Mr. Speaker, there has been a great deal of publicity lately about mining activity in the region between Yellowknife and Coppermine. You have heard about Minnova's Izok Lake base metal property and Lac De Gras diamonds. There has been much talk about a deep water port near Coppermine, ice breaking ore ships and a road corridor between Yellowknife and Coppermine.
I would like to share with you and Members of this Assembly, the government's position on these developments.
The region we are talking about is called the slave geological province. It extends in a broad band north from Great Slave Lake to the Coronation Gulf. The geologists tell us that this is one of the richest and most promising regions in Canada, perhaps the world. We are told it contains unknown billions of dollars in gold, base metal and diamond reserves. Despite the formidable challenges presented by climate and poor access, this region is the exploration hot spot in Canada - and it is getting hotter. Exploration and mining companies are pouring tens of millions of dollars into finding minerals, proving reserves and assessing the economics of production. The opening of a single new mine, such as Izok Lake, will require the investment of hundreds of millions of dollars.
Should we encourage exploration? Should we welcome investment? Should we participate actively in mineral development in this region? Yes, Mr. Speaker, and I will give you ten reasons why we should.
Our mineral wealth is one of our major strengths. It is the envy of most nations. Mining offers, by far, are the best short and medium term economic growth potential of any sector of our economy.
Mining offers jobs for northerners, and lots of them. Not just as miners, but in construction, transportation and a variety of service industries.
By taking an active role, we will be in a better position to ensure that northerners receive the necessary training and get first consideration for these jobs.
Mining and its support activities will provide a wide range of business opportunities for northern entrepreneurs.
There will be promising new opportunities for northerners to invest in northern development.
This development will stimulate major improvements in our infrastructure including road, marine, air and hydroelectric developments. Our participation will help ensure that this infrastructure serves all our needs, not just those of individual developments.
Business and employment income will result in significant new sources of revenue for government to help pay for a wide range of public programs.
These revenues will reduce our dependence on federal transfer payments and thereby increase our ability to determine our own future.
These developments will and must provide considerable benefits to aboriginal claimant groups.
Mr. Speaker, I invite you to consider the spin-offs resulting from re-spending of income and from the better facilities which will reduce living costs, encourage tourism and improve mobility.
Mr. Speaker, just for good measure I will throw in one more. Roughly half of this region falls on each side of the line which the two new territories will share.
Mr. Speaker, I have said we should encourage and welcome these developments, but there are conditions. I think with our active participation we can ensure that the following conditions will be met.
We must ensure the maximum benefits to the north and to northerners. The benefits must far exceed the costs.
We must protect our environment - our water, our game and our fish for the continued use and benefit of future generations.
Just so there is no misunderstanding, we will not be supporting this development at the expense of other regions. We cannot and must not abandon the transportation, economic development or other program priorities of other regions.
Communities must be fully involved in all aspects of any development in their region. This means being informed and consulted and participating in decision-making.
Mr. Speaker, how do we propose to participate? The answer is by providing the public transportation infrastructure. There needs to be a land transportation corridor connecting Yellowknife to a sea port near Coppermine. How will this infrastructure, costing tens or even hundreds of millions of dollars be paid for? This will happen only if it is a sound investment. If it is, the project can be financed through contributions by mining companies and through a share of the increased revenues which will be accrued to the federal and territorial governments. In other words, this investment should be financed by the new wealth it would generate, not by taking money from other programs or from other regions.
Let me conclude, Mr. Speaker, by telling you what we plan to do next. We are consulting with northern stakeholders to ensure that we fully appreciate their objectives and their concerns and I invite Members to help us in this task. We are also consulting with the mining companies to ensure an understanding of their plans. Based on this input, we will propose a rational approach to the development of this region. This must involve the federal and territorial governments, industry and all the stakeholders. We must then convince the Government of Canada that this is a worthwhile investment and that they should provide financial assistance.
I believe everyone can be a winner in these exciting developments - governments, the mining industry, small business and most importantly, all northerners. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
--Applause