BAKER LAKE - The Nunavut Impact Review Board (NIRB) has refused a request to suspend its Part Five review on Areva Resource's Kiggavik uranium project near Baker Lake.

Sandra Amarook prepares a meal at the Kiggavik uranium project site near Baker Lake. - photo courtesy of Areva Resources

The request came from the independent citizens' group Nunavummiut Makitagunarningit, after Premier Eva Aariak announced the Government of Nunavut's (GN) plan to begin a public forum process that will eventually lead to a territorial uranium mining policy.

In making its decision to continue with the Part Five assessment, the NIRB found it unreasonable to permit an indefinite delay to occur without appropriate justification.

Areva Resources manager of Nunavut affairs Barry McCallum said the consultation process that exists for the Kiggavik project takes place for years and goes to many communities.

McCallum said three Kivalliq tours spent two days in each community during the past year or so.

He said another tour will happen shortly, and there will be one or two a year for the rest of the project.

"There's multi-opportunities for people to hear what's going on, and to contribute their opinions and ideas throughout the process," said McCallum.

"That's the advantage of the environmental assessment process.

"Any public inquiry is likely to require a long period of time to be done effectively, and will probably be limited in the number of communities it visits.

"You don't get the chance to participate as fully or for as long a period of time."

McCallum said the GN has released its guiding principles, which he describes as a short form of a policy that, basically, supports uranium mining based on reasonable conditions on the use of the product and social conditions.

He said as long as it doesn't harm the environment, brings benefits and is used for peaceful purposes, uranium mining is possible under the GN's principles.

"Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. (NTI) has a uranium policy that took two or three years to develop and says the same thing.

"NTI took a very careful look at the uranium industry and saw it's performed well in Canada for decades.

"So, to NTI, it would be fine for the uranium industry to move to Nunavut as long as it performs as well here as it has elsewhere in Canada.

"If the GN produces a more detailed policy than its guiding principles, it will probably come to the same conclusion: it's a solid performing industry that doesn't compromise the environment or worker's safety, and it brings great benefits."

Contribution agreements are currently being struck between INAC and the organizations approved for intervener funding.

Once that's completed, the NIRB will issue a draft scope and guidelines, and Part Five will continue.

People will then have 60 days for their comments to be heard.

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