11 January 2016
No time to let off the gas!
Guest Editorial by Gary Vivian, President of the NWT & Nunavut Chamber of Mines
News/North, January 11, 2016
It's relieving to have the election behind us and see our NWT government come together under the solid leadership of Premier Bob McLeod and his new cabinet. They have their work cut out for them with our economy in stress and falling revenues and rising costs.
Rather than simply wishing them luck, let's actually have a closer look at where they are headed.
Because I think it's worrisome.
Before Christmas, our MLAs tabled their Priorities of the 18th Legislative Assembly. The short, two-page document lists 25 priorities, including governance, cost-of-living, education, community wellness and the economy.
Some pretty good stuff but nowhere in the priorities are the words "mining," "oil and gas" or "non-renewable resources"!
This is very troublesome. How could a government facing significant economic problems ignore the largest private sector contributor to our economy?
How could they miss it with the recent closure of two mines and the lost jobs, business and tax revenues staring them in the face? With the $1 billion in exploration opportunity that we let slip through our fingers over the past seven years?
Perhaps they ignored it?
Perhaps in their rush to diversify the economy, our MLAs simply overlooked what they thought would always be there: mining.
However, it's hard to fathom when you read the words of warning provided to them by the 17th Assembly in its "Passing the Mace" advice:
"The 18th Legislative Assembly must come to terms with the expected wind-down of existing diamond mines in the NWT. As goes the mining sector, so go the next largest sectors of our economy, being construction and transportation. As jobs disappear, our population will decline further and faster, resulting in less revenue for programs and services, fewer opportunities for our youth and a higher cost of living."
Ominous words indeed, and certainly worthy of action and priority.
The 17th Assembly even provided a recommendation: "We encourage the 18th Legislative Assembly to invest in the infrastructure needed to open our territory to exploration and transport our vast resources to market."
Sounds like mining and nonrenewable resources to me.
Incidentally, the 17th Assembly got it. Their priorities included "developing a socially responsible and environmentally sustainable economic development and mining strategy," which they delivered.
It is very troubling that 19 representatives – many from communities that directly rely on mining and other non-renewable resources – didn't identify a healthy resource industry as a priority.
This 18th Legislative Assembly is our first government after devolution, the one that is building our path toward more self-reliance as we cut Ottawa's apron strings and stand on our own. Missing non-renewable resources – our key economic strength – in their priorities is mind-boggling.
Should we be concerned that our newly elected 18th assembly is on the wrong track?
Yes! But there is still hope.
The premier and cabinet now have the job to turn these priorities into the government's more detailed action plan, the mandate. This is their chance to prioritize mining and non-renewable resource development in the government's mandate.
For all of our sakes, we need them to do this and we need the 18th assembly to approve it. Northerners and investors are watching for it.
Call your MLA. Tell them it's not time to take their foot off the mining gas pedal. Save our economy and help chart a positive future for our children and grandchildren. Put mining back into the priorities.
