IQALUIT
The Government of Nunavut's unexpected about-face on the protection of caribou calving grounds and other sensitive caribou habitat, with the intent to allow development in those areas, shocked many last week.

Nunavut Planning Commission executive director Sharon Ehaloak, right, director of policy and planning Brian Aglukark and meeting facilitator David Livingstone listen to comments and questions at the commission's prehearing technical meeting on caribou habitat for the draft Nunavut Land Use Plan, held March 7 to 10 in Iqaluit. - Michele LeTourneau/NNSL photo

The subject dominated the first day of a draft Nunavut Land Use Plan technical meeting in Iqaluit March 7 to 10, and became a touchy topic in the legislative assembly throughout the week.

Previously the government was in favour of protecting caribou calving grounds and other sensitive areas from development, a position held for decades by Kivalliq hunters and trappers organizations, as well as the Kivalliq Wildlife Board, including last year at the two-week Kiggavik hearing held in Baker Lake. The proposed Kiggavik mine, which has not so far been given approval, is sandwiched between the Beverly and Qamanirjuaq calving grounds.

But on March 4, just days before the caribou meeting hosted by the Nunavut Planning Commission was to begin, officials with the territorial government advised the commission of its change in position, said planning commission executive director Sharon Ehaloak.

"We were notified on Friday of the position change," Ehaloak told Nunavut News/North on March 8, adding the change took place "at a high level."

"It wasn't a science-based change, but a policy change."

Currently, there are no prohibitions to protect sensitive caribou habitat in Nunavut but it was the government's position that there should be protection of calving grounds from development..

Meanwhile, Baker Lake MLA Simeon Mikkungwak and Rankin Inlet North-Chesterfield Inlet MLA Tom Sammurtok began the week's question period on March 7 by pressing Environment Minister Johnny Mike about caribou habitat protection.

"The Government of Nunavut supports responsible development within calving grounds and key access corridors, and these will be on a case-by-case basis," Mike repeatedly stated.

Then on March 9, Premier Peter Taptuna stood in the legislative assembly and made a statement defending a cabinet decision to reverse the previous GN position, after which Iqaluit-Sinaa MLA Paul Okalik accused the premier of using "scare tactics."

"According to the plans as they are today, six per cent of the territory makes up about the total calving grounds for caribou in our own territory. That leaves another 94 per cent of the entire territory for development. So there's plenty of room for development in our land mass, which is largest in the country, mind you," Okalik said.

In his statement, Taptuna said prohibitions on caribou habitat, such as calving grounds, could mean the proposed Manitoba-Kivalliq power project might not happen. "Prohibition on calving and post-calving grounds with seasonal restrictions would rule out any kind of review of a project. It means there may be no transmission line for the Kivalliq region," Taptuna said.

Kivalliq Wildlife Board president Stanley Adjuk, who on March 7 sent a letter addressed to all MLAs denouncing the government's new position, responded to Taptuna's mid-week statement.

"I'm sorry to say, but I think the premier's comments are sort of ill informed, to be honest," Adjuk told Nunavut News/North.

"If (Taptuna) wants to ensure regulators can do their job, he has to support the NPC (Nunavut Planning Commission), not just the NIRB (Nunavut Impact Review Board). The NPC is there for a reason, and really, there's some activities that should be prohibited. And mining in calving grounds is one of them. It would have devastating impacts on our wildlife and our hunters. And I really don't think we can mitigate those impacts."

Adjuk's comment about Taptuna needing to support the Nunavut Planning Commission stems from a letter the premier wrote then-Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development minister Bernard Valcourt last year. In that letter, Taptuna supported Baffinland's request that the federal government bypass the Nunavut Planning Commission's non-conformity ruling and send the project proposal for Baffinland's Phase 2 expansion of Mary River to the Nunavut Impact Review Board instead. Taptuna concluded his letter by suggesting Ottawa should audit the Nunavut Planning Commission. That financial audit is ongoing.

The premier is wrong

Adjuk also spoke directly to the issue of the Manitoba-Kivalliq proposed power project.

"Honestly, he's (Taptuna) wrong. Prohibiting mining and infrastructure and stuff on calving grounds would not stop a review," he said.

"If they want to build a power line they could get an amendment, or an exemption. And really, he should know this, since he told the feds to give Baffinland an exemption for icebreaking last year. And believe me, I do want to see a road and power lines, just not through the calving grounds."

In his letter to MLAs, Adjuk noted, "This is an incredibly important issue, and one surely worthy of proper consultation and public discussion. However, this discussion did not take place. We were given no official notice the GN was considering changing its position on mining in calving grounds."

It's no secret that Taptuna is pro-development. He has repeatedly spoken of responsible development both in terms of the Nunavut economy and employment for Nunavummiut.

"One thing he's right about," said Adjuk about Taptuna's statement, "is Inuit should be able to decide what takes place on our land. And that's what we're trying to do. Based on KWB's (Kivalliq Wildlife Board) engagement, we think people are very supportive of mining, just not in the calving grounds and other critical areas. And it's really too bad the government made their decision without engagement or consultation."

The technical meeting on caribou habitat held in Iqaluit was one of several meetings intended to pave the way to a public hearing for the draft Nunavut Land Use Plan. The idea is to deal with contentious issues prior to the hearing, in the hopes the hearing will unfold more smoothly and a draft plan can be submitted for approval to Indigenous and Northern Affairs Minister Carolyn Bennett

The Nunavut Planning Commission announced Feb. 5 that it has tentatively planned the public hearing for the draft land-use plan for Nov. 21 to 27 in Iqaluit.

However, how that hearing will be funded remains a mystery.

The proposed hearing, as per the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement, had been mired in a contentious discussion with the former minister, Valcourt, refusing to fund the hearing originally planned for the fall of 2014. Eventually the commission took the Ottawa to court. The situation has not yet been resolved.

The purpose of the public hearing is to offer parties a venue to present comments and rationale after each has reviewed the plan. Covering two million square kilometres, the plan is intended to provide for the conservation, development and utilization of the land.

The pre-hearing caribou habitat meeting gathered about four dozen experts, representatives from regional wildlife boards and regional authorities, GN representatives and a Chamber of Mines consultant representing industry views.