Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Last week I spoke of my concern about employment of northerners in Nanisivik Mine in my constituency. I expressed my concern that the agreement between the mine and governments, which was put in place when the mine was first established, may not have been honoured in some respects.
Today, I wish to raise another concern about this matter. I understand, Mr. Speaker, that the Nanisivik Monitoring Committee was set up under the master agreement for the
creation of the mine. It includes the mine, the federal government, the territorial government and the community of Arctic Bay. Under the agreement, the regional director of Baffin represents the GNWT, along with the deputy minister of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources.
It is clear that as long as the mine exists, the committee must exist. The next meeting is scheduled for this summer and I am very pleased to learn that they plan to meet in my home community of Arctic Bay. Later this session, I will be asking our Premier who will be representing the GNWT in light of the termination of the regional director's position in the Baffin region.
Mr. Speaker, I am very concerned about the employment issues. I believe that recent trends have shown that northern employment has been diminished and turnover rates have been increasing. I understand that the committee has recently been considering the issue of northern employment, with the full support of Nanisivik Mines Limited. This concern lead to the Department of Economic Development and Tourism to issue a contract to Kakivak Association to study this committee.
I believe that especially due to the issue of employment, it will be important that the GNWT continue to have strong representatives on this committee, especially in light of current concerns about northern employment and benefits in my constituency.
Later this session, I will be asking our Premier, who will be representing the GNWT in light of the termination of the regional director's position in the Baffin region. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.