NWT Chamber of Mines
Notes for a meeting with Hon. Robert Nault
Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development
Yellowknife - January 20, 2000

Our purpose today is to acknowledge success and to provide you with challenges for the future. Since our last meeting with you on October 2, 1999, your department has made some progress on some of the issues we raised:

Land Claims
At our last meeting, you asked us to be more up front about our support for the land claims process and this caused our manager to review public statements and speeches of the Chamber for the last few years. In virtually every public statement, the Chamber has restated its support for the early and fair settlement of land claims. We're northerners representing northerners and we live with the claims process on a daily basis. We all want claims settled and settled quickly.

The recent signing of the Dogrib Treaty 11 Agreement in Principle is viewed very positively by the Chamber as is any progress on fair and equitable settlement of outstanding claims.

The appointment of Mr. Gill as the negotiator for the Akaitcho Treaty 8 claim we hope is a sign that real progress will be made in that area.

So, we thank you for your efforts on the claims front and ask that you keep up the good work. The north needs to have a clear picture of its future and that cannot be gained without settlement of claims.

Mackenzie Valley Resource Management Act
You have made some progress on concerns raised at our last meeting. Your appointment of Gordon Wray to the Environmental Impact Review Board is seen as positive. Mr. Wray is seen as balanced and experienced, two key attributes of a good board member.

Other efforts by your department to assist the Mackenzie Boards with workshops and training events are also seen as positive. We hope that solid information will help Board members understand that our industry can be responsible land managers while providing significant economic benefits to our residents.

A lot remains to be done. Technical resources for the Boards need to be examined to ensure they have the manpower and budget to carry out their tasks. DIAND staff have to view support to the boards as a priority. Appointments to the Mackenzie Valley Land and Water Board need to be expedited.

Geoscience
The recent opening of the C. S. Lord Geoscience Centre in its temporary quarters is another positive step by your ministry. The partnership between DIAND, The Geological Survey of Canada and the Government of the Northwest Territories is a good first step to keep the flame of geoscience burning in the NWT. However, there needs to be a reexamination of the budgets for mapping. We need a resurgence of funds to do mapping projects. Mapping stimulates exploration and we are desperately in need of that stimulus now. According to the latest statistics we have, agencies spend less than $1.00 per square kilometer on geoscience north of 60. The average in the rest of Canada is $12.00 per square kilometer.

Public Support for Exploration and Mining
At our last meeting, we asked you to make a public statement of support for the northern mining industry. We have yet to hear that public statement and yet we can provide real reasons for the government to support mining in the north. We have a lot of exciting projects ready to take off but lack of political support is seen as a big question in investors' minds. We should be celebrating our good geology and our great potential. Instead, our diamond projects languish for lack of investor confidence. Other projects exploring for other commodities face similar challenges. The junior exploration sector is being driven out of the north by confusing regulations, concerns about land tenure, and uncertainty over things such as the Protected Areas Strategy.

Canada has a mining policy. We ask that you become a clear proponent of that policy in the north. Tell northerners and southerners alike that mining is a key component of the north's economic future and that your department shares that vision.

Northern Involvement in Policy
We know that you will hear a lot about the transfer of staff to the north on your visit to the north. We ask that you listen to the staff you already have in place here. Your northern staff deal with us on a daily basis and know what we're thinking and what we need.

We're happy to hear that you are going to fast track devolution. That means that we won't worry too much about the transfer of existing staff north but we will expect to see real progress on giving control of northern resources to northerners. We will be part of the process.

We do recommend however, that you consider the immediate transfer of the diamond and oil & gas component of you department to the north. You as minister need to have your eyes and ears on the ground where its happening. It is ridiculous that the staff of a northern based diamond company have to travel half way across the country to meet with your senior staff about a northern project. When we look at the revenue flows of their project to the federal government, your staff should be chasing the company down to assist them, and yes, even moving into the headquarters of the northern diamond industry: Yellowknife. Companies like BHP and Diavik and soon Winspear have to do it - why not the Government?

Balanced Outlook of the Department
We would also like you to have a serious look at the balance of staff and resources in your department. In the north we feel that there is a preponderance of people engaged in controlling and regulating our industry and not enough time, attention, people and money spent promoting, encouraging and servicing it. We feel that your senior conservation staff are really the ones now guiding and deciding on mineral development policy. Northerners and southern investors need to be told that mining is a legitimate business and one that your government supports.

You need to stop the ad ons to the regulatory and licensing process. Mining companies need to know what the rules are. Your department needs to be up front about the requirements so that we know the process. Companies cannot continue to be lead into believing that the process is one thing and then find that there is a whole list of unwritten requirements like environmental agreements that are revealed to them only after they have invested millions in exploration.

As minister of DIAND, we need you to not only get DIAND's regulatory house in order, but also to lead an effort by all federal departments and agencies to harmonize and clarify their regulations.

To summarize:

You've made some progress on land claims, board appointments and geoscience. We are heartened to hear that you intend to fast track devolution.

We still look to you to:

- make a clear statement of support for our industry,

- to bring some sense to the regulatory regime,

- to ensure that your department's outlook is balanced between development and conservation objectives, and

- to seek increased funding for northern geoscience.

We ask also that you make a renewed effort to take your northern staff's advice into account. You're going to need their help with devolution.