Northern News Services
Yellowknife (Mar 12/01) - Mackenzie-Delta MLA David Krutko has won the support of his colleagues in the fight to stop oil and gas exploration activity in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
His motion that the NWT oppose development of the refuge, calving grounds for the Porcupine caribou herd, was supported by 10 ordinary MLAs. Six members of cabinet abstained.
"... I do not see how we, as Canadians, can allow for this activity to take place in a national wildlife refuge. That's just like us opening the door to allow exploration development to take place in our national parks in Canada," said Krutko.
Great Slave MLA Bill Braden said he supported the motion because it is vital to ask other territories, provinces and those in the United States to recognize that the protection of the herd is important for the "survival of a lifestyle and culture of people here in the Northwest Territories."
