Mr. Speaker, I have a return to an oral question, asked by Mr. Pudlat, regarding environmental assessment of the great whale project.
The Department of Renewable Resources has been regularly consulting with community organizations and assisting them in participating in the environmental assessment of the proposed great whale hydroelectric project since it became an issue in 1990.
Throughout 1990 and 1991, the Department of Renewable Resources provided technical advice and helped the Sanikiluaq environmental committee prepare for the public scoping sessions which mark the first stage of the environmental assessment process.
In March, 1992, the territorial government made a presentation at the Sanikiluaq public scoping session. The presentation was developed in close consultation with the Keewatin regional health board and the Sanikiluaq environmental committee.
After the completion of the public scoping sessions a new northern organization was formed, the Nunavut environmental coalition, representing several groups in the Keewatin region. Government officials recently met with the Sanikiluaq environmental committee and Nunavut environmental coalition to begin planning for the next stage of the environmental assessment process.
We will continue to work closely with the two community groups through the remaining stages of the environmental assessment process. Our goal is to ensure the review of the proposed great whale hydroelectric project provides a complete assessment of the potential environmental health and socio-economic impacts to communities in the Northwest Territories. Thank you.