Andrea Markey
Northern News Services

Iqaluit (Oct 28/05) - Empty seats on four Nunavut regulatory boards could soon stall major projects around the territory.

The Nunavut Water Board has five seats vacant out of its nine part-time positions. It has not held meetings since August, when the three-year terms of three members expired.

It could not achieve quorum, said Philippe de Pizzo, the board's chief administrative officer.

Vacant are two seats assigned to Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. and two belonging to the Government of Nunavut.

The fifth empty position, which is that of a chairperson, is only filled once the other eight are in place, he said.

The water board is responsible for water use, management and regulation within the territory.

The board was down to three members until two weeks ago when it received an appointment from the Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development (DIAND).

The department makes the appointment after the nominee clears a security check. The federal department received one nomination for the water board this week from the GN.

There is a four to six week window where projects such as the Lupin mine clean-up and construction of Tahera's Jericho diamond mine, will not be affected, said De Pizzo. "But time is quite critical with Jericho scheduled to begin operation in early 2006."

Decisions about stream diversions and sewage containment need to be made quickly as it is a short construction season, he said.

"For the time being, in speaking with the water board, they are able to conduct the business that needs to be done associated with our project," said Greg Missal, vice-president of government and regulatory affairs with Tahera. "Construction is ongoing and on schedule."

With a three-year appointment, there should be enough time so there are no gaps on the board, said Campbell Morrison, a spokesperson with DIAND.

"The delay comes when our department doesn't receive the nominations in time from the GN or NTI," he said.

DIAND is also reviewing a nomination received this week from NTI for the Nunavut Impact Review Board, which is down two members.

Elsewhere around the territory, the Nunavut Wildlife Management Board has one vacancy while the Nunavut Planning Commission hasn't met since August due to a shortage of members - leading to delays in the West Kitikmeot Land Use Plan.

Representatives from the GN and NTI were not available for comment before press time.