Cambridge Bay (Jan 31/05) - The Nunavut Planning Commission has come out with a draft land-use plan promoting what it calls paced development for the mining industry.

The idea is, in order to maximize benefits for Nunavummiut living in the western part of the Kitikmeot - including the communities of Cambridge Bay, Kugluktuk and Umingmaktuuq - mines should be developed slowly so that the workforce has a chance to prepare.

This suggestion could dampen investment interest in the territory altogether, said Glen Stephens, environmental manager with Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC) Nunavut.

But Adrian Boyd, senior policy analyst for the Commission, argues the mining sector will accept the paced-development concept and learn to deal with the requirement.

Stephens further complains INAC could be legally responsible if the paced development plan negatively impacts the mining industry.

"What we're concerned about is the (normal development) process may be put in jeopardy by arbitrary or discretionary decisions to delay development," he said, adding if INAC Minister Andy Scott asks his department for their opinion on the plan, the response will be negative.

Regardless of what bureaucrats are looking for, the draft land-use plan reflects what Nunavummiut in the west Kitikmeot want, said Bob Lyall, chair of the planning commission.

"We keep hearing people aren't ready yet to take jobs as the different mines open up," he said.

"They say they want to catch up with their education to take these good jobs."

The commission will wait until the end of March to hear comments on its paced-development concept.

At that time it will have a chance to amend its plan prior to submitting it to Scott at INAC.

It's expected the process will take until the end of 2005 before anything formally goes to Ottawa.

Miramar Mining is actively trying to develop properties in the Kitikmeot, including its Hope Bay project, but Tony Walsh, the company's president and chief executive officer, was hesitant to wade into the bureaucratic battle.

Mining prospects

"I know the Nunavummiut have been very supportive and positive with us," he said. "It's a great prospective area for mining."

In the case of what will be Nunavut's first diamond mine, Greg Missal, Tahera's vice-president of government and regulatory affairs, was equally diplomatic.

"I think the Nunavut Planning Commission is trying to manage its resources to the best of its abilities," he said, adding industry is always looking for transparency and certainty.

The mining industry wants to a system where access to minerals is as open as possible.

"Obviously, the NPC's work going forward is going to add another level to the process of getting a project up and running," he said.

While the debate over pacing the development of the mining industry in Nunavut raged in Cambridge Bay last week, the green light was switched on for Tahera's Jericho Diamond Mine.

Indian and Northern Affairs Canada Minister Andy Scott has provided his approval for the water licence, which was originally issued by the Nunavut Water Board in December of last year. This approval was the final hurdle standing in the path of construction of the mine.

"It gives us the certainty we were looking for in utilizing the 2005 winter road," said Greg Missal vice-president of government and regulatory affairs with Tahera Diamond Corporation.