Jason Unrau
Northern News Services

Inuvik (Aug 12/05) - Pius Rollheiser, spokesman for Imperial Oil, has confirmed that the lead proponent of the Mackenzie Gas Project is in access and benefits negotiations with representatives from various communities on the proposed pipeline right of way.

On Tuesday, representatives from both the oil company and the communities were in Inuvik for the talks.

"These are confidential discussions, not open to the public," said Rollheiser. "Certainly, we'll be sharing the outcomes in due course."

Asked to estimate how long negotiations would take, he said, "it will take as long as it will take. This is an ongoing process."

On Monday, the Gwich'in negotiating team reasserted its commitment to the project but criticized Imperial Oil for its approach to negotiating land access from the Gwich'in.

Walked away

"When Imperial walked away from discussions in April, we asked them to keep in mind that July and August are used in the North for annual assemblies and major community events and are difficult months within which to schedule negotiations," said Richard Nerysoo, lead access and benefits negotiator for the Gwich'in.

"Now we are once again being put in the position of spoilers if we do not abandon our priorities in favour of Imperial's agenda."

As well, Nerysoo expressed concerns with Imperial Oil's tact regarding reaching an access and benefits deal under the National Energy Board Act.

Right-of-way price offer

Imperial's request to meet with the Gwich'in was accompanied by the serving of notice pursuant to Section 87(1) of the NEB Act setting the price the company is willing to offer for right-of-way across Gwich'in-owned land and describing the procedure available for negotiation and arbitration through the Act.

While acknowledging that this kind of notice is standard procedure in right-of-way acquisition, Nerysoo said he was not comfortable with what he perceives as Imperial's attempts to move negotiations from the current process to an NEB one.

"Imperial should not make the mistake of thinking it is the only party investing in this project," he said.

"The Gwich'in are making an historic investment in terms of our land, lives and culture. I'm certain that Imperial shareholders would not want their reasonable return to be based on the Gwich'in people's loss."