Harper’s support for mining org good for Nunavut: Towtongie

Nunavut Tunngavik Inc.’s president Cathy Towtongie said Aug. 24 that she welcomed Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s announcement in Baker Lake of new money to build up the NWT and Nunavut Chamber of Mines’s presence in the two territories.

The $830,000, three-year pilot project involves the government of Nunavut and the Northwest Territories and the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency.

And it’s already led to the opening of a new NWT and Nunavut Chamber of Mines’s office in Iqaluit at the Astro Hill complex.

“Mining is, and will continue to be, a critical part of the Nunavut economy. Federal investment in the NWT and Nunavut Chamber of Mines will help ensure Nunavummiut are heard on issues which concern us, such as ensuring there is adequate funding of environmental reviews for mining projects,” said Towtongie.

Towtongie also praised Harper’s commitment to the Geo-mapping for Energy and Minerals Program, a $100-million program created at Natural Resources Canada in 2008 that helps map energy and minerals in the region.

“The continued investment in basic mapping of Nunavut, which lags far behind other Canadian jurisdictions, is critical for the future economic development of the territory,” Towtongie said.