Jason Unrau
Northern News Services
Monday, March 12, 2007

YELLOWKNIFE - Citizens' rights to clean water and navigable waterways must trump any industrial activities that could threaten this resource says a motion, passed unanimously in the legislative assembly last week.

In addition, MLAs who returned to work March 5 after a week break, passed another motion compelling it to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

"The Northwest Territories, the North in general, has been identified as a barometer for climate change. The canary in the mineshaft is another characterization," said Thebacha MLA Michael Miltenberger.

"We know that 77 per cent of our emissions now come from business, industry and commercial interests (and) we have an obligation to make sure that we do our share as citizens."

The NWT's greenhouse gas emissions for 2001 amounted to 1,750 kilotonnes, or approximately 44 tonnes per person. Of that, industry accounted for 51 per cent, 18 per cent from transportation, seven per cent from commercial and industrial electricity generation, five per cent from residences, four per cent from community electricity and three per cent from government, according to GNWT statistics.

The "climate change" motion urged the legislative assembly to "strongly recommend" the government set targets to reduce its own greenhouse gas emissions, develop incentives to encourage both residents and industry to reduce their emissions and introduce a polluter pay principle.

Concerns over tar sands operations up river in northern Alberta and the impact of climate change on reduced water levels across the territory brought about the ‘Right to Water motion.' Already, the Slave River, a conduit for more than 60 per cent of the territories' water supply, has experienced a 10-foot drop in water levels, the lowest in more than two decades.

"Over the years, people have not feared drinking water from the lake until this day. At the same time mining is happening in our backyard," said Monfwi MLA Jackson Lafferty.

"When the industries or commercial activities come into play, we should be given the first priority to say this is our water and we have to protect it."

The government plans to renew its 1998 Greenhouse Gas Strategy as part of the overall Energy Strategy. Included in the mandate is the Taltson hydro expansion project that when completed will reduce diesel fuel consumption at the mines by 125 million litres.