N.W.T. Chamber's call for halt to Thaidene Nene park 'not welcome,' says minister - Action News
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N.W.T. Chamber's call for halt to Thaidene Nene park 'not welcome,' says minister

N.W.T.'s Environment minister says he's "disappointed in the tone" of a letter written by the N.W.T. Chamber of Commerce advocating shelving the idea of Thaidene Nene park on the East Arm of Great Slave Lake.

'For them to tell us just to shelve it, that's not going to happen' says Environment Minister Robert C. McLeod

N.W.T.'s Environment ministersays he's "disappointed in the tone"ofa letter written by the N.W.T. Chamber of Commerce advocating shelvingthe idea of Thaidene Nenepark on the East Arm of Great Slave Lake.

N.W.T. Environment Minister Robert C. McLeod says comments made by the N.W.T. Chamber of Commerce about Thaidene Nene park in a recent letter 'are not very helpful and they're not very welcome.' (Randall McKenzie/CBC)

In the letter sent to minister Robert C. McLeod, the Chamber argued it's unwise to close off so much land to development before it's been explored for potential mineral resources. It said it would be "reckless" of the government to exclude 26,000 square kilometres of land from resource development.

"This is a process that's been going on for 44 years and alot of negotiations going on," saidMcLeod.

"So for them to tellus just to shelve it, that's not going to happen."

He said the N.W.T. Chamber of Mines sent the government a letter in August 2015 with similar concerns, but that letter acknowledged the area was important to people in Lutselk'e and that the Chamber was encouraged by the territorial government 's position that left some high mineral potential areas out and included opportunities for transportation corridors.

He said the August 2015 letter and a subsequent presentation by Chamber of Mines representatives "was very helpful."

"Comments made in [this] letter are not very helpful and they're not very welcome," said McLeod.

He said negotiations for Thaidene Neneare in the final stages.

Clarifications

  • In an earlier version of this story, the minister said the August 2015 letter was from the N.W.T. Chamber of Commerce. In fact the letter was from the N.W.T. Chamber of Mines.
    Nov 15, 2016 3:37 PM CT

with files from Juanita Taylor