Andrea Markey
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (July 04/05) - Agree to disagree. That was the overriding sentiment at a conference on the proposed Mackenzie Valley pipeline.

The Joint Review Panel held its environmental impact statement conference to determine if there is sufficient information to move ahead to public hearings on the project.

Joe and Alex Tambour of Hay River translate English into South Slavey during the Joint Review Panel's Environmental Impact Statement conference in Yellowknife. - Andrea Markey/NNSL photo

About 40 intervenors, the seven panel members and their staff, project proponents and members of the public met for three days at the Explorer Hotel in Yellowknife.

Intervenors complained they haven't received sufficient information through the proponents' submissions.

The whole issue of sufficiency, and what it means, remained a question for many throughout the conference.

Even within organizations there were differing opinions.

On the second day of the meetings, Ricki Hurst, director of the Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development (DIAND) Pipeline Readiness Office, said the pipeline should move ahead.

The next day, Matthew Spence, the socio-economic and community relations advisor at the same office, said further traditional knowledge studies would be helpful and socio-economic management plans need to be developed with the GNWT.

Inuvik Mayor Peter Clarkson said there isn't enough information to determine the impacts on his town.

"Pipeline construction hasn't even begun yet and already 200 people from Aklavik have moved to Inuvik," he said.

"We are willing to work with the proponents, but right now there is a lack of sufficient information on town planning and forced growth."

As a current user of Mackenzie River barges, NWT Power Corp is concerned about increased river traffic during construction.

"The proponents' information shows barges will see six times the current demand during peak construction," said Myra Berrub, co-ordinator for business and energy development with Power Corp. "They say community re-supply and current users will take precedent but we haven't seen the plan and have to take what they say at face value. We feel there is insufficient evidence."

The proponents' definition of Northern workers is also a concern, said Ben Walker, a labour advocate with Alternatives North.

"How long does someone have to live here to be considered a Northerner?" he said

"Also, how are they going to move workers in and out for work rotations? Are they going to send a plane into small communities to pick up one or two workers?"

These questions aside, the conference was a success, according to Alan Kennedy, environment manager for the Mackenzie Gas Project.

"All parties don't need to agree on the information, but the question is whether there is enough to move on to public hearings - and the answer is yes," he said.

Craig Darling, conference facilitator, will prepare a report for the panel and the public registry.

The panel will begin meeting again this week to consider the information presented and determine if, and when, public hearings should be held.

If the panel decides to hold public hearings, communities will have at least 45 days to prepare.