Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise today on behalf of the Baffin Central communities to express appreciation for the diligent efforts that have been undertaken by the federal Department of National Defence during the design phase of the clean up of ten former D.E.W. Line sites. Mr. Speaker, you are aware that for many years the people of our Arctic communities have been troubled by the presence of these unsightly and potentially dangerous areas. I am pleased to report that, after waiting for such a long time, we are finally seeing some progress.
Public consultation meetings were held in August, 1992, to collect local input on how best to carry out the clean up of the first ten sites to be targeted. Although there was supposed to be a second round of public meetings this fall, the decision has now been made to postpone these until scientific studies on the next 11 sites have been completed. By postponing the second round of community consultation until the spring of 1993, it would be possible to provide more detailed information on clean up procedures and to allow for more meaningful discussions of all 21 sites.
Mr. Speaker, I have been very impressed with the approach the Department of National Defence has been taking with this project. They are approaching it as a partnership with the affected communities, and special efforts are being made to communicate with the mayors and councils involved. With this excellent start, I look forward to the days when these damaged lands will be clear of the discarded equipment and garbage that has offended the Inuit for so many years. I have spoken in this House before, Mr. Speaker, about aboriginal people being the guardians of our natural environment. We care for the land on which we have been placed. We nurture it back to health when it has been injured.
I am pleased to note that our communities are performing this role, in partnership with the Government of Canada. I would like to compliment the Department of National Defence for their part in this important initiative. Thank you.