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 From left, Secretary of State Ethel Blondin-Andrew, Natural Resources Minister John Efford and GNWT Minister of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development, Brendan Bell, talk in the media room at the NWT legislative assembly after the announcement of plans to study the effects of climate change on transportation in the NWT. - Brent Reaney/NNSL photo |
Brent Reaney
Northern News Services
The GNWT Department of Transportation will contribute $150,000 to the project and the federal government will match the amount.
Developing transportation and infrastructure in the NWT is complicated by permafrost, said Brendan Bell, GNWT Minister of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development.
"We can't be building roads and be coming back a year or two later to re-do them," said Bell, who couldn't comment on how much damage climate change is costing.
The importance of keeping the proposed Mackenzie Valley Pipeline project on track was mentioned more than once during the announcement.
"We can't afford to have any unnecessary delays. If the project is delayed by two months, it (takes) a year because of the climate," said John Efford, federal Minister of Natural Resources.
"We've found the gas in the Mackenzie Valley, we need now to get it to the customers."
At a jigs dinner last Wednesday at the Royal Canadian Legion in Yellowknife, Efford took a broader view.
"It's not only the pipeline, it's the day to day transfer of goods," he said.
Bell hopes the study might lead to more federal money for NWT infrastructure development.
"We believe there is a responsibility on behalf of the federal government to step up to the plate in terms of the infrastructure we need in the NWT," Bell said.
Minister Efford wants to see the results of the report before seriously discussing anything.
"If you're asking me if I'm going to commit money this morning, well that's not the way it works. You do the research, and then you see," Efford said.
But the flurry of Northern funding announcements, including close to $15 million to provide skills training for Northern aboriginals, was not done to woo voters before the upcoming federal election, said Ethel Blondin-Andrew, Secretary of State and NWT MP.
"I'm always making announcements," she said. "The ministers scatter when they see me coming through the office."
Goods and services for the project will be contributed by Transport Canada, Environment Canada and Natural Resources Canada.
The report should be completed in March 2006.
