Mining group wants action

The NWT and Nunavut Chamber of Mines has called for the enactment of the proposed Nunavut Planning and Project Assessment Act (NUPPAA) as soon as possible.

In a presentation at the recent Nunavut Mining Symposium in Iqaluit, Chamber of Mines President John Kearney said, “The minerals industry gives its full support to the initiative that the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development, Chuck Strahl, and the Government of Canada, is taking with this draft Bill to fulfill the obligation under the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement by setting out in the Act the powers, functions, objectives and duties of the land and resource management institutions of public government created under the Lands Claims Agreement.

In terms of exploration and deposit appraisals, Kearney says that Nunavut ranked fourth or fifth among Canada’s 11 Provinces and Territories and was thus ranked above its economic weight, behind only Ontario, Quebec, B.C. and Saskatchewan.