IQALUIT, Nunavut (November 1, 2001) Nunavut Tunngavik Inc (NTI) today announced its great disappointment with the results of the House of Commons Standing Committee deliberations on Bill C-33, The Nunavut Waters and Surface Rights Tribunal Act The Standing Committee on Aboriginal Affairs, Northern Development and Natural Resources has been considering the Bill for the last several weeks.
There are four significant and important changes to the Bill that need to be made if it is to truly meet the needs of Nunavunmiut, said James Eetoolook, President of NTI. NTI made representations to the Committee concerning these issues, as did the Government of Nunavut and others. The Committee considered amendments concerning all four issues but none passed.
The issues NTI feels need to be addressed include
The exemption of Inuit Owned Lands from fees on water use;
Removal of Ministerial approval with respect to Nunavut Water Board licensing decisions;
An appropriately worded “Non Derogation’ clause to protect existing aboriginal or treaty rights;
