NTI pro-uranium policy still just a draft

In the May 5, 2006 edition of Nunatsiaq News, you published an article entitled, “NTI endorses uranium mining on Inuit-owned land.”

The first sentence of the story states that, “NTI has reversed its previous ban on uranium mining on Inuit-owned lands.” The story mistakenly communicates the notion that Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. has come to a decision regarding uranium mining, which is not the case. This needs to be clarified.

The NTI board of directors and executive officers have authorized the Lands Policy Advisory Committee to create a comprehensive “Draft Policy Concerning Uranium Mining in Nunavut,” and for LPAC to present its draft policy to the NTI Board of Directors for consideration.

When LPAC has completed its work, NTI and the regional Inuit association boards will make the final decision concerning the policy.

NTI and the RIAs are committed to developing a policy on uranium mining in the coming year. LPAC, which includes the vice-presidents of the RIAs and NTI, will oversee the development of the draft policy.

This process will involve the communities of Baker Lake and Kugluktuk, where advanced exploration for uranium is taking place and where there are known deposits of uranium that may be developed in the future. Inuit own the mineral rights to some of these deposits. The process will also include Inuit organizations, government, Nunavut’s Institutions of Public Government, industry and the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission.

NTI and the RIAs have worked together to monitor and research this issue for a long time, and we have gathered a great deal of information. This included taking a first-hand look at uranium mines in northern Saskatchewan in 1999 and again in Sept. 2005 with about 30 NTI and RIA employees and board members.

We met with industry representatives, mine employees, contractors and Dene leaders to learn how modern uranium mining is done and what processes are in place to protect workers, nearby communities, wildlife and the environment. Later that month, territorial and federal government representatives, IPG representatives, elders, council members and community representatives from Baker Lake also toured the mines.

On March 4, 2006, LPAC members approved, for consultation purposes only, a draft consultation document and draft uranium policy. On March 5, 2006, the documents were circulated to Baker Lake and Kugluktuk community organizations, Nunavut Impact Review Board, Nunavut Water Board, Nunavut Planning Commission, Nunavut Wildlife Management Board, Government of Nunavut, Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development, Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, Inuit Circumpolar Conference, Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission and several exploration and mining companies for review and comment.

The draft documents were also made available at this year’s Nunavut Mining Symposium in Cambridge Bay. LPAC members are still receiving comments on these first draft documents.

Once LPAC has received, and reviewed all comments from these organizations and finalized a consultation document and draft uranium policy, LPAC plans to present the documents to stakeholders in Baker Lake and Kugluktuk. When consultations have concluded, final drafts will be presented to the NTI and RIA boards for their review and consideration.

Please be advised that the NTI and RIA boards have not made a final decision concerning uranium mining in Nunavut. LPAC is currently conducting consultations with organizations, which will be followed by community consultations in Baker Lake and Kugluktuk.

James Eetoolook
First Vice President and Vice-President of Finance
Nunavut Tunngavik Inc.