Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Giant Mine remediation project is crucial for the people of Yellowknife. Constituents have concerns with the process that they've been raising with me. It's important that the plan accommodates everyone's legitimate concerns and interests.
Mr. Speaker, two groups with significant interests are the Yellowknife Historical Society and the Great Slave Sailing Club. Over the years, both have made substantial investments in the area. Now, they're concerned that the remediation plan won't meet their needs.
The Historical Society is developing a destination site that reflects our mining heritage. That includes a community museum in the old Giant Mine Rec Hall. While their current sublease guarantees them continued use of that building, it doesn't assure them access to other adjacent areas and buildings they also plan to use as part of their development. The Historical Society also promotes the preservation of the natural landscape, and is concerned about plans for extensive blasting. The blasting would provide material needed to fill in existing pits, but it's planned for areas that are highly visible to the public. The society is concerned about the potential environmental degradation.
The Sailing Club has operated in its current location for 40 years and has a significant investment in infrastructure. The club supports the remediation plan, but members understood that it would happen in stages. That would allow them to continue to use the dock and mooring locations, but in the remediation plan that was released last summer, that suddenly changed.
Mr. Speaker, the remediation of such an enormous contaminated site is a huge and complex task. We should acknowledge the Giant Mine Project team and all the people involved at every level, and the enormity and scale of the work they've taken on. Environmental rehabilitation and public safety are the highest priorities, but there are extensive public interests in the area, and I suggest that it's important that the remediation plan take everyone's needs into account.
Mr. Speaker, the project's work plan outlines opportunities for public hearings and intervention by interested parties. I urge everyone to participate fully and make sure the process is truly responsive. It's important for everyone with interest in the area to be part of finding solutions, to make sure that the remediation project is done right. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.