Indigenous and Northern Affairs Committee on March 31st, 2009

[Patrick Borbey]

That's right.

[Greg Rickford, Conservative, Kenora, ON]

Thank you. I'll refer to one or more of those if I get the chance.

Timothy, the committee members, in some discussions, have already recognized the need to understand the broader context of the north, particularly for the benefit of aboriginal economic development. Assuming the limitations of INAC's definition of the north--and I'm just going to go beyond some of my colleagues, who I appreciate have ridings that are very much in the Arctic region or in the sub-Arctic region--it's worth pointing out that some the stakeholders in the north may not be in the north for the purposes of most reporting and programs, particularly in economic development. Jurisdictional challenges notwithstanding, particularly in the provinces--which brings my riding into play, as Kenora riding goes all the way up to the shores of Hudson Bay, in fact, and covers quite a bit of that--there seem to me to be essential cultural, social, and economic ties.

Fort Severn was involved in the science piece on polar bear tracking. That is just one example in science. What I am concerned about is the ability of other aboriginal businesses that are still pretty north, but not north enough, to develop. And this is to develop some pretty straightforward business principles. Wasaya Airways, for example, which operates out of Thunder Bay, could contemplate expanding its flight paths. I realize that there are other agencies.

I wonder, Timothy, if you could, as briefly as you can, respond to that. I'll just give you some cues as to what I'm looking at. There are other economic programs for aboriginal businesses that have to be seen in view of their.... There is the procurement strategy for aboriginal business. My riding, especially in Kenora, would like to have access to some of the economic development that's going on in the north, particularly as it relates to anything the government purchases. And there is Aboriginal Business Canada, which operates outside the north, as your department does. Could you comment on that? It seems to me to be problematic and might stifle some business development for a broader sense of the north.

[Timothy Gardiner]

If you're looking for a brief answer, I think I can manage that. Part of what you've touched on really falls outside my bailiwick within the northern affairs organization.

Very briefly, the two programs you mentioned, the procurement strategy for aboriginal business and ABC, are both national programs. So in that sense, I'm not sure how access to them would be limited by this north or south of 60 distinction. That's the short answer.

[Greg Rickford, Conservative, Kenora, ON]

I just want to point out, then, on the basis of that--

[The Chair, Conservative, Bruce Stanton]

I'm sorry, you only have about ten seconds left.

[Greg Rickford, Conservative, Kenora, ON]

--that these national programs very much are for the benefit of aboriginal economic development in a much broader sense of the north than what these programs.... It's worth the committee understanding that, certainly, and I raise it here today just so we can be aware of it.

[The Chair, Conservative, Bruce Stanton]

Thank you, Mr. Rickford.

Now I'm going to go to Mr. Lemay or Mr. Gaudet.

[Marc Lemay, Bloc, Abitibi—Témiscamingue, QC]

That will be Mr. Lemay. We're going to continue what we started.

Mr. Borbey, is the Department of National Defence involved in the clean-up of its military dumps in the High north?

[Patrick Borbey]

We share responsibility with the Department of National Defence for cleaning up all contaminated sites.

[Marc Lemay, Bloc, Abitibi—Témiscamingue, QC]

Is the Makivik Corporation involved in northern development? I didn't see its name on your list. Are you familiar with that corporation?

[Patrick Borbey]

The Makivik Corporation contacted us and expressed its interest. According to the decision that was made, the agency will cover the three territories. As I told Mr. Russell, we are in talks with the other Inuit organizations and other agencies responsible for development in the Atlantic and Quebec. We want to ensure that part of our programming addresses pan-Inuit issues. We will be cooperating with those people, but our mandate concerns the three territories first of all.

[Marc Lemay, Bloc, Abitibi—Témiscamingue, QC]

All right.

Let's say that a business from the south is conducting mining exploration and operation. It would like to go to Baker Lake to see whether it can enter into a contract or associate with someone because there is a major site at Meadowbank. How does it have to proceed? Does it have to turn to an Inuit company or to you?

[Patrick Borbey]

In Nunavut, there are three Inuit regions that are represented by an organization called NTI. Each of those regions has an economic development division that works with the communities. It is through that organization that relations should be established.

[Marc Lemay, Bloc, Abitibi—Témiscamingue, QC]

NTI as in—

[Patrick Borbey]

Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated. It's the organization that signed the agreement for Nunavut. It represents 85% of the Inuit population of Nunavut.

[Marc Lemay, Bloc, Abitibi—Témiscamingue, QC]

Does NTI handle the management of mining development?

[Patrick Borbey]

It represents all the interests of the people who signed that agreement, who are the owners of the land, and what is on the surface and under the surface. It received more than $1 billion to establish a trust. It then invests in economic development through its programs. There are four main regions in Nunavut.

[Marc Lemay, Bloc, Abitibi—Témiscamingue, QC]

In your presentation, you say that “adapting to climate change challenges and ensuring sensitive arctic ecosystems are protected for future generations.” I would add “and will be”.

Who is responsible for this third element of the Northern Strategy?

[Patrick Borbey]

We work with the Department of the Environment.

[Marc Lemay, Bloc, Abitibi—Témiscamingue, QC]

We?

[Patrick Borbey]

The Department of Indian and Northern Affairs, which represents the Crown in the north. The lands that do not belong to the Inuit or aboriginals belong to the Crown, whom we represent. Then we work with Parks Canada to establish new parks, and with Environment Canada and the territorial governments to establish other protected areas for animals and marine conservation areas.

[Marc Lemay, Bloc, Abitibi—Témiscamingue, QC]

Are you responsible in the case of cyanide spills in Meadowbank in the operation of the gold mine?

[Patrick Borbey]

I'll let Stephen Traynor answer that question because he did that work in Nunavut for a number of years.

[Stephen Traynor]

It certainly depends on whose land the mining development is on. In particular, as I recall, Meadowbank is actually on Inuit-owned land. The organization responsible would be the regional Inuit association, in this case the Kitikmeot Inuit Association, which is part of NTI, as Patrick mentioned earlier. So Meadowbank is the responsibility on land of the Inuit themselves.

[The Chair, Conservative, Bruce Stanton]

Your time is up, Mr. Lemay. Five minutes goes very quickly.