Don’t turn N.W.T. Ramparts into park, says chamber of mines
Chamber says instead, area should get review of what is protected every five years
The NWT and Nunavut Chamber of Mines said making the Ramparts region of the Northwest Territories into a wildlife area could hurt the N.W.T.’s resources sector.
The territory is considering turning a 10,000 square kilometre area with towering limestone cliffs near Fort Good Hope, N.W.T., into a park. The area is also home to wetlands and boreal forest.
Tom Hoefer, the chamber’s executive director, said studies show the Ramparts region is rich in minerals like iron, diamonds and even oil and gas.
"In the face of a global exploration boom, we are actually in a bust. So we are trying to rally government and communities and aboriginal groups around looking at things differently and in what steps we can take to reinvigorate the investment climate. And so looking at protecting very large areas like this is something I think should be reconsidered," he said.
Hoefer would like to see the region protected under the Sahtu Land Use Plan which would allow for reviews on what is protected every five years.
In 2007, the territorial government granted the area interim protection. That meant that no new oil or gas rights could be issued for the area.
Local people and tourists have long used the area for trapping, hunting, fishing and camping. It is also a habitat for migratory birds.