Clean, co-operative resource development will secure our future in the North

When we negotiated the Nunavut Agreement 30 years ago, we had a vision for Nunavut as a vibrant, economically self-sufficient territory that leveraged its own resources. Our vision anticipated major development, as we had seen in other jurisdictions, and guaranteed Inuit a right to fully take part in this development. Institutions were created through the Nunavut Agreement to manage wildlife, environment, resource development, waters, and a Land Use Plan that would cover the whole of Nunavut. We created a clear and strict process for development that protects Inuit land and culture. Companies interested in development in our Territory would be required to adhere to this process—without exception. Baffinland Iron Mines’ Mary River Mine embodies the values we fought for in establishing Nunavut. Located in North Baffin Island, it is a major economic driver for the North with significant upside. The mine’s proposed expansion—so called “Phase 2”—has the potential to transform the socio-economic landscape of the Eastern Arctic by providing generations of employment, training, and contracting opportunities to Inuit communities. It also includes an unprecedented level of Inuit involvement in governance, direct benefits to communities, and environmental monitoring. We have held hundreds of public community meetings to obtain Inuit feedback and ensure transparency, accountability, and responsiveness to the principle of Indigenous collaboration. These conversations have resulted in significant changes to Baffinland’s operations. When concerns were raised in 2018 that the ships transporting Baffinland iron ore were traveling too fast in Eclipse Sound, the company reduced ship speeds by nearly half and installed monitoring software on its ships to provide alerts when speed thresholds are breached. This past July, in response to Inuit input, Baffinland delayed the start of its shipping season to avoid icebreaking activities. The decision followed monitoring results from 2020 that showed a lower number of narwhal in Eclipse Sound compared to 2019. In light of further works planned in 2021 to complete Pond Inlet’s small craft harbour, and the uncertain effects this may have had on the summer narwhal stock, Baffinland temporarily suspended the activities it had control over. This is how adaptive management works. If extensive monitoring, which includes direct Inuit involvement and oversight, finds a mitigation measure is not working or identifies an unforeseen environmental effect, the partnering company is to find remedial measures, just as Baffinland has done. Phase 2 would see a more formalized commitment by Baffinland to adaptive management and make the company directly answerable not only to regulators but also to Inuit. As one of the last generations who have experienced the traditional way of life—before Inuit were congregated to communities—where we only used dog teams, qulliit, and igloo for shelter, and as a former premier of Nunavut and one of the founders of the territory, I believe Nunavut is changing very quickly. Economic development and Inuit freely practicing subsistence hunting can now happen in unison. There are naysayers, to be sure, who say Inuit have survived for thousands of years without large-scale resource development, and will survive for thousands more without it. Of that there is no doubt. But should that be our goal? Merely to survive? Or should we aim higher? Inuit are a proud and resilient people. We have persevered through so much, and we will continue to persevere. Many of our people face serious challenges—poverty, youth suicide, food insecurity, lack of affordable housing, high dropout rates, and insufficient childcare. Employment certainty and training play a huge role in helping to address these issues. Projects like Baffinland’s represent an enormous opportunity to create employment, develop a more skilled labour force, support new infrastructure, and add significant revenue to our governments and Inuit organizations. If Phase 2 is approved, more than $2-billion in royalty revenue will be paid to Inuit organizations through 2038, including more than $1-billion to the Qikiqtani Inuit Association and $1.4-billion to Nunavut Tunngavik Inc.—the representative organization for Nunavut Inuit for treaty rights and benefits as outlined under the Nunavut Agreement. That is on top of the approximately $700-million in tax revenue to Nunavut and $1.4-billion to the Government of Canada. When we have a resource project already accounting for one-quarter of Nunavut’s GDP that employs hundreds of Inuit with the prospect of hundreds more jobs if expansion proceeds, we would be ill-advised not to embrace it. Not when our partner is a responsible operator that has collaborated so closely with Inuit to protect our land and water and our culture. Our culture is paramount. But in order to preserve our way of life, to hunt and enjoy our land as our ancestors have done, we Inuit must also embrace a measure of change. We live in a wage economy today, and we need employment, education, and training to thrive and prosper. It is the bridge to a better future that also respects our past. The cost to purchase the snowmobiles, fuel, and equipment we use to hunt is ever increasing; we need good jobs to pay for our way of life and fulfill our vision of self sufficiency. We need to embrace and collaborate with companies that provide the investment, jobs, and economic growth that enable our way of life—provided they commit to a culture of partnership, sharing, and co-operation. Mines like Mary River serve as templates of how this is done right. Many, if not most, Inuit understand this. This is why they are increasingly vocal in their support for the Phase 2 expansion: they see it as an expansion of their own families’ and communities’ economic and cultural strengthening. That is why we signed the Nunavut Agreement 30 years ago. Paul Quassa, former Nunvut premier and signatory to the Nunavut Agreement, is senior adviser to the CEO of Baffinland Iron Mines Corp. The Hill Times