Richard Gleeson
Northern News Services

NNSL (Feb 05/99) - Shortly after aboriginal groups had complained that they were being rushed through the Diavik environmental review, DIAND last month shaved the total amount of time it is allotting for the review.

Throughout the review, DIAND maintains a projected schedule for the review.

Last fall, the schedule predicted the Minister of the Environment would make a decision on the project by early to mid August of this year. That date has been pared back a few times since.

On Jan. 15 DIAND issued a revised schedule, moving the ministerial decision date from early July to late June.

"Nothing was shortened up," said DIAND deputy regional director general Lorne Tricoteux. "What we're talking about here is a matter of days."

Tricoteux said it was "always" anticipated that the ministerial decision would come down in late June or at the very beginning of July, about 60 days after the report was delivered to her.

Asked why, if nothing was shortened up, the date was changed, Tricoteux again downplayed the change, saying "we're talking about six of one and a half dozen of the other here."

Another change on the timeline schematics is the removal of mention of consultation with the Mackenzie Valley Environmental Impact Review Board.

That consultation, said Tricoteux, will occur through the minister's office.

Vote of support

On Tuesday, city administration unveiled a response it recommended to a request from Diavik for an official show of support from the city.

The draft resolution first notes all of the benefits the proposed diamond mine would bring to the city, and ends with the resolution that "the City of Yellowknife supports the environmentally responsible development of the Diavik Diamond project."

Environmentalist Chris O'Brien, asked why the city would not wait until the end of the review process to demonstrate its support for the project.

Coun. Bob Brooks said the BHP review improved the city's knowledge of diamond mines and the way they work to the point where it could offer such an assurance.

Brooks emphasized that the support was conditional -- "That means the company is forewarned that the city will back them on this as long as the project is environmentally responsible."

O'Brien said if the city insisted on going forward with the resolution it should also make the project socially and economically responsible.

Mayor Dave Lovell balked at that suggestion and steadfastly refused to agree to any "watering down" of the resolution.

Council will have the final say on wording Monday.