Timeline tightens
DIAND downplays paring back Diavik review process schedule
Richard Gleeson
Northern News Services
NNSL (Feb 05/99) - Shortly after aboriginal groups had complained that they
were being rushed through the Diavik environmental review, DIAND last
month shaved the total amount of time it is allotting for the review.
Throughout the review, DIAND maintains a projected schedule for the review.
Last fall, the schedule predicted the Minister of the Environment would make a decision
on the project by early to mid August of this year. That date has been pared back a few
times since.
On Jan. 15 DIAND issued a revised schedule, moving the ministerial decision date from
early July to late June.
"Nothing was shortened up," said DIAND deputy regional director general Lorne
Tricoteux. "What we're talking about here is a matter of days."
Tricoteux said it was "always" anticipated that the ministerial decision would come down
in late June or at the very beginning of July, about 60 days after the report was delivered
to her.
Asked why, if nothing was shortened up, the date was changed, Tricoteux again
downplayed the change, saying "we're talking about six of one and a half dozen of the
other here."
Another change on the timeline schematics is the removal of mention of consultation with
the Mackenzie Valley Environmental Impact Review Board.
That consultation, said Tricoteux, will occur through the minister's office.
Vote of support
On Tuesday, city administration unveiled a response it recommended to a request from
Diavik for an official show of support from the city.
The draft resolution first notes all of the benefits the proposed diamond mine would
bring to the city, and ends with the resolution that "the City of Yellowknife supports the
environmentally responsible development of the Diavik Diamond project."
Environmentalist Chris O'Brien, asked why the city would not wait until the end of the
review process to demonstrate its support for the project.
Coun. Bob Brooks said the BHP review improved the city's knowledge of diamond
mines and the way they work to the point where it could offer such an assurance.
Brooks emphasized that the support was conditional -- "That means the company is
forewarned that the city will back them on this as long as the project is environmentally
responsible."
O'Brien said if the city insisted on going forward with the resolution it should also make
the project socially and economically responsible.
Mayor Dave Lovell balked at that suggestion and steadfastly refused to agree to any
"watering down" of the resolution.
Council will have the final say on wording Monday. |
