15th Jan 2019 – Jushua Qassa - Pond Inlet - Inuktitut

Merlin: is there going to be a study on how the mine has an impact on the diets of the people?

Caribou, fish, and other staples used to be consumed on a regular basis are no longer available. Important role for the communities, would be important to know how it impacted it.

Johnny Kublu: There is commercial fishing at Asta Lake on Gifford River which connects with Mary River, there will have to be studies on how the fish are effected by the mine.

The fish there is very tasty. Should be studies done on where the char migrates and its habitats, and on zooplankton and what the fishes eat.

MLA Paul Quassa: Is there going to be one track for the 3 trains or is there going to be more than 1 track?

MLA Paul Quassa: There is a quota on caribou in Baffin Island, their migrating routes will have to be monitored closely

Janet asks if the railway would operate all year round

Johnny Kublu: Steensby is a calving grounds for the Walrus and is very shallow for big ships just to let you know

Aarulaaq Quassa: When we have blizzards, the visibility is only few feet at times, so there is going to need plans for weather related emergencies. 

MLA Paul Quassa: We have Blizzards in the winter time and if the phase 2 is approved there would have to be plans if there is an emergancy on the railway during a blizzard

Erasmus: I agree with Johnny Kublu IIBA has to be amended, and there should be training facilities provided for higher positions such as conductors mechanics and engineers.

There is going to be a driving school in Pond Inlet because the mine is using big trucks, and they want to use railways so they have to train Inuit how to operate the equipment

Johnny Kublu QIA representative: with the plan to produce 30 tonnes a year the communities that are effected should recive proper infrastructure and the IIBA should be amended accordingly, and our food supply should be put into consideration.

EDO Merlin; NIRB denied the appication for increase for lacking environmental commitment, but the Minister with QIA approved it for Economic Impact, Whats going on? Co-op had more economic impact than Baffinland did in Igloolik.

MLA Paul Quassa: I have been hearing of much dust coming from the mine and that it is very fine and is effecting the plants, vegetation and lakes with fishes, that will need to be addressed. And the animals have better hearing than people, so the noise from the railroad will have to be put into consideration.

Dominic Angutimarik: If the animals were to be effected, and our food source becomes limited, is there a plan for this? would we be compensated?

these animals are their food sources. They eat a lot of seals. The cost of living is very high, at the grocery store.

Dominic: if the health of the people were to be effected by the mine, what kind of implamentation are there for this kind of situation? There are health concerns.

Baffinland should provide more than just jobs.

Merlin. Baffinland had submitted an approval for the increased production, and NIRB denied it. It went for minister approval, and it was approved. Why did NIRB deny it? Was it because of the impacts, or because they didn’t do the work before submitting it?… Read more

Janet asking if we as a comunity can oppose the rail road to Steensby Inlet if we get conserns about safty of the ships and the environment.