Darrell Greer
Northern News Services

Wager Bay (Apr 24/00) - A new national park in Nunavut's Kivalliq Region is one step closer to reality.

An intense five-day negotiating session held April 11-16, between the Kivalliq Inuit Association and the federal and territorial governments on an Inuit Impact and Benefit Agreement, led to an agreement-in-principle on all major issues.

Elizabeth Seale (Elisapee Natsiq), the Nunavut superintendent for Parks Canada, was the chief negotiator for the federal government and signed the agreement with KIA chief negotiator David Aglukark.

Seale says the KIA's main concern was to ensure a good balance between protection and economic benefits for Inuit.

"Economic benefits are the big issue, especially when it comes to what the economic picture will look like in the long-term, and what Parks Canada is going to put into running the operation," says Seale.

"The KIA wanted to know not just how many bodies are going to be hired, but what that translates into in terms of salaries, housing and office space."

Seale says the Ukkusiksalik National Park has broad benefit potential.

She says access for mineral development was the last issue agreed upon.

"It's difficult when you're trying to provide for something in the future and, at the same time, protect the ecological integrity of a national park.

"There's a lot of focus on that issue with the release on last month's report on the ecological integrity of national parks.

"The KIA wanted to make sure they were not precluding economic opportunities in the hinterland."

Parks Canada tourism studies show neighbouring areas benefit once a national park is established.

Auyuittaq National Park has become the anchor of the Baffin's tourism industry, especially for Pangnirtung.

Seale says the park is name-brand advertising that draws people.

"There are 30,000 people who go to Churchill, Manitoba. I can see them all lined up on the border waiting to come. It's peanuts to come further North, if there's something to come for.

"If the tourism industry here is organized to deal with the park and the tourists it will attract, it will benefit the whole region."

Although Seale wouldn't speculate on the park's opening, she did say Parks Canada has conducted a hazard assessment.

"Auyuittaq and Ellesmere Island don't have big concerns like that.

"I don't have the answers yet for Wager Bay, but it is one of the first things we're looking at -- how to make sure the wildlife isn't at risk from having people there and vice-versa."