Yellowknife (Aug 25/03) - The Aboriginal Pipeline Group (APG) has solved its cash-flow problems and is looking to pull together its dream team.

Robert Nault

On Friday, Robert Nault, minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development was in Yellowknife to announce $10.9 million in federal assistance for the APG.

The territorial government will also provide an additional $1.5 million in funding while the Pipeline Producers Group will also contribute $3.6 million, for a $16 million total.

Money has been so scarce within the APG, that everyone was "wondering where their next meal would come from," said APG chair Fred Carmichael.

The money will be used to hire up to six new staffers and help the APG in setting up new offices.

"Over the past three years, the APG has been limping along with very limited resources. It was only thanks to the Inuvaluit Regional Corp. and the tribal councils that we were able to make it through the day," said Carmichael.

IRC chief operating officer

Roger Connelly, chief operating officer for the IRC, said the corporation kept the pipeline group afloat over the last three years with $200,000 that will now be repaid.

"We met with other members and agreed this is a shareholders' advance to the APG and will show on their books, subject to repayment," said Connelly.

Now, APG is looking to hire "someone to head the organization with experience in pipeline development and gas," said Carmichael.

Carmichael also said the APG will open an office in Calgary and another somewhere along the Mackenzie Valley route.