GN creating new laws to govern territorial parks, and it wants your input
Iqaluit meeting Wednesday sparsely attended
Only a few people turned out Wednesday night for a public consultation meeting in Iqaluit on updating the Nunavut Territorial Parks Act. (Photo by Livete Ataguyuk)
A series of public meetings scheduled through the end of the year are expected to put “more Nunavut” into the 24-year-old Nunavut Territorial Parks Act.
The most recent public consultation was held Wednesday night at Inuksuk High School in Iqaluit. Two representatives from Nunavut’s Department of Environment explained the plans took questions from a small group of people who attended.
The current Territorial Parks Act was adopted from the Northwest Territories when Nunavut was created in 1999. The department wants to gather public input for what it called a “modernization” of the act, in a news release earlier this week. It only applies to territorial parks — not national or local ones.
The act governs the parks’ operation and maintenance and allows the use of park permits to regulate uses and activities that occur there.
What the current act does not do, according to the Environment Department, is restrict or prohibit Inuit harvesting rights within the parks.
The government is consulting the public on a number of issues, including what industrial activities should be allowed within territorial parks; should there be an entry fee to parks; should non-Inuit be restricted from harvesting in parks; should alcohol use, drone use, noise or nuisance be prohibited or regulated within parks, among others.
The consultation document includes space for suggestions and comments as well.
Nunavut is one-fifth the size of Canada and comprises about two-thirds of the country’s shorelines, according to Environment Minister Daniel Qavvik in a statement provided with the consultation document.
“At the same time, Nunavut’s population and economy are growing and are placing new demands on the land,” he said.
“We recognize there is a need to balance development and conservation to protect Nunavut’s natural and cultural heritage or places that are important to us.”
Further public meetings were scheduled for Thursday in Grise Fiord and Whale Cove; and then Gjoa Haven on Nov. 27; Kimmirut and Rankin Inlet on Nov. 28; and Sanikiluaq, Taloyoak and Cambridge Bay on Nov. 29.
Next month a meeting in Sanirajak is set for Dec. 5. Meetings in Kugaaruk, Arctic Bay and Qikiqtarjuaq were postponed from earlier dates and have yet to be rescheduled, according to the Environment Department.
All meetings start at 7 p.m., and local venues will be determined a few days prior to the meetings, the department noted. Feedback on the territorial parks act can also be submitted by email at parks@gov.nu.ca.
The goal is to have an updated territorial parks act ready in 2024.
I am not attending, if there are no door prizes
Who knew there was a meeting to discuss the Parks?
Iqaluit ain’t Nunavut.
Possibly focus on intern Executive’s that set-up the whole red tapes, and leave mess to other to restructure to submit open house meeting’s!?! Notice the trend to lack of infrastructure programs? Penny programs?
What is an ‘intern executive’?
The government is consulting the public on a number of issues, including,
-what industrial activities should be allowed within territorial parks? None
-should there be an entry fee to parks? No
-should non-Inuit be restricted from harvesting in parks? Restricted from big game yes, restricted from fish and small game no, non-Inuit with assigned rights no.
-should alcohol use, drone use, noise or nuisance be prohibited or regulated within parks, among others? Alcohol use no, drone use permit required and must be for legit reason, not “just because”, noise or nuisance be prohibited from 8pm to 8am.
.
There’s your consultation. Make an online poll to go with your in-person consultations and you’ll have much better engagement. Also, why are we hearing about this meeting on Nunatsiaq after the fact? Was it advertised on Nunatsiaq before the meeting? I didn’t see anything.
Yes, it was advertised in the Nunatsiaq.
Always public consultation with pressure to get quick answers. Hand out postage paid comment forms for elders who can’t use internet and have online comment form for those who do use internet, then advertise online and in news papers.
I mean why would Inuit consult in the manner of their colonizers when it comes to land? Your statement shows the irony of the Government asking Inuit to meet in a public consultation, under their terms, and not those of the Inuit.
Here’s someone who has never read the NLCA and has no idea what it entails or means.
im referencing the following line
“What the current act does not do, according to the Environment Department, is restrict or prohibit Inuit harvesting rights within the parks.”
Why would Inuit give up a right they have under the NCLA, and through this act because the Government wants them too. Like I previously said, Government asking Inuit to meet in a public consultation, under their terms, and not those of the Inuit.
Oh bless. Let me see, ummm, because decision making by consensus is an Inuit value, and more importantly, this is meeting is not limited to Inuit, it is for all. Finally, this mechanism is what was negotiated by Inuit leaders.
You know, every time someone says ‘colonizer’ in reference to the highly privileged position of Nunavut Inuit within our country you just show ignorance.
How’s that for an answer?
You damn bigot. The article explained it was a public consultation by a public government. Hardly anyone, does not mean just Inuit. Getting fed up with these Inuit haters allowed to post their hatred all the time and any anti white is never allowed on!
I didn’t even know they held consultations/meetings relating to Territorial Parks. I’m interested in those sorts of issues.
I didn’t see anything on Facebook, CBC Radio, not even posters.
I saw it on Facebook and some posters in town, not sure for the Radio.
Even when Nunavut/ Hamlet Elections are posted and talked about EVERYWHERE for months in advance still the majority of people dont show up.
I frequent Sylvia Grinell park and would certainly have attended this, But had no idea it was occurring. They have done a poor job of advertising