02/08/2005 - The Honourable
Stéphane Dion, Minister of the Environment,
today announced that the Government of Canada
is investing $138.7 million in measures to
help remediate 97 priority contaminated sites
under federal responsibility across Canada.
An additional $14.3 million has been earmarked
for the assessment of an estimated 500 sites,
which will determine the next steps and the
scientific support that is necessary.
The funding is part of the Budget 2004 long-term
commitment of $3.5 billion to remediate contaminated
sites under federal responsibility.
Minister Dion made the announcement in Yellowknife,
at the site of the former Giant Mine which
is among the higher risk sites in the Canadian
North designated under the Action Plan for
Federal Contaminated Sites. The Government
of Canada is trying to reduce the dangers
that contaminants pose to human health and
the environment.
“Our environment is the jewel of our Canadian
heritage. The Government of Canada takes seriously
its responsibility to protect this heritage
and the health of the Canadian public by remediating
sites under federal responsibility,” said
Minister Dion. “We are taking action with
concrete measures necessary to undo the harmful
effects of past practices, while ensuring
that from now on environmentally-friendly
values necessary to health are applied on
the human, environmental and economic levels
in Canada.”
Yellowknife's Giant Mine began operations
in 1948 and has a long and impressive history
as one of Canada's earliest and richest gold
mines. Over its lifespan, Giant Mine produced
more than 7 million ounces of gold and played
a significant role as a major employer and
economic engine for Canada's North. The mine
reverted back to the Crown in 1999 when the
mine's owner at the time, Royal Oak Mines
Inc., went into receivership. The main issue
at Giant is the 237,000 tonnes of arsenic
trioxide dust stored underground at the site.
The dust was created during the gold production
process.The Government of Canada and the Government
of the Northwest Territories are working in
collaboration to develop long-term remediation
solutions. In the interim, Giant Mine is currently
under care and maintenance. Activities at
the site this year will involve additional
site investigations, assessments and surface
remediation activities.
"Canada's North includes some of the
country's most complex clean ups that's what
makes our commitment to remediation so important,"
said the Honourable Andy Scott, Minister of
Indian Affairs and Northern Development and
Federal Interlocutor for Metis and Non status
Indians. "The interim care and maintenance
work at Giant Mine, one of the highest priority
sites in the country, is just one example
of how federal investment is helping to ensure
we effectively move forward on clean up activities
for the protection of the environment and
human health for Northerners."
"The clean up of contaminated sites in
the North is important for our environment,
health and our economy. One of our objectives
when remediating contaminated sites in the
North is to promote social and economic benefits
for local First Nations, Metis, Inuit and
Northerners," remarked the Honourable
Ethel Blondin Andrew, Member of Parliament
for the Western Arctic and Minister of State
(Northern Development). "From contracting
opportunities, advanced training and job creation,
clean ups at contaminated sites like Giant
Mine will leave a positive lasting legacy
in terms of the local economy and a skilled
workforce."
The Government of Canada has also put mechanisms
in place to prevent new sites from becoming
contaminated by substances that might pose
a risk to human health and the environment.
To ensure the remediation of contaminated
sites is carried out in a timely, effective
and well-coordinated manner, the Government
of Canada will develop a strategic long-term
plan and will report on progress to Canadians
each year.
The Federal Contaminated Sites Action Plan
supports the Government of Canada’s Project
Green, a comprehensive environmental vision
aimed at a sustainable environment and a more
competitive economy. Project Green incorporates
immediate, short-term, medium-term and long-term
goals and initiatives for promoting a clean
and healthy environment.
You can view the federal contaminated sites
inventory at: http://www.tbs-sct.gc.ca/dfrp-rbif/cs-sc.
