994458 Nunavut Limited
Arctic haven Wilderness Lodge
P.O. Box 300,
Resolute Bay, NU
May 27th 2015
Nunavut Impact Review Board
Cambridge Bay, NU
Thank you for the information provided, we have responded to the concerns and
are available for any further information you may require.
All these government departments and organizations seem very concerned with
our tourism operation. Arctic Haven Lodge is a TOURISM operation. We don’t kill
wildlife, we watch it. Not to disturb wildlife (all wildlife not just caribou) or scare it
is so completely in our best interests. If we disturb the caribou or change
migration patterns, then we are out of business.
We will address the concerns submitted to NIRB one by one

We have started to process to apply for a wildlife viewing permit. The first
step required a letter of support from the Arviat HTO (attached). Another
requirement was a NIRB submission.

Again, we stress that this is a tourism operation. If we scare away or
stress wildlife, there will be nothing for our clients to watch. We will be out
of business. Our goal is to watch or photograph wildlife without stressing
them. Regarding caribou, we normally place ourselves upwind and ahead
of their path of travel. Then we don’t move. Caribou will either pass us by
or move around us. We have been doing eco-tourism in Nunavut for
almost twenty years. We have Inuit guides on our staff. We do not use
aircraft of helicopters above wildlife. We will engage input from the Kivallik
Region Hunters and Trappers Organization and incorporate their
recommendations.

Our suggestion was to plant grass common to most of Canada, not some
wild exotic species. If the GN does not like our plan to seed “southern
Canadian grass”, we can transplant vegetation from surrounding areas or
simply wait for the natural re-growth.

Our clients who fish, purchase sport fishing licenses. In order to make the
fishing license process more user friendly, perhaps the GN could set up
the purchase process on line. Nunavut is the only province in Canada that
doesn’t have on-line fishing license purchasing.

We are in the process of following Transport Canada boating regulations.
For example, in August 2015, we have hired someone to hold a SVOP
and First Aid courses for all our staff. All staff hold a Canada Boating
card.

There are no archaeological remains in the immediate area of the lodge.
The extension to the airstrip (30 meters by 250 meters) and the gravel pit
area (40 by 40 meters) are relatively small areas with no archeological
remains.

A class 1 archeological permit is not necessary because we do not
actively search for, survey or touch any archeological sites. Some of the
hills tops in the area have simple piled stones for telescope holders, wind
block or blinds. There are a few tent rings that are similarly found
throughout Nunavut. I am not aware of any one requiring a permit to look
at a pile of rocks or a tent ring.

Regarding the GN’s suggestion of a 50m buffer zone from any
archeological site. As stated previously, there are no archeological sites
in the immediate vicinity of the lodge, airstrip, or gravel pit. While
conducting tourism walks on the land sometimes, we encounter piles of
rocks that were probably telescope holders, wind blocks or blinds. We
typically bring the clients to the rocks, look at them, photograph
(sometimes) them and leave. We do not move anything. If we destroyed
them then we would have nothing left to show the next group. It is in our
best interests to leave archeological site untouched. To suggest that we
can’t bring our clients closer than 50 meters is counter productive. Fifty
meters is too far, that is not a visit. These are piles of rocks we do not
damage them by walking up and looking.

We suggest that AANDC be more specific with the shortcomings of our
Abandonment and Restoration Plan.

Please be aware that the lodge is located 450 km from the nearest
Nunavut community, which is Arviat. No one comes here (during the 4
years we have been here) except for the annual visit of the Arviat wildlife
officer. This is a tourism operation, if we scare away the wildlife or change
migration patterns, we will be the first losers. All gravel and airstrip
construction will be done during the summer, not during migration periods.
The HTO of Arviat is aware and supports our operation.

No doubt, in the past the Kazan River was an important route from Kasba
Lake. Since we have been here, we have seen one boat fishermen from
Kasba outpost cabin and a couple of canoes of adventurers. This is no
longer a major route. In 2015, people fly by aircraft, they do not travel the
land by boat or walk except for tourism. Regardless, our operations do
not affect the water in the Kazan River or travelers on the river.

Again, the area of the expanded airstrip and gravel operations are tiny;
airstrip 30 meters by 300 meters, gravel pit 40 meters by 40 meters.
There is no archeological site. It does not require an archeologist or a
survey to see there is nothing on these spots.
All these government departments, organizations and individuals seem very
concerned with our tourism operation. We can understand their concern, most of
the caribou herds in Canada are in serious decline or have all but disappeared.
The Qamanirjuaq herd is the only herd that, at least at present does not seem to
be in trouble. With all this concern, I was amazed to find the web site from
Canada North Outfitting advertising trips to kill caribou from the Qamanirjuaq
herd, along with wolf, wolverine and grizzly bears.
http://www.canadanorthoutfitting.com/central_canada_barren_ground_caribou.sh
tml
Surely these animals must be much more stressed and disturbed being shot at
than photographed? I presume that Canada North Outfitting has gone through
the scrutiny of government departments and various organizations? The effect
on wildlife of our operation is insignificant compared to Canada North Outfitting.
Our clients will showcase the northern diversity for people all over the world to
see.