SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - Proposed changes to the Wildlife Act threaten the economic viability of the NWT, says the president of the NWT Wildlife Federation.

The unpredictability of the proposed new Wildlife Act will threaten the economic viability of the NWT, says the NWT Wildlife Federation. Environment Minister Michael Miltenberger said in the legislative assembly last week that he wants to bring the act forward within the next two weeks. - NNSL file photo

Martin Knutson said the act, if finalized, will make the territory unattractive for any future mining exploration because it makes exploration unpredictable.

"Say you're a mining company and you've got a $5 million budget to go and do a simple exploration program, to drill some holes. Well, if the caribou move through your area you could be shut down, so you've gone and raised the money, you're all set to do a drill program and now you're stopped," Knutson said in reference to the mobile protection areas being proposed.

In the plain language draft of the act, it says, "Some conservation areas may only be in effect during some time periods or under certain circumstances. For example, a conservation area might be established to protect caribou while they are calving. During other times of the year, the conservation area would not be in effect."

"There is no predictability to this," said Knutson.

He also said many of the proposed regulations haven't yet been developed, which adds another level of uncertainty and unpredictability to the act. It's those unknowns that will cause the NWT to lose interest from mining companies, Knutson said.

"When the diamond mines shut down, which they will in not too many years, we're going to have a huge, huge issue in the North. We're going to become a very economically depressed area.

"What we see happening is the NWT is being shut down," he said.

In the legislative assembly last week Great Slave MLA Glen Abernethy asked for the act to be held until the spring or summer session, so that all interested parties have a chance to voice their concerns.

Environment Minister Michael Miltenberger told the legislative assembly he wants to present the proposed new Wildlife Act in the legislature next week. Once the minister tables the draft legislation, MLAs have 120 days to review it before it's presented for a vote.

Tom Hoefer, executive director of the NWT and Nunavut Chamber of Mines, said the act needs to be about more than the protection of wildlife; it needs to consider economic development as well.

"I don't think they have to be either/or situations," he said.

The North is already viewed as being "in the basement" when it comes to attracting investment, so it's important not to over regulate, making it even less attractive, he said. To turn that image around, Hoefer said the government needs to be sending out positive messages about investments in the North.

As the act stands, the chamber of mines doesn't have a great deal of confidence, Hoefer said. If the suggested regulations were developed before the act is finalized, so members of the chamber could read and comment on them, Hoefer said the chamber would feel better.

Both Hoefer and Knutson agree a new act is needed.

Knutson said it just needs to be based on scientific facts rather than land claims and politics.

"The document is not a wildlife management tool, it is a political document, written essentially about aboriginals for aboriginals. It's very discriminatory, if not out and out racist, against white people," he said.

Miltenberger didn't return phone calls by press time.

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