Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise today to speak about the proposed beryllium mine at Thor Lake. Mr. Speaker, the proposed beryllium mine would mine some radioactive-like material and the idea is to bring the ore across Great Slave Lake and process it in a processing plant near Hay River. To do that there must be an environmental assessment report and the current environmental assessment is deficient. It must address concerns about human health, provide information on potential effects on fish and consult aboriginal groups about traditional knowledge. Mr. Speaker, the project did not provide adequate information and one of its corporate partners is Royal Oak Mine, 40 percent, I might add, of it. Now, we all know that Royal Oak is now in receivership. I guess we can assume that the receiver is now 40 percent owner of this project. It is probable that the other owners will be looking for investors, but it must be known that most local people reviewing the proposal are opposed to it. In opposition to the processing plant in Hay River, the Hay River First Nation spoke against it, the town of Hay River passed a motion against it, the MLA from Hay River also issued a statement against it. In relation to the total mine and the other project, the Dene Nation also spoke against that and businesses in the vicinity of the proposed mine site also spoke against it. The Yellowknives Dene First Nation actually said they want to see the file closed. Obviously the file cannot be closed as far as the federal government is concerned, so the environmental assessment will continue. Highwood Resources wants to be given an opportunity to give more information that they did not provide the first time.
Mr. Speaker, it is safe to say that most say that most people in the NWT are not against orderly and safe development, but it is important for potential investors to realize that local people do not want this project to proceed. In fact, considering such high local opposition to the project, perhaps it might be appropriate to consider stopping the project now. Thank you.