Dave Sullivan
Northern News Services

Enterprise (Feb 25/02) - The territorial government sold out to big business and betrayed Enterprise, leaving the community exposed to dangerous chemicals, charges Mayor Winnie Cadieux.

Attracting big companies North has become more important than environmental concerns, Cadieux and settlement councillors say.

Residents are fuming about a decision to allow a dangerous commodity depot to be set up in the centre of town, without anyone being informed.

"We believe they chose here because they knew nobody would take them to task. These companies recognize that," Cadieux said.

"The government's priority is big business. Nobody wants to rock the boat."

Polar Explosives built the depot to truck 23,000 tonnes of ammonium nitrate this winter to diamond mines in one-tonne bags. One bag recently fell off a flatbed truck as it rolled down the highway.

Ammonium nitrate is mixed with diesel fuel at mine sites to make ANFO, a dynamite substitute.

Under certain conditions like high temperatures, the chemical can explode without adding gas.

The cabinet member responsible for Enterprise, MACA Minister Vince Steen, did not return phone calls.

Cabinet spokesman Drew Williams said only that overall government strategy is to balance development with environmental concerns.

The Mackenzie Valley Environmental Impact Review Board did send representatives to Enterprise. During a meeting, residents bombarded them with complaints the board was one of many agencies refusing to help.

Board communication officer Roland Semjanovs was forced to admit there is nothing the board can do -- it only conducts environmental re-views.

Cadieux's response: "It's hard to believe that something with such a direct impact on our community falls through so many cracks."

Review board member Charlie Snowshoe sides with residents. He told council of Enterprisers' concerns: "That's the reason we're here, that's why we were set up."

"They can't come in and do whatever they want. That's crap. Those days are gone."

But Polar Explosives did not apply for water or land use permits, the only two things that trigger environmental reviews.

The depot was set up without safeguards, including a fire code requirement for fencing.

Assistant fire marshal Kellie Mitchell said the company moved storage of the chemical to a nearby truck yard owned by RTL Enterprises.

Mitchell said RTL is satisfying the code's intent by having someone on the site 24 hours a day.

That's not good enough, says resident Joe Mercredi.

"Some damn fool can go over there and ignite it, and then it would be goodbye for everyone," he said.