Question 391-14(6): Giant Mine Remediation Project

In the Legislative Assembly on October 7th, 2003. See this topic in context.

Question 391-14(6): Giant Mine Remediation Project
Item 6: Oral Questions

October 6th, 2003

Page 1265

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my questions today are for the Minister of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development on mine cleanup. Mr. Speaker, the funding commitments for the second year of the three-year contaminants site accelerated action fund program will soon be made. It's urgent that this government communicate their position to Minister Nault if we want to get a federal agreement on the preferred option and then to start implementing it.

Mr. Speaker, in September, the Minister said in a letter to Mr. Braden that the department was reviewing its decision on deep disposal option for arsenic at Giant. When will the department finalize its position, Mr. Speaker?

Question 391-14(6): Giant Mine Remediation Project
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1265

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Dent. The honourable Minister of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development, Mr. Antoine.

Return To Question 391-14(6): Giant Mine Remediation Project
Question 391-14(6): Giant Mine Remediation Project
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1265

Jim Antoine Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, DIAND's independent peer review committee has looked at the review of deep disposal and they're recommending against it, so we at the Department of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development are coordinating a GNWT review and the results will be brought to the Cabinet very soon. Thank you.

Return To Question 391-14(6): Giant Mine Remediation Project
Question 391-14(6): Giant Mine Remediation Project
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1265

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Antoine. Supplementary, Mr. Dent.

Supplementary To Question 391-14(6): Giant Mine Remediation Project
Question 391-14(6): Giant Mine Remediation Project
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1265

Charles Dent Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we've already missed one year of the three-year program. Is the Minister confident that the decision on a preferred option will be transmitted to DIAND in time for us to make sure that we get some of the money for the second year of the three-year program?

Supplementary To Question 391-14(6): Giant Mine Remediation Project
Question 391-14(6): Giant Mine Remediation Project
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1265

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Dent. The honourable Minister of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development, Mr. Antoine.

Further Return To Question 391-14(6): Giant Mine Remediation Project
Question 391-14(6): Giant Mine Remediation Project
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1265

Jim Antoine Nahendeh

Yes, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, once the Cabinet reviews the recommendation of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development we will be making a decision on the preferred options of keeping it in the ground, either a frozen block or deep disposal. At this point in time it looks like the preferred option is probably deep disposal, but there are other processes that work, Mr. Speaker. I guess the funding is in place there. We should try to have access to it. However, we understand that once DIAND decides on a course of action for the underground arsenic, a project description would be submitted to the Mackenzie Valley Land and Water Board and that process would likely have to go through assessment and some sort of a review. We don't know how long that's going to take, whether we could obtain funding before the process kicks into place or do we have to wait until that process is complete? This is our understanding at this point in time on the process in regard to the arsenic underground. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 391-14(6): Giant Mine Remediation Project
Question 391-14(6): Giant Mine Remediation Project
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1265

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Antoine. Supplementary, Mr. Dent.

Supplementary To Question 391-14(6): Giant Mine Remediation Project
Question 391-14(6): Giant Mine Remediation Project
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1265

Charles Dent Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I believe I heard the Minister say that the preferred option at this time was the deep disposal option. We've had two reports from the peer review panel that say that is not a good option. Has the Minister made himself aware of these two reports so that he is fully up to date when his department comes to him with recommendations?

Supplementary To Question 391-14(6): Giant Mine Remediation Project
Question 391-14(6): Giant Mine Remediation Project
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1265

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Dent. The honourable Minister of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development, Mr. Antoine.

Further Return To Question 391-14(6): Giant Mine Remediation Project
Question 391-14(6): Giant Mine Remediation Project
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1265

Jim Antoine Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would just like to make some clarifications that the Cabinet position at this point in time was with the deep disposal option. We are aware of the recommendation of DIAND's review committee, which is recommending against it. We're reviewing that report and then we'll be making a decision according to that. It has to be a Cabinet decision to change that position. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 391-14(6): Giant Mine Remediation Project
Question 391-14(6): Giant Mine Remediation Project
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1265

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Antoine. Your final supplementary, Mr. Dent.

Supplementary To Question 391-14(6): Giant Mine Remediation Project
Question 391-14(6): Giant Mine Remediation Project
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1265

Charles Dent Frame Lake

Mr. Speaker, the final report that came up from the peer review committee was on July 22nd, so I'm disappointed to hear that in October we still don't have a position. The Minister seems to have indicated that we may have to go through a full environmental review. Will the Minister advise Minister Nault that we need to get something started very quickly and, with the peer review that's taken place, we want to make sure we can start the action within the next year. Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 391-14(6): Giant Mine Remediation Project
Question 391-14(6): Giant Mine Remediation Project
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1265

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Dent. The honourable Minister of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development, Mr. Antoine.

Further Return To Question 391-14(6): Giant Mine Remediation Project
Question 391-14(6): Giant Mine Remediation Project
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1265

Jim Antoine Nahendeh

Yes, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this is a process that's handled by DIAND. We can only make recommendations and suggestions and we will do that. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 391-14(6): Giant Mine Remediation Project
Question 391-14(6): Giant Mine Remediation Project
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1266

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Antoine. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Hay River South, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Question 391-14(6): Giant Mine Remediation Project

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