Indigenous and Northern Affairs Committee on June 4th, 2026

[Bob Zimmer, Conservative, Prince George—Peace River—Northern Rockies, BC]

For context, how many mines are still going to be operational by the end of this year in the NWT?

[The Chair, Liberal, Terry Sheehan]

You have 20 seconds to answer, Gary.

[Gary Vivian]

I don't want to be negative, but I would be shocked if there's even one.

[Bob Zimmer, Conservative, Prince George—Peace River—Northern Rockies, BC]

From what once was recognized as a diamond hub, really, around the world, we're down to zero operational mines in the Northwest Territories.

[Gary Vivian]

That's correct.

[The Chair, Liberal, Terry Sheehan]

That's all the time we have. Thank you very much.

Next we will go to MP Hanley for six minutes, please.

[Brendan Hanley, Liberal, Yukon, YT]

Thank you very much for being here, Mr. Vivian. It's good to know that the breadth of your experience is transnorth. I picked up on your reference to Casino, so maybe we can go back to that a little later.

The picture that Mr. Zimmer was describing in Northwest Territories is certainly a challenging one, because the diamond mines all had a predictable end of life. We're now realizing that end of life, one of them maybe a little sooner than we had hoped. I would say there is a real reset occurring. Part of that was reflected in some of the recent announcements the Prime Minister made in Yellowknife—and not just the defence commitments to bolster and build on the forward operating bases in Iqaluit, Yellowknife, Inuvik and Goose Bay, but the commitment to begin work on the Mackenzie Valley Highway after what the Prime Minister described as 40 years of thinking about it.

How do you, as a seasoned geologist, see this real determination to invest in infrastructure as opening up possibilities for economic development, which, as Mr. Zimmer correctly points out, is directly related, ultimately, to affordability in the north?

[Gary Vivian]

Thank you for the question, Mr. Hanley. Just before I answer it, I'll say that we have an office in Whitehorse as well.

This is a critical piece of establishing what I consider the base economy in the territory and in Nunavut as well. It would be nice if we could build roads everywhere, but obviously we can't. If you look at the cost of doing exploration just in the NWT and Nunavut, you'll see that it's between four and six times more expensive to do exploration in those two territories than in any place down south. It's all about infrastructure.

The famous phrase from Field of Dreams is “If you build it, [they] will come.” The bottom line is that they also need a business case for the road, so they're trying to address the best orientation for that road to effect the most advanced projects that have not come through the full permitting system yet. We, through Aurora, have been helping the Tłı̨chǫ, the Akaitcho and the YKDFN to try to determine which are the best business cases for those roads, with the most important issue being caribou. You would be absolutely correct in saying that if a road can go through a community and if exploration companies can use it to offset costs, having a community on that road is extremely important. However, having a road to cut down the costs of air travel and of everything else is significantly important.

[Brendan Hanley, Liberal, Yukon, YT]

One example we've been discussing quite a lot in the Yukon—and it's very close the Northwest Territories border—is the North Canol Road. That's an example of what you're talking about. The North Canol is an established road. It's actually a public highway in the Yukon, but it's in need of serious upgrades in order to facilitate access to the tungsten deposit at Fireweed, as well as to, ultimately, a very promising district—including for gold—for revenue.

I wonder if you're familiar with that area. I'm sure you are, particularly with your presence in the Yukon.

[Gary Vivian]

Yes—very much so, Mr. Hanley. Thank you for that lead-up, because the North Canol Road is extremely important.

There are at least five or six opportunities along that NWT-Yukon border—Cantung, Mactung, the Fireweed stuff and lithium. Those opportunities are becoming much more expensive because the North Canol Road has not been upgraded, and it is in definite need of an upgrade. There's no doubt about that.

[Brendan Hanley, Liberal, Yukon, YT]

The key question, though, is how we link these resource opportunities, whether we're talking about the Northwest Territories or Yukon, to local economies, local economic development, procurement opportunities and ultimately participation that reaches down to the community level.

In reflecting on the notion that this is an affordability study, how do we ensure that the benefit will ultimately be the increasing of prosperity at the community level, including procurement and job opportunities for the young people in the north?

[Gary Vivian]

I have—

[The Chair, Liberal, Terry Sheehan]

I'm sorry. That brings us to the end, but I'm sure we can get that out during other questions. If not, could you send that in writing to the committee? Thank you.

We will go to MP Gill for six minutes, please.

[Marilène Gill, Bloc, Côte-Nord—Kawawachikamach—Nitassinan, QC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I would like to use my turn to move two motions. These are notices of motions.

With your permission, Mr. Chair, I'll read the first motion:

That the committee conduct a review of Amnesty International's report, The Housing Crisis in Indigenous Communities in Canada. The example of Manawan (2026); that, to this end, the committee invite the Minister of Indigenous Services, representatives of the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), as well as departmental officials; that the committee hold a minimum of four (4) meetings on the subject; that the committee report its findings and recommendations to the House; and that, pursuant to Standing Order 109, the committee request that the government table a comprehensive response to the report.

The second motion is as follows:

That, following the decision in Cowichan Tribes v. Canada and the Supreme Court of Canada's refusal to hear the appeal in the case of J.D. Irving, Limited et al. v. Wolastoqey Nation, pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), the committee undertake a study on the impact of the two judgments on property rights in Quebec and Canada; that the committee allocate a minimum of four (4) meetings to this study and report its findings and recommendations to the House.

Those are the two motions. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Mr. Vivian, my apologies. We're trying to carry out all the work at the same time. I'm sure that you understand. You're in a sector that I would describe as economic development. I also come from a vast and mining‑rich region in northern Quebec.

You spoke about the need for road infrastructure. Not only is it good for development and for the autonomy of the people who live in these areas, but it's also a matter of safety, of course. It's also a way to lower all the costs involved in living in these areas.

I would like to hear a bit more about the opening up of these regions, which obviously have potential for the people who want to live there and for economic development.

[Gary Vivian]

I have to apologize. I can understand English only. I'm very sorry.

[The Chair, Liberal, Terry Sheehan]

There's an interpretation button down below.

[Gary Vivian]

I'd been looking for that. I see “Participants”, “Raise Hand”, “More”—

[Marilène Gill, Bloc, Côte-Nord—Kawawachikamach—Nitassinan, QC]

Mr. Chair, I have a point of order. I would like to know whether the sound tests were carried out with Mr. Vivian and whether he was told how the interpretation works in the committee before the start of the meeting.

[The Chair, Liberal, Terry Sheehan]

We're going to suspend—

[Gary Vivian]

I just found it. It was under “More”.

[The Chair, Liberal, Terry Sheehan]

Okay. Please turn that on.

We'll get MP Gill to ask the question again.

[Marilène Gill, Bloc, Côte-Nord—Kawawachikamach—Nitassinan, QC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Mr. Vivian, were you told earlier how the interpretation works? It isn't your fault. This happens all the time, but we try to avoid it. Did anyone explain to you how to proceed?

[Gary Vivian]

I have interpretation put on, but—

[The Chair, Liberal, Terry Sheehan]

I'm going to suspend for a moment so the technical people can help you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Terry Sheehan]

We're back.

Go ahead, Ms. Gill.