Mr. Speaker, I have a return to oral question asked by Mr. Bromley on March 8, 2013, regarding the Giant Mine Remediation Project.

The Mackenzie Valley Environmental Impact Review Board formally requested additional information regarding water treatment options from the Giant Mine Remediation Project Team. In response to this request, the project team carried out analysis of treatment technologies and approaches for treated effluent discharge.

The analysis determined that ion exchange is the best viable option of the four options reviewed as it allows treatment to drinking water standards, providing a large reduction in treated arsenic levels from the original proposal.

This option eliminates the need for a diffuser and subsequent mixing zone in Great Slave Lake, and thus addresses a number of the concerns the project team has heard from the community.

While the approach proposed to the Mackenzie Valley Environmental Impact Review Board in the original developers assessment report is considered protective of the environment, treatment by ion exchange will achieve better results and can be implemented in a manner that addresses public concerns. The project team is willing to revise the original approach to water treatment and work to implement ion exchange. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.