Letter to the Editor

Nahanni National Park Reserve Completion

May 21, 2004

In the North we have before us a remarkable opportunity to conserve one of Canada's great wild watersheds. The South Nahanni watershed in the Northwest Territories, and which borders on the southeast Yukon, is one of Canada's best-known northern landscapes.

At the initiative of the Deh Cho First Nations, a proposal to expand Nahanni National Park Reserve by almost seven times has been presented to the Government of Canada. First Nations in the Sahtu region are also actively working to protect their portion of the South Nahanni watershed. Committed to ensuring that the natural heritage and splendour of this emblematic watershed is conserved for future generations, these northern First Nations have devoted considerable energy to this initiative.

What is being proposed is that the entire South Nahanni River watershed be set aside from development and protected in an expanded National Park Reserve. Though First Nations in the Deh Cho and Sahtu regions want to protect the watershed, the Government of Canada has to agree. The federal government has been supportive of the park's expansion and completion, but it has not yet committed to protecting this special watershed from development. The Deh Cho First Nations has done all the hard work; all the Government of Canada needs to do is say “yes”.

Completion of the park will achieve a long-standing aim of Canadians who have visited the park and those who have been captivated by its splendour. By protecting the entire watershed the expanded National Park Reserve would better serve the needs of wide-ranging wildlife populations such as woodland caribou, grizzly bears, wolverines and wolves. The current configuration of the Park Reserve and its small size does little to protect critical wildlife ranges as recent scientific studies have shown.

As well, protecting the entire watershed will better preserve water quality in the watershed and downstream. It will also allow for protection of the Nahanni karstlands - an area of globally unique limestone formations north of the current Park Reserve boundary.

This is a timely proposal. A counter-proposal to activate the defunct Prairie Creek zinc mine directly threatens the watershed. As well, there is the unresolved issue of environmental liabilities associated with the troubled and currently defunct Cantung mine. These two mining projects are situated upstream of the present Park Reserve and have the potential to harm water quality and fish and wildlife habitat for generations to come.

There is no meaningful global shortage of lead, silver or zinc. Wild unspoiled watersheds are exceedingly rare throughout the world and are becoming more precious in the North. We have been told that the federal government wants to change the way it works with northerners. Well, here is a chance to prove these commitments are sincere. Key northern interests are calling for protection of the entire South Nahanni watershed in a completed Nahanni National Park Reserve.

But we have not heard public declarations of support from our Member of Parliament Larry Bagnell and Senator Ione Christensen. Larry and Ione, so that future generations can enjoy it and be inspired by it, please commit to protecting the entire South Nahanni watershed in an expanded National Park Reserve.

Sincerely,

Mac Hislop
CPAWS-Yukon