Show me Nunavut’s uranium policy: Baker Lake MLA

The Government of Nunavut remains mum on its position on the proposed Kiggavik uranium mine project near Baker Lake and has yet to release a promised uranium policy.

When asked by Baker Lake MLA Moses Aupaluktuq if the GN fully endorses the mining of uranium in the Kivalliq region, Premier Eva Aariak did not give a straight-forward answer May 31 in the Nunavut legislature.

“[Uranium] mining will continue to be reviewed on a case-by-case basis,” she said.

Aupaluktuq said he’s been waiting to see the uranium policy that the GN has worked on for more than a year.

The policy, which involves amending a current list of six guiding principles for uranium mining, will state the GN’s updated position on the issue.

That policy has been completed, said Nunavut’s minister responsible of mines, Peter Taptuna.

“We did public consultations in Baker Lake, Iqaluit, and Cambridge Bay. All the input has been received and consolidated into a report,” Taptuna said May 31 in Nunavut legislature. “We have approved in principle the Uranium Development Policy for Nunavut.”

The policy, however, has not been publicly released to date, which is an “absolute concern” for Aupaluktuk.