Derek Neary
Northern News Services

Fort Simpson (Aug 08/03) - The North must take a "very proactive" role to secure benefits from a pipeline and oil and gas development, according to federal Natural Resources Minister Herb Dhaliwal.

Herb Dhaliwal, minister of Natural Resources, made a stop in Fort Simpson following a sightseeing tour of Nahanni National Park Reserve last week. Dhaliwal is responsible for the National Energy Board and sectors such as oil and gas, diamonds and forestry. - Merle Robillard/NNSL photo

It's the right time to move forward on this project," he said in regards to a Mackenzie Valley pipeline.

Dhaliwal made an informal presentation to about 15 people at the Visitor Information Centre in Fort Simpson on the evening of July 31. He was passing through town after a leisurely afternoon of sightseeing at Virginia Falls, Rabbitkettle and Glacier Lake.

He said Northerners must identify business opportunities associated with the pipeline and the oil and gas exploration phase that will follow.

Keyna Norwegian, chief of the Liidlii Kue First Nation, told Dhaliwal that aboriginal people want to be in control of industry and where it operates. The environment cannot be compromised, said Norwegian.

"We don't want our land to look like a railway station out there," she said.

Fort Simpson resident Peter Shaw, a retired federal employee, asked Dhaliwal why the National Energy Board's pipeline readiness office was located in Yellowknife as opposed to Fort Simpson.

"We are actually the heart of the pipeline," Shaw said. "Let's not put all our apples in Yellowknife... we need those little apples."

Dhaliwal replied that the federal government "will certainly look at how to have people in as many places as possible."

Fort Simpson Mayor Tom Wilson was able to accompany the federal minister and territorial resources minister Jim Antoine on the afternoon excursion. Wilson said he appealed to Dhaliwal for support in locating a diamond cutting and polishing plant in Fort Simpson.

"He believes like myself that we've got to get into the secondary industry because that's where the jobs are," Wilson told the Drum, adding that Dhaliwal didn't make any commitments.

Wilson added that the federal minister said Fort Simpson may be able to use the Kyoto Accord to its advantage in attempts to get access to a natural gas outlet.

When a pipeline is built, the community could apply for Kyoto funding because it would be switching from diesel to natural gas, a cleaner burning fuel, Wilson noted.