2-02818

WORKERS RECOGNIZED FOR ENVIRONMENTAL CLEAN UP OF RESOLUTION ISLAND

IQALUIT, NUNAVUT (December 2, 2006) - The Honourable Jim Prentice, Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development and Federal Interlocutor for Métis and Non-Status Indians, celebrated today the completion of the remediation of Resolution Island, formerly one of Nunavut's largest contaminated sites.

Minister Prentice, alongside Peter Keenainak, President of Qikiqtaaluk Corporation, recognized those who participated in the clean-up effort of this remote island located approximately 310 kilometres southeast of Iqaluit at the mouth of Frobisher Bay. Resolution Island was part of the Pole Vault Line, used to transmit intercepted northern signals to southern military stations after the Second World War.

"The dedication of workers to this project shows commitment to preserving Nunavut's environment. The work on Resolution Island has not only contributed to restoring the natural state of the island, but has also helped develop skilled workers and a strong corporate sector in the territory," said Minister Prentice.

Qikiqtaaluk Corporation, owned by Qikiqtani Inuit Association, was the primary contractor for the Resolution Island project. Indian and Northern Affairs Canada, in cooperation with Qikiqtaaluk Corporation, maximized employment opportunities for residents of Iqaluit, Kimmirut and Pangnirtung, Resolute Bay and other Nunavut communities. Over 85 per cent of the workers on this project were Inuit. Training was a major component in the clean-up effort. Staff were given onsite training and career development which accounted for 20 per cent of their time. Local businesses also benefited from the project with $16 million spent on procurement of goods and services within the territory.

"Qikiqtaaluk Corporation is proud of the work completed on Resolution Island," said Mr. Keenainak. "Because of this project, we are now better prepared to participate in other similar projects in the future."

In 1997, Indian and Northern Affairs Canada started clean-up work in partnership with Qikiqtaaluk Corporation. Following five years of preliminary remediation work, ambitious clean-up plans were implemented from 2003 until 2006. Remediation work included excavating, packaging and shipping south over 4,000 cubic metres of highly contaminated soil; constructing three new landfills; remediating eight existing dumps; demolishing 15 buildings; and collecting and disposing of over 6,000 cubic metres of scattered barrels and debris from the site.

Indian and Northern Affairs Canada manages contaminated sites located on Crown land in Nunavut that fall under the control of the Department. Currently, Indian and Northern Affairs Canada is actively working on six projects in the territory - Radio Island, FOX-C (Ekalugad Fiord), CAM-F (Sarcpa Lake), CAM-D (Simpson Lake), Cape Christian and the Robert's Bay Silver Mine.

For more information about the remediation of Resolution Island or other contaminated sites in Nunavut, visit the Web site.

For further information, contact:

Maria O'Hearn
Regional Communications Manager
Indian and Northern Affairs Canada - Nunavut Regional Office
867-975-4725
ohearnm@inac.gc.ca

Harry Flaherty
Director of Environment
Qikiqtaaluk Corporation
867-979-8406
hflaherty@qcorp.ca

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