'Transparency is important'
Qikiqtani Inuit Association discloses Article 5 of Mary River Inuit Impact Benefit Agreement
Stewart Burnett
Northern News Services
Saturday, June 18, 2016
BAFFIN ISLAND
A commitment to transparency was the goal of the Qikiqtani Inuit Association when it released Article 5 of the Inuit Impact Benefit Agreement (IIBA) with Baffinland Iron Mines Ltd. for the Mary River project.
Member at large Enookie Inuarak, left, member at large Olayuk Akesuk and director of major projects Stephen Williamson Bathory report to the Qikiqtani Inuit Association board about the status of the Mary River Mine Project and community consultation Feb. 18. At the time, the QIA members applauded Baffinland's focus on training Inuit for jobs at Mary River. - NNSL file photo
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The document, dated September 2013, is available on QIA's website and details the commitments each party made during the negotiation process, from Inuit training and hiring to scholarships, labour relations, languages and payments to QIA.
"We wanted to show that transparency is important and shared the information with beneficiaries of the Baffin region," said Olayuk Akesuk, executive committee member of QIA.
His organization is also working to ensure as many Inuit as possible are working at the Mary River project.
"The board of directors strongly believes in transparency between QIA and all of the beneficiaries," stated QIA president PJ Akeeagok in a news release. "It is crucial for beneficiaries to have access to information from their organization to be well informed."
Akesuk said disclosing the document is important.
"It's very important for us to make sure we get our fair share of the royalties on behalf of the Baffin region."
QIA has intervenor status in Nunavut Impact Review Board discussions about the company's Phase II proposal for the Mary River project.
The released document shows that Baffinland had to make several advance payments to QIA before commercial production should start, including $5 million on the day the IIBA was signed and $5 million within five days of receiving a water licence.
Akesuk said the mining project has been beneficial to people in the affected communities.
"I've been to most of the communities in the affected area and we know that there's income coming out of the Mary River project and that's helping our people job-wise," he said.
"I've talked to a number of people in those communities and they seem to be supporting the project. Of course, there are a few that are not supporting it, but there are more supporters than non-supporters."
As for the prospect of year-round shipping, currently under debate, Akesuk said he will support what the people in the communities want.
"I would have to do community consultations before I actually have the answer to that question," he said. "It's more important to represent the people that are affected. I probably would say that whatever the communities are in support of I'll be supporting."
He looks forward to community consultations on Phase II, should the project continue to move forward.
"It is important that we work with our people," said Akesuk. "We're elected members of the QIA to represent them the best way possible."
