Kivalliq Wildlife Board questions Nunavut’s four federal candidates

The Kivalliq Wildlife Board on Sept. 29 sent this letter to the four candidates contesting the Nunavut seat in the House of Commons in the Oct. 19 federal election: Hunter Tootoo of the Liberals, Jack Anawak of the New Democrats, Leona Aglukkaq of the Conservatives and Spencer Rocchi of the Greens. We have agreed to reprint it.

Mr. Tootoo, Mr. Anawak, Ms. Aglukkaq, and Mr. Rocchi:

I am writing this open letter to you to help hunters in the Kivalliq region get more information about your positions on the issues they are concerned about. I have also sent copies of this letter to Nunavut’s media, in the hope that they will discuss these issues with you when they interview you on the campaign trail.

The questions below all deal with issues the Kivalliq Wildlife Board and Hunters and Trappers Organizations from the Kivalliq region have raised repeatedly.

1) What is your position on mining in caribou calving grounds?

The HTOs of the Kivalliq region, as well as the KWB, have protested mining and mineral exploration in caribou calving grounds for several years now. However, permits for prospecting and land use in these sensitive areas continue to be issued.

2) What is your position on the “grandfathering” of existing claims under the territory’s new land use plan?

Kivalliq HTOs and the KWB are trying to have sensitive caribou habitat protected under the new land use plan for Nunavut. However, the federal government has asked that all existing permits and mineral rights be grandfathered in these areas, in a “cradle-to-the-grave” manner. This will severely limit any protection the new plan may create, and is a major concern for HTOs in the Kivalliq region.

3) What is your position on AREVA’s proposed Kiggavik uranium mine?

The Kivalliq Wildlife Board, and several HTOs, opposed the proposed Kiggavik mine at the Nunavut Impact Review Board final hearings in March of 2015. The NIRB ruled in favour of hunters, and recommended Kiggavik not be approved at this time. However, AREVA has written to the federal government, requesting that it overrule the NIRB recommendation, and grant approval to AREVA, despite protests by hunters.

Thank you very much for taking the time to consider our questions and concerns. I wish you all a safe and healthy time on the campaign trail.

Stanley Adjuk
President, Kivalliq Wildlife Board

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