Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

WHEREAS the Giant Mine leaves a terrible environmental legacy in the NWT;

AND WHEREAS there is still significant concern with the Giant Mine Remediation Project as envisioned by the federal and territorial governments;

AND WHEREAS the Report of Environmental Assessment by the Mackenzie Valley Environmental Impact Review Board resolves some limitations with the original remediation plan and presents a reasonable and sound path to a closure program that will build accountability and public trust in the project;

AND WHEREAS the five-year environmental assessment was a thorough and fair process in which residents’ concerns were heard and reflected in the review board report;

AND WHEREAS recently the City of Yellowknife unanimously passed a resolution for the acceptance and implementation of the recommendations in the Report of Environmental Assessment;

AND WHEREAS a number of Regular Members of the Legislative Assembly representing ridings in Yellowknife have expressed support for this resolution and the Report of Environmental Assessment;

AND WHEREAS it is time to begin a new chapter for mineral development in the North;

NOW THEREFORE I MOVE, seconded by the honourable Member for Deh Cho, that the Government of the Northwest Territories accept the measures and suggestions contained in the Report of Environmental Assessment and recommended by the review board pursuant to s. 130(1)(b)(i) of the Mackenzie Valley Resource Management Act;

AND FURTHER, that the Government of the Northwest Territories urge its federal counterparts to do the same, to ensure the timely and cooperative remediation of the Giant Mine. Thank you.