While the Giant cleanup is a federal government responsibility, our government needs to get more actively involved in pressuring the federal government to move quickly. This government should have already pressed the federal government to get started on the cleanup.

The failure to do that is made worse because we had an opportunity. We had a Prime Minister and a Minister of DIAND who appeared willing to work with us. There is a three-year program with millions of dollars available specifically for the cleanup of environmental disasters like Giant. But with the federal leadership changing and program funding running out, we may be left with nothing but the arsenic for a long, long time.

Mr. Speaker, the arsenic management alternatives for Giant that were presented by the Giant remediation team are not perfect solutions, but they offer us choices using today's best technology to ensure that the underground arsenic trioxide dust does not further contaminate our environment.

Mr. Speaker, all of the Yellowknife MLAs have been very concerned about the issue of the arsenic at Giant for a long time. Four of us have been lobbying the Minister of Northern Affairs to start the work. But the GNWT has been dragging its feet and are responsible for slowing the cleanup down.

Mr. Bell, Mr. Braden, Ms. Lee and I recommended to Minister Nault that the federal government begin implementing the underground block freezing process as the best alternative we have available to us now. It is the least dangerous to workers and significantly reduces the danger of environmental contamination to our community and other communities on the Mackenzie watershed.

Mr. Speaker, after we made our presentation, the Minister of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development wrote to Minister Nault rejecting that recommendation and instead asked that more time and money be spent, believe it or not, studying another option -- deep disposal.

Mr. Speaker, the deep disposal option suggested by the Minister of RWED has already been shown to be less sound. Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

The Member is seeking unanimous consent to conclude his statement. Are there any nays? There are no nays. Mr. Dent, you may conclude your statement.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, honourable Members. Mr. Speaker, the type of rock formations deep under ground at Giant are filled with both manmade and natural holes, crevices and cracks that cannot be guaranteed to hold arsenic trioxide dust, particularly when it mixes with deep groundwater. The deep disposal option will also be much more dangerous to workers, rather than freezing it in place, as moving this stuff around is an extremely dangerous proposition.

Mr. Speaker, I believe that by rejecting the recommendation made by the four Yellowknife MLAs the Minister and this government have delayed the cleanup of Giant Mine, a delay we can't afford.

There will soon be a change in leadership at the federal level and then a federal election. We may lose the political will that has been there to deal with some of the contaminated sites across Canada. After years of trying to educate the federal government about the situation at Giant, now it looks like the 15th Assembly will have to start a new process. Meanwhile, the people of Yellowknife, Ndilo and Dettah must wait and wonder about the safety of their environment.

Mr. Speaker, this government should re-examine its position on the arsenic remediation right away. Today, if possible. Then it should advise Minister Nault that we want to see action right away.

Freeze the arsenic in place. Mr. Speaker, if we put pressure on we may still qualify for funding under the second year of the contaminated sites accelerated action fund, but if we don't tell Minister Nault our decision and press for funding we might really blow it and miss out on the fund all together. That could delay remediation for at least a few more years. Mr. Speaker, we need this action and we need it now.

Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Inuvik Boot Lake, Mr. Roland.