Thorunn Howatt
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Feb 25/02) - Northerners will get a chance to say what they think about a Mackenzie Valley pipeline during community consultations organized by the Mackenzie Delta Producers Group and the Aboriginal Pipeline Corporation.

"We are just beginning the process of contacting communities to set up meetings," said spokesperson Hart Searle. "Within the next few weeks we expect to have some meetings put together and scheduled."

The group met with community leaders during its pipeline feasibility study but, "what will distinguish our consultations will be that we will now meet with community members in a much more expansive way," said Searle.

People will have the chance to ask about the Mackenzie Valley pipeline project and decide how information will be shared.

The Mackenzie Delta Producer's Group is made up of energy companies Conoco, Shell, Imperial and ExxonMobil. The Aboriginal Pipeline Corporation is proposing a one-third share in the pipeline that would carry Mackenzie Delta gas southward following the Mackenzie Valley. The community presentations will include maps, and job and business opportunities.