On the heels of Environment Minister John Baird’s announcement to protect Lancaster Sound, Liberal MPs slammed the Conservative government’s betrayal of the Northwest Territories by quietly opening 14,000 kilometers of once-protected Arctic wilderness to mining exploration, leaving the pristine area and its people vulnerable.
“The Environment Minister has betrayed the Northwest Territories by using Lancaster Sound as a last-minute distraction to cover up their duplicitous withdrawal of protection of this sensitive area,” said Liberal Arctic Issues and Northern Development Critic Larry Bagnell.
On Monday, the Conservative government heeded calls from the Liberal Party and environmentalists to ban oil and gas exploration in the pristine areas known as Lancaster Sound, north of Baffin Island. But yesterday, it was revealed that the Harper government withdrew protection for subsurface rights on the Horn Plateau in the Northwest Territories through an Order in Council this fall.
“While the Conservative government was patting itself on the back for protecting Lancaster Sound, they knowingly broke their promise to the government of the Northwest Territories, First Nations leaders, land claim negotiators and environmentalists – and now face a potential law suit,” said Liberal Indian Affairs Critic Todd Russell.
The Horn Plateau is a vast stretch of boreal forest, uplands and wetlands that is home to endangered woodland caribou and wolverines, provides important migratory bird habitat, and contains the headwaters of three rivers. The area has been a candidate for designation as a national wildlife area for more than a decade.
According to reports, this recent move by the Conservatives betrays a promise made last May by former Indian Affairs Minister Chuck Strahl to renew protection for several proposed conservation areas at a meeting with Dehcho Grand Chief Sam Gargan.
“The Conservatives’ duplicity goes right to the heart of their lack of credibility and trustworthiness when it comes to negotiating in good faith with First Nations people,” added Mr. Russell. “We cannot forget this area is also culturally significant to First Nations people.”
In addition to undermining the fragile ecosystem in the Horn Plateau, the Environment Commissioner’s report yesterday confirmed that the government isn’t prepared to deal with an oil spill in the Arctic waters. In June, Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff called for a halt to all new oil exploration leasing activity in Canada’s Arctic pending an independent examination of the risks related to petroleum activity in the North.
“The secretive nature of this government has been shown to all once again, revealing the betrayal of their obligation to the people of the North,” concluded Mr. Bagnell.
