Jason Unrau
Northern News Services

Inuvik (June 03/05) - A special session planned for the upcoming Inuvik Petroleum Show, billed as "Finding Common Ground with the Mackenzie Gas Project," is expected to attract some major players from the proposed pipeline deal.

To be chaired by the former Minister of Indian and Northern Affairs Robert Nault, invitations have been extended to Deputy Prime Minister Anne McLellan, current Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development Andy Scott, Imperial Oil Senior vice-president Michael Yeager, Sahtu Dene Council Grand Chief Frank Andrew and Dehcho First Nations (DFN) Grand Chief Herb Norwegian.

NWT Premier Joe Handley has confirmed he will be in attendance, as have Aboriginal Pipeline Group chair and Gwich'in Tribal Council president Fred Carmichael and Inuvialuit Regional Corporation CEO and Chair Nellie Cournoyea, both of whom worked with Inuvik Mayor Peter Clarkson to put the meeting together.

"As co-ordinators and facilitators of the North's largest oil and gas conference and trade show, we see this as a positive opportunity to provide an update on discussions and agreements," said Clarkson, who added that the summit is a "chance for all the players to get together and move things along."

According to Clarkson, the three organizers have been working on setting up this meeting since Imperial Oil's April 28 announcement that it was halting all geotechnical and engineering work on the proposed pipeline.

Carmichael is optimistic about the future of the project.

"It only makes sense to pull together various leadership (with a stake in the pipeline) to attend," he said.

"I think (the session will be) great to bring people up to date as things are moving forward and put everything on the table."

According to Carmichael DFN Grand Chief Herb Norwegian has had to decline attendance at the meeting, due to commitments with DFN's land claim and self government agreement with Ottawa.

"I just got a call from (Norwegian) and he's had to decline," said Carmichael. "He's really tied up on the Deh Cho process right now."

With more than 120 exhibitors lined up and 350 people already registered to attend, Clarkson says this year's petroleum show is going to be of particular significance due to "where things are at with the pipeline."

The theme of the 5th annual Inuvik Petroleum show is "Roles and Responsibilities in the Mackenzie Gas Project," with respect to industry and business, social agencies, governments and environmental agencies.