Nunavut Planning Commission marine meeting falls short of expectations

The Nunavut Planning Commissionhas beenleft with more questions than answers on how to balance the needs of industry, local communities and the environment when it comes to the territory's waterways.

The Commission hosted its fourth technical meeting in Iqaluit on marine-based issues on Friday. The intent was to findsolutions to key concerns, such as the impact of marine shipping and cruise ships on walrus, seals and caribou, as well as concerns for hunters and the stability of floe edges.

"The planning commission was looking for some analysis and some clear guidance and direction," said David Livingstone, the independent facilitator who ran themeeting.

"I don't think that was delivered it certainly didn't meet my expectations," he said.

Livingstone and other participants said part of the paralysis at the sessions was due to a lack of meaningful participation from federal governmentagencies, many of which only took part via phone conferenceand offered few answers.

More coordination needed

For the representative of the Kivalliq Wildlife Boardthe meeting failed to make progress on key issues raised by community groups, such as protection for caribou water crossings, walrus haul-outsand beluga calving grounds.

"To be frank, I'm pretty disappointed with how this meeting went," said Warren Bernauer.

He said the boardwas hoping for more meaningful answers.

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"I feel like a lot of our core issues like re-routing shipping corridors near Coral Harbour, mitigating the impacts of shipping in Chesterfield Inlet and preventing icebreaking from disturbing floe edge hunting have again all been postponed to future meetings," said Bernauer.

He said the concerns he raised at the meeting are serious issues that have been brought uptime and time again.

"I really hope the federal government can kind of step up and start to play a bit more of a coordinating role,more of a proactive role," said Bernauer.

Inuit organizations also raised concerns over the lack of information shared at the meeting.

Representativesfrom Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. spoke about the need for a more coordinated approach and more information sharing on the part of the federal government.

"I share some of the feelings that are being expressed around the table I was hoping for more discussion," said Steven Lonsdale, with theQikiqtani Inuit Association.

Lonsdalesaid he hopes a fuller discussion will take place during the community consultations nextMarch, which will go ahead without all the answers.

"In the absence of the data, the information that is presentis the information that will go forward for the land use plan," saidSharon Ehaloak, executive director of the Nunavut Planning Commission.

Industry disagrees

The dissenting voices in the room were the industry representatives.

"I think the land use plan needs to be more principled rather than specific restrictions," said Michael Zurowski, withBaffinland Iron Mines.

Zurowski said any issues that ariseover the use of a marine areacan be hammered outbetween companies and community groups directly.

He added that as far as Baffinland is concerned, the Nunavut Impact Review Boardprocess meets the needs of both community and industry and no additional protections for waterways in the territory are necessary.

Fisheries minister makesappearance

Fisheries and Oceans Minister Hunter Tootoo, who was the chair of the Nunavut Planning Commission prior to being elected asNunavut's MP this past October, made a surprise appearance at the meeting.

He stressed the importance of finalizing the land use plan.

"It provides certainty for industry and for everyone involved," said Tootoo.

"There's lots of things that need to be worked out and they're only worked out by people sitting around a table like this and having a discussion on the issues," he said.

Tootoo did not stay to take part in the meeting or to answer questions.