Arctic Environmental Strategy

In the Legislative Assembly on October 20th, 1994. See this topic in context.

Arctic Environmental Strategy
Item 3: Members' Statements

October 19th, 1994

Page 400

Tony Whitford

Tony Whitford Yellowknife South

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, I have a copy of an article that appeared in the October 10, 1994 issue of the News/North. The article is titled "Great Slave Clean-up Wraps Up Third Year." As many of my colleagues may know, this was a project undertaken by the Metis Nation of the Northwest Territories, in partnership with DIAND and DPW Canada with funding from the Arctic environmental strategy program of DIAND.

The city of Yellowknife and the Department of Renewable Resources from our own territorial government were contributing partners on this undertaking for the third year in a row. I've had more than a casual interest in this project, Madam Speaker, as a Metis, we celebrated July 1st of this year with a launch of flotillas of boats and barges from the docks in Yellowknife to start this year's work.

I have followed up on the progress throughout the summer, as the crews removed abandoned materials, hazardous wastes and barrels from old mine sites and sealed numerous unsafe open shafts they found. They also cleaned up the mess and remains of burned-out buildings at the abandoned Arctic Star Lodge and numerous other abandoned and filthy sites in the east arm of Great Slave Lake.

The president of the Metis Association, Mr. Gary Bohnet, is quoted in this article as saying, "It is a joint community and government effort to preserve the environment for future generations." I think Mr. Bohnet and the Metis Nation deserve congratulations from this Assembly and the people from the western part of the territories for their work, which included employment and training for the many students and young people involved with this project over the past three years.

I would personally call this project our own northern version of the Great Lakes clean-up, whereby the Metis Nation has concentrated its efforts right here in our own backyard on Great Slave Lake, the second largest lake in the territories. A lake that has unlimited commercial and recreational value to us all.

My time is up, Madam Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to continue.

Arctic Environmental Strategy
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 400

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

The honourable Member is seeking unanimous consent to continue. Are there any nays? There are no nays. Please proceed, Mr. Whitford.

Arctic Environmental Strategy
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 400

Tony Whitford

Tony Whitford Yellowknife South

Thank you, Madam Speaker, thank you, colleagues. Madam Speaker, I am aware that the Metis Nation next wants to undertake a clean-up of the entire Mackenzie River to remove the tons of waste and debris and the thousands of barrels in and around communities and old staging sites that have accumulated over the 50 years of commercial use of our river.

I am hopeful that we will all agree to support their plans, as it will not only improve our environment, but it will provide needed employment in the valley next summer. The Arctic environmental strategy will end in two more years and I personally believe that this Assembly must do all it can to emphasize to the federal government that a renewal is necessary so that we, as northerners, can continue to undertake projects similar to the work of the Metis Nation in other areas of the north. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Arctic Environmental Strategy
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 400

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. The honourable Member for Nahendeh, Mr. Antoine.