Evidence of meeting #37 for Environment and Sustainable Development in the 41st Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was sahtu.
A recording is available from Parliament.
5:15 p.m.
Chairperson, Sahtu Secretariat Incorporated
I think there are some very special rare earth metals or precious gems in that area. We also have a mining agreement with Selwyn. That's another one.
I have to say that in the end, we all made that decision together. It's not a decision that was made just by government. It was a decision that we accepted and that we worked with. We're hoping to get another kick at the can down the road. It's a park reserve; it's not a park.
5:15 p.m.
Liberal
John McKay Liberal Scarborough—Guildwood, ON
Yes, I understand it. There are some negotiations left to be done, apparently, before you can establish it as a park.
Is there anything unique that's left to negotiate? What's still on the table that prevents it from going from a reserve to a park?
5:15 p.m.
President, Tulita Renewable Resources Council
I don't think there's anything that's holding it back now.
5:15 p.m.
President, Tulita Renewable Resources Council
We believe we've completed the agreement. With regard to asking about why certain lands were put aside, all through the negotiations we had to stickhandle quite a bit, stickhandle between the outfitters, etc. Once they went through the MERA...the potential for minerals in all the different areas, some of those areas were taken off.
5:15 p.m.
Liberal
John McKay Liberal Scarborough—Guildwood, ON
As lead negotiators for the Sahtu Dene and Métis folks, you don't think there is anything left to be negotiated, and yet the minister just told us that the reason it's still a reserve as opposed to a park is that the negotiations are continuing and there are still things to be negotiated. I'm not quite sure, if one side doesn't think there is anything left to negotiate how the other side still thinks there is something to be negotiated.
5:15 p.m.
Chairperson, Sahtu Secretariat Incorporated
That's very encouraging because the minister is the one who has the hands on the lever and I'm encouraged by that.
5:15 p.m.
Chairperson, Sahtu Secretariat Incorporated
All right, John. Thank you.
5:15 p.m.
Conservative
5:15 p.m.
Conservative
Robert Sopuck Conservative Dauphin—Swan River—Marquette, MB
I have more of a comment. My own experience in the Mackenzie Valley, Mr. Norwegian, was way back in the seventies. In the Mackenzie Valley pipeline days I was doing environmental impact work and I had the opportunity to moose hunt with an Albert Norwegian. Would he be related to you?
5:15 p.m.
Conservative
Robert Sopuck Conservative Dauphin—Swan River—Marquette, MB
We'll talk about the hunt some other time.
I have a policy question for you.
I was very taken by your comment, Mr. Norwegian, about how mining and conservation can co-exist. The inclination many people have is that as soon as a development, like a mine, goes into place, the whole environment is somehow compromised.
Outside of the park we can still have mining development that is regulated through sound environmental licensing and have significant conservation benefits outside of the park. Would you agree with that, and if you do, could you expand on that?
5:20 p.m.
President, Tulita Renewable Resources Council
Under a land claim agreement they'd have to come to us anyway and talk to us and consult with us, so we're directly involved with what goes on out there. I feel confident knowing that we're directly involved with whatever goes on out there, and that we have a say on what happens out there.
5:20 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Harold Albrecht
Thank you very much.
I want to thank Mrs. Blondin-Andrew and Mr. Rocky Norwegian for being with us by teleconference.
We're going to suspend and move in camera in about two minutes.
[Proceedings continue in camera]