(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will bring this up even though the Minister is not here. The Minister is already aware of my statement. (Translation ends)
The Government of Canada and Mineral Resources International Limited entered into an agreement to develop the mine and townsite. This mine was Nanisivik, located in Strathcona Sound. The language and terms and conditions of the agreement make it very clear that the interests of northern residents were to be protected, both before and after the mine and townsite were established.
The agreement provides for education and training for northern residents to ensure that the people of the North benefit from the mine being established on their lands. The Commissioner of the NWT was supposed to appoint a counsellor. The counsellor was to have the responsibility of arranging training and educational upgrading for northerners. Training and education would give them hiring priority. The counsellor was also responsible for helping northerners working at the mine with work and living conditions, helping them cope with stress from working in the mines.
It is clear that this type of person would help northerners to get and keep jobs in the mine. However, it appears that this government has never appointed a counsellor. With no one monitoring the agreement and ensuring the terms are being adhered to, northern residents are being left out in the cold. As a result, the number of northern residents employed by Nanisivik Mine has declined in recent years. There are plans for other new mines in the Northwest Territories. Northerners have the same concerns now as they did in 1974, NWT residents need the benefits of this mine to stay in the North. Among the biggest benefits from opening the mine were provided to its employees and to boost the economy...