackenzie River at Fort Providence, N.W.T., will provide all-season access to communities in the North Slave region of the territory, including Yellowknife. Minister Dave Ramsay said there will be a ribbon-cutting ceremony that Friday, as well as a community feast, traditional spiritual offerings, and fireworks. The final crossing of the Merv Hardie ferry will also be a part of the ceremony. Ramsay said people are so used to using the seasonal ferry and ice crossings that they have forgotten the problems those create. “Trucks idled, sometimes for hours, wasting gas and releasing greenhouse gases,” he said.

Chamber News Briefs 5 “Businesses in the North Slave region had to pay to stockpile food and other goods. Some of them even paid extra freight charges to airlift merchandise from Alberta or over the crossing. All of these costs were passed on to the customers and all of these costs are now gone.” Ramsay added the toll collection system for commercial vehicles is in place. Passenger vehicles will be not be charged a toll.

GNWT gives $2 million more to Inuvik-Tuk Highway Northern Journal – November 6, 2012 Meagan Wohlberg An additional $2 million has been approved to complete environmental assessments, cost estimates and engineering studies related to the Inuvik-Tuktoyaktuk Highway project, much to the chagrin of certain legislative members. "These are very significant amounts of money...that have eventually proved to be insufficient for the task at hand," complained Weledeh MLA Bob Bromley. "In other words, we were told they would achieve this and they haven't, and we've added and so on...Will this be the final request to take us to completion of all of the information needed on which to base a go/no-go decision, or can we expect other requests?" The additional funding brings the total spent to date on the project to $11.5 million. Up to and including the 2011-12 fiscal year, the GNWT invested $5.8 million to prepare the initial project description report and begin environmental assessment, economic analysis and required studies. Another $3.5 was allocated in this fiscal year for further geotechnical work. Preliminary work, when complete, will be shared with the federal government to discuss funding the final project. The federal government has indicated it will finance up to $150 million of the $200-300 million project. Finance Minister Michael Miltenberger explained the decision was made to fund the highway in increments. "We chose to come forward on an as-required basis so that we would always be before the house as a check and balance to make sure members were fully engaged," he said. "When we conclude this final $2 million worth of work, we will have the information we need to put a package before this house and before the federal government." That decision was also based on the size and scope of the project, added Transport Minister David Ramsay. "To the backdrop of all of this is the fact that the government of the Northwest Territories has never had to do an EA (environmental assessment) on a project of this size and this nature. That has led us to do it incrementally," he said. That response wasn't sufficient for Frame Lake MLA Wendy Bisaro, who said the highway project was beginning to seem like the Deh Cho Bridge, which ran the government's supplementary funds $10 million into the hole over the last fiscal year. "I appreciate this is a large project. I appreciate it's new for us to do an environmental assessment, but I am concerned that it's almost like...executive is coming back and kind of picking at us, you know; just a million here or $2 million there," she said. "This is the second time in this budget year that we're being asked to put money into the Inuvik-Tuk highway. I want to be sure that we're not throwing good money after bad." Hay River MLA Jane Groenewegen was the most vocal in the house last week in opposing the project. Though "empathetic" to the economic value the highway poses for the Beaufort Delta, she said financial concerns largely outweigh foreseen benefits of the project. "Who can argue with nation building and coast-to-coast ability for people to access the Beaufort-Delta, the Arctic in this way? You cannot argue with that," she told the legislature last Tuesday. "But we as a government, in terms of our contributions, still need to have a fulsome discussion of the pros and cons. Is this a project that we can afford, not only for the initial capital expenditure, but the ongoing operations and maintenance of a road of this size and in this location?" The total capital budget in relation to highways and roads in the territory is just over

Chamber News Briefs 6 $23 million for this session's capital plan. Funding for the GNWT's portion of Inuvik-Tuk Highway construction would come from the increase in the territory's federal borrowing limit. Groenewegen questioned the prioritization of the highway over other capital projects in the territory and advised the government to look at other ways it could support the Beaufort Delta region apart from a highway. In defense of the project, Ramsay said it is not only an antidote for an economically depressed region of the territory, but is seen as an issue of national interest by the federal government. "What puts this project in that special light is the fact that Canada is one of the only countries in the circumpolar world that doesn't have road access to the Arctic Ocean. Certainly that is something that the federal government felt, from a security and a sovereignty standpoint, was something that they wanted to see happen," he said. "We will have a road network in this country that will go from coast to coast to coast, finally, with the construction of the Inuvik to Tuktoyaktuk Highway."

GNWT finds diamond plant buyer 'Sale pending' for two airport-side polishing factory buildings Yellowknifer – November 6, 2012 Thandiwe Vela The GNWT is in store for a small windfall from its diamond factory building assets after a buyer has been found for the two airport-side properties at market price. The Department of Public Works and Services this year listed the Arslanian Cutting Works and Polar Ice cutting and polishing factories on Archibald St., also known as Diamond Row, through Coldwell Banker at an appraised value of $950,000 each, after the former owner of both facilities went into receivership. The previous owner owed more than $42 million to creditors, including $5.8 million to the GNWT at the time. A sale is now pending to an unnamed buyer on the two buildings, located next door to expediting company Matrix Aviation Solutions Inc., according to Brian Nagel, director of infrastructure operations. "We are under covenant not to disclose any information pertaining to the sale of the diamond factories. However, the purchaser has authorized me to say that the buildings are being purchased for the appraised value and that the sales will conclude on Nov, 30 2012," Nagel said. Rod Stirling, partner of Coldwell Banker Northern Bestsellers, said "a lot of interest" was shown for the airport properties during the weeks they have been listed, but the identity of the buyer, and the planned use of the buildings, cannot be disclosed until the sale is finalized at the end of the month. The fact that the buyer is agreeing to the nearly $2 million appraised value is good, Stirling said. "It's good when you achieve the appraised value. It just makes sure that the value is there for the seller," Stirling said. Matrix, which bought the first of the GNWT's three Yellowknife diamond factory assets two years ago, has enjoyed the use of the Archibald St. building for its air-related expediting activity, according to owner Martin Knutson. "We're very happy, content, tenants at the airport, and life is good," Knutson said. The two Archibald St. buildings being sold have been empty since Matrix moved in. Knutson said he has not heard about who the buyer of the two buildings is.

Chamber News Briefs 7 N.W.T. barren-ground caribou herds recovering slowly Several herds are now up from 2009 numbers CBC News – November 6, 2012 Results from recent caribou surveys show barren-ground herds are slowly recovering in the Northwest Territories. Some herds have increased in numbers, including the Cape Bathurst and Bluenose West herds. The Bathurst herd has also grown from a record low two years ago. “I am happy to advise that this herd, which was in rapid decline only a few short years ago has now stabilized at about 35,000, a slight increase from 32,000 in 2009,” said N.W.T. Environment Minister Michael Miltenberger. Miltenberger said the news is good, but he is still concerned about the herd’s health. The Bathurst herd’s size is still low — it had 350,000 caribou in 1996, and then 128,000 in 2006. Miltenberger added that the 2012 survey results show the number of breeding females has not increased since 2009, and there have not been very many new calves. Because of this, harvest restrictions, which were put in place in 2010, will remain in effect for this harvest season. The Tlicho government and the Yellowknives Dene First Nation will still each get 150 tags. Robert Hawkins, the MLA for Yellowknife Centre, wanted to know what size the different herds need to be in order for all restrictions to be lifted. “If nobody knows what they’re working towards, nobody knows what the government is really doing on this particular issue and they assume nothing – like, they’ll never get to hunt again,” said Hawkins. Miltenberger said they need to make those decisions with the different management boards and first nations in the caribou's migration areas. He said other caribou management boards, such as the Porcupine Caribou Management Board, have set certain numbers as triggers – if a herd reaches a number, it triggers restrictions. If the herd recovers, then the restrictions are lifted. But he said they need to know how big the herds are before setting those numbers. The MLA for Weledeh, Bob Bromley, called for some tags for residents for herds that are doing well. The Tuk Peninsula herd saw a slight decrease from 2009 — from 2,700 animals to 2,200. The department wasn’t able to survey the Bluenose East and Porcupine caribou herds due to weather. Surveys for those herds are planned for the summer of 2013.

RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT AND ENERGY NEWS

MAC welcomes bill that could spur Nunavut mining development Nunatsiaq News- November 06, 2012 John Duncan, federal minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development, introduced bill C-47, dubbed the Northern Jobs and Growth Act, on Nov. 6, aimed at meeting longstanding federal land claims agreement obligations across the territories. “This act fulfills obligations flowing from land claims, and proposes mechanisms to improve regulatory processes, encourage investment, and allow resources to be developed in a sustainable manner. This will lead to jobs and benefits for future generations of Canadians,” Duncan said.

Chamber News Briefs 8 The Northern Jobs and Growth Act includes the Nunavut Planning and Project Assessment Act and the Northwest Territories Surface Rights Board Act, along with amendments related to the Yukon Surface Rights Board Act. The news release says the bill meets outstanding legislative obligations under the Nunavut land claims agreement as well as the Gwich’in and Sahtu land claim agreements, and responds to calls for measures to streamline and improve regulatory processes in the North. The proposed Nunavut Planning and Project Assessment Act, or NUPPAA, may boost resource development in Nunavut. NUPPAA, would require four amendments to the Nunavut land claims agreement, clarify the roles of the Nunavut Impact Review Board and the Nunavut Planning Commission and it establishes timelines for the review of projects, creates social and environmental monitoring plans, and sets up new enforcement rules. After many years of delay, the Nunavut Planning Commission, created in 1992, just before completion of the Nunavut land claims agreement, is now at the start of a Nunavut-wide consultation tour for a draft land use plan. “These changes will help create a more stable investment climate in the North by increasing the predictability and efficiency of the review process for major northern projects,” said Nunavut MP Leona Aglukkaq, also the federal minister of Health, the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency and the Arctic Council. “CanNor’s Northern Projects Management Office will support these changes to the regulatory process by continuing to work with industry partners, Aboriginal communities, and territorial partners to foster economic development across the three territories,” Aglukkaq said. The news release says the federal government will continue to consult with territorial governments “on further improvements to the regulatory regimes in the North that will encourage investment while ensuring resources are developed sustainably so that Northerners can achieve the prosperity they seek.”

Northern Jobs and Growth Act will streamline review process: Nunavut government “This is an important milestone" Nunatsiaq News - November 06, 2012 NUNATSIAQ NEWS The Government of Nunavut says it welcomes the Nov. 6 tabling in Parliament of Bill C-47, dubbed the Northern Jobs and Growth Act. The new legislation will strengthen the planning of resource development in Nunavut and assessment of its potential impacts, the GN said in a news release. “This is an important milestone in establishing an effective and streamlined regime for Inuit and government to manage resource development in Nunavut together,” said Premier Eva Aariak. “Bill C-47 will make decision making about land and resource management much clearer and pave the way for the seamless transfer of these responsibilities from Canada to the Government of Nunavut under devolution.” The Northern Jobs and Growth Act includes the Nunavut Planning and Project Assessment Act and the Northwest Territories Surface Rights Board Act, along with amendments related to the Yukon Surface Rights Board Act. NUPAA will “enhance the regulatory process in Nunavut and better define the role of the Nunavut Impact Review Board and the Nunavut Planning Commission,” the news release said.

Chamber News Briefs 9 “We hope that Bill C-47 will move quickly through Parliament to provide Nunavummiut and industry with the certainty they need for the planning and assessing resource development projects,” said Peter Taptuna, Nunavut’s minister of Economic Development and Transportation. “This is essential to attract the investment needed for Nunavut to continue to develop a strong and diversified economy.” The GN said it collaborated “extensively” with the federal government and Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. on the legislation, which is required under the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement. “The new federal legislation will make the work and decisions of the Nunavut Impact Review Board and the Nunavut Planning Commission clear, consistent and predictable,” said James Arreak, Nunavut’s environment minister. “It will fulfill a major commitment that Canada made under the Nunavut land claim.” NUPPAA was previously introduced in 2010 as Bill-25 but fell off the order paper after first reading in Parliament when the 2011 federal elections were called. Since then, the GN said it has been urging the Government of Canada to re-introduce the legislation.

Canadian Orebodies to acquire 100-per cent ownership of Nunavut iron mine project "We believe there is vast potential in the Belcher Islands" Nunatsiaq News - November 06, 2012 Canadian Orebodies Inc. said Nov. 5 that it’s acquiring a 100 per cent ownership interest in the Haig Inlet Iron project on Nunavut’s Belcher Islands. Canadian Orebodies’ property lies on 14,180 hectares — 2,680 hectares of Inuit-owned land — spanning Flaherty Island, roughly 22 kilometres south of the community of Sanikiluaq. The company had entered into an agreement to acquire a 100 per cent interest over three years in the Haig Inlet property from its business partners. These included Nunavut Tunngavik Inc., which holds sub- surface title to the affected lands and would receive royalties from any mineral production. “Our excellent drill results last year combined with advancements in our technical knowledge of the Haig Inlet deposit over the course of this year warranted the company to take action,” said Gordon McKinnon, Canadian Orebodies’ president and chief executive officer. “We believe there is vast potential in the Belcher Islands and considered it prudent to cement our position by exercising the option and making the Haig Inlet Iron project wholly owned by Canadian Orebodies.” Canadian Orebodies says there could be up to 230 million tonnes of iron ore within its Haig Inlet project. The Toronto-based mining company conducted a drill program at the Haig Inlet site in 2011, which revealed iron ore samples at more than 35 per cent iron. Canadian Orebodies said Nov. 5 that its results from this year’s exploration program are “encouraging.” The company said its believes that the Haig Inlet project’s biggest advantage is its island location. “The ability to ship via ocean freighter without using rail could be a major cost advantage on both the initial capital and operating expenses when compared to land locked projects,” stated its Nov. 5 news release. Canadian Orebodies will make $250,000 advance royalty to NTI when its production lease starts or in 2017.

Geoscience welcome Yellowknifer – November 7, 2012

Chamber News Briefs 10 As the city prepares to welcome the 40th annual Yellowknife Geoscience Forum next week, the GNWT and the feds should be ready to take the opportunity to mine delegates for insight into how the government can facilitate more resource development in the territory. The sharp drop in mineral exploration spending in the NWT in 2009 that followed the global collapse of commodity prices appears to be rebounding, with an almost 30 per cent increase in spending last year. Natural Resources Canada anticipates a further rise, up to $124 million, by the end of this year. Governments should encourage this momentum to grow. Mining means jobs, not only those attached to the industry itself, but also throughout the transportation, hospitality and various service sectors. The diamond industry alone accounts for a quarter of the territory's GDP. Government efforts to improve the investment climate in the territory will help determine the scale of the apparent comeback in mineral exploration. Meanwhile, the forum continues to grow, with more than 800 delegates expected to participate in this week's event. About half of the participants will be visiting from out of town. All residents should do what they can to help welcome the visitors and make it known that the benefit of mining investment is appreciated and understood in the capital. Yellowknifer – November 7, 2012

Giant Mine team seeks water licence Northern Journal – November 6, 2012 Jack Danylchuk Deteriorating conditions at the Giant Mine site have created health and environmental issues demanding immediate action, according to remediation proponents, the territorial government and Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada. The remediation team cites advancing decay of the roaster complex and the potential collapse of some arsenic storage chambers as reasons for submitting an application to the Mackenzie Valley Land and Water Board (MVLWB) for a Type B water licence. As a prelude the application, the remediation team is hosting public forums on its plan Nov. 6 at the Prince of Wales Heritage Museum and in the Ndilo Gym on Nov. 7. It is asking for an accelerated licence review, and the forums are a means to persuade the public that the danger of underground arsenic chambers collapsing is real and speed is essential. The remediation team wants to tear down the roaster complex contaminated with arsenic trioxide and asbestos, and stabilize chambers where some of the 237,000 tons of arsenic trioxide is being frozen in place. The roaster complex is slowly rotting away, creating potential for significant impacts to the environment and injury to humans from partial building collapse, the team said in its application. Many of the underground elements are showing signs of failure, including formation of a sinkhole at the surface, according to the water licence application. Recycled and fresh water is required for both projects - 300,000 litres a day of recycled water for washing contaminated building materials and 100,000 litres of fresh water for showers and drinking. Roaster deconstruction will take as long as three years, after start-up next May. Work will be seasonal, in spring and late fall. Underground stabilization requires four years, spring to late fall, starting in June. "The urgent and serious nature of risks means an accelerated regulatory timeline is considered necessary," said the application seeking permission to proceed before environmental assessment is complete.

Chamber News Briefs 11 After the application has been submitted to the MVLWB, there is no mandatory hearing process for a Type B water licence. Public hearings are held at the board's discretion. "The project needs a water license; it's the key document," said Kevin O'Reilly, executive director of Alternatives North and an intervener at hearings on the Giant Mine remediation project. O'Reilly said the proponents are pressing ahead with key parts of the project without approvals, and pointed to a tender issued for the technically demanding task of dismantling the roaster. "It doesn't have to be done now; it's not critical," O'Reilly said. "We have no problem with emergency measures, but the roaster doesn't really qualify."

Navigable Waters Act at committee one last time 130-year-old law being replaced with legislation focusing on just 162 waterways CBC News – November 6, 2012 Max Paris Two hours of Transport Committee hearings Tuesday will be the last word the House of Commons hears on the 130-year-old Navigable Waters Protection Act. The Act is to be replaced by the Navigation Protection Act, a piece of legislation included in bill C-45, the government's second omnibus Budget Implementation Act. "We're losing our tools to protect fresh water and our federal government is really getting rid of their responsibility to protect our waterways," argues Meredith Brown, the Ottawa Riverkeeper, a watchdog group that monitors water quality in the Ottawa River and its tributaries. The Ottawa is one 62 rivers, 97 lakes and three oceans that will be protected under the new act. The old act protected every body of water you could float a canoe in and required ministerial approval to be sought for any structure that went over, under or through a waterway. Brown worries about who will protect the thousands of rivers and lakes that won't be covered under the new act. The Transport Department says that the right of navigation in any waterways not protected under the new act are still protected by Common Law. "Essentially, they [the Government of Canada] are reducing the regulatory burden on businesses and putting that regulatory burden on you and I, the public, to now look out for own river and our own interests," says Brown. But, she adds, under the proposed changes a project can only be challenged after it has been built, so any damage to a waterway will have already been done. The government dismisses concerns like Brown's. Ottawa argues the NWPA was never intended to protect the environment but was designed to make sure waterways were safe for navigation. The Conservatives also insist that there are still many statutes written specifically to ensure sound environmental standards and management, for instance the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act. The Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters agrees with the government's assessment. The Federation is one of the groups that is represented on the federal government's Hunting and Angling Advisory Panel, which advises Ottawa on conservation issues. For OFAH, the main concern is one of access. That is to say, will the new act make it more difficult to get to a member's favourite fishing hole or duck-hunting blind. But they have other questions about the NPA as well. "Will we see any gaps for other things that may include fish passage or other issues in the aquatic environment," said Matt DeMille, a fisheries biologist with the OFAH. The committee heard from department officials and from four outside witnesses:

Chamber News Briefs 12 Nathan Gorall, the head of Transport Canada's Navigable Waters Protection Act Task Force. David Marit, president of the Association of Rural Municipalities. Tony Maas, head of the World Wildlife Fund's (Canada) Freshwater Program. Eddie Francis, Mayor of Windsor, Ont.

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