Environment minister tacks Nunavik onto Northern Strategy
It’s true the Northern Strategy is more concerned with the three territories”
The federal environment minister, Stéphane Dion, took a quick trip to Kuujjuaq this week, breaking from what he called a “crazy schedule” of travels, to hand out pre-Christmas goodies from Ottawa to Makivik Corporation and the Kativik Regional Government.
Dion, who is also the federal minister responsible for northern Quebec, had $382,000 to give to research projects in Nunavik.
Speaking from Kuujjuaq on Wednesday, Dion acknowledged Nunavik had been left out of the recently announced federal Northern Strategy and the $120 million earmarked for the Yukon, Northwest Territories and Nunavut, but said he would try to find ways for Nunavik’s organizations to benefit more from federal programs and initiatives.
“It’s true the Northern Strategy is more concerned with the three territories,” Dion said. “We’re going to be looking very closely at that, to make sure they’re [Nunavimmiut] not left by the wayside when Canada sets up a program.”
Dion, who was in Argentina last week for the United Nations climate convention meeting, admitted he was disappointed with the limited progress, but said he remained 100 per cent committed to curbing global warming in Canada.
During his visit to Kuujjuaq, his first to the region, Dion announced the KRG will receive $135,000 for a regional climate change impact study, $15,000 for research on local plants and vegetation as well as $152,000 towards an inventory of mining sites.
Makivik will receive $25,000 for a feasibility study on a database of contaminated sites in northern Quebec. An additional $55,000 is also earmarked for a study of Ungava Bay’s eider duck population, which will be carried out jointly by Makivik and the Canadian Wildlife Service.
While in Kuujjuaq, Dion also reviewed the region’s involvement in all federal programs with leaders and officials at Makivik and the KRG.
Dion said he wanted to help Nunavik open the “right doors” in Ottawa: his personal visit was a step in that direction.
Before heading back to Ottawa, Dion squeezed in a visit to the Nunavik Research Institute and flew over contaminated mine sites.
Guy St-Julien, the defeated former Liberal MP for the region, who is now working on federal issues for Nunavik in Ottawa, was also in Kuujjuaq for the minister’s visit.
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