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New chair for board

Yellowknife businessman takes over MVEIRB

Richard Gleeson
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Feb 06/02) - A Yellowknife consultant is the new chair of one of the NWT's key regulatory boards.

Todd Burlingame learned last Friday he had been appointed chair of the Mackenzie Valley Environmental Impact Review Board.

NNSL Photo

Todd Burlingame: putting business on hold for next three years.


"This, as you can well imagine, was a big surprise," Burlingame said.

He succeeds the board's first chair, Gordon Lennie. Lennie's three-year term ended Monday. Prior to that he served as chair of the transitional working group that preceded the board.

Lennie urged the new chair to "take the ball and run with it -- I think the board is going in the right direction."

The appointment was made by Indian Affairs and Northern Development Minister Robert Nault on the recommendation of the board. Burlingame said discussion of who should follow Lennie as chair occurred before he became a member of the board.

Burlingame's appointment was suprising in two ways. He became a board member just six weeks ago. Because of the requirements for board make-up, Burlingame's appointment means Lennie can no longer be a member of the board unless he takes the place of another aboriginal nominee.

Asked if his appointment sends out a message that the board will be more industry-friendly, Burlingame replied, "I think that's a stretch, I really do."

Originally from Alaska, Burlingame has lived in the Northwest Territories since 1979. He has done environmental work for both regulators and for project proponents.

Burlingame said he received some indication that he was being considered as chair in a phone call last Monday.

Though board membership is still officially a part-time job, Burlingame said his consulting business will be "put on hold" for the duration of his term as chair. He said it was a personal decision, not a condition of the appointment.

The appointment leaves a vacant seat on the board. That seat will be filled by a member nominated by government.

By law, the board is to be composed of three representatives nominated by government and three nominated by aboriginal groups plus a chair nominated by board members.