N.W.T. Chamber's call for halt to Thaidene Nene park 'not welcome,' says minister

N.W.T.'s Environment minister says he's "disappointed in the tone" of a letter written by the N.W.T. Chamber of Commerce advocating shelving the idea of Thaidene Nene park on the East Arm of Great Slave Lake.

In the letter sent to minister Robert C. McLeod, the Chamber argued it's unwise to close off so much land to development before it's been explored for potential mineral resources. It said it would be "reckless" of the government to exclude 26,000 square kilometres of land from resource development.

"This is a process that's been going on for 44 years and a lot of negotiations going on," said McLeod.

"So for them to tell us just to shelve it, that's not going to happen."

• N.W.T. Chamber of Commerce calls for halt to Thaidene Nene park

He said the N.W.T. Chamber of Mines sent the government a letter in August 2015 with similar concerns, but that letter acknowledged the area was important to people in Lutselk'e and that the Chamber was encouraged by the territorial government 's position that left some high mineral potential areas out and included opportunities for transportation corridors.

He said the August 2015 letter and a subsequent presentation by Chamber of Mines representatives "was very helpful."

"Comments made in [this] letter are not very helpful and they're not very welcome," said McLeod.

He said negotiations for Thaidene Nene are in the final stages.