Jason Unrau
Northern News Services

Inuvik (Aug 15/05) - Imperial Oil, lead proponent of the Mackenzie Gas Project, was in Inuvik last week, negotiating access and benefits negotiations with representatives from communities on the pipeline right of way.

"These are confidential discussions, not open to the public," said Pius Rollheiser, an Imperial spokesman.

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

"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 concern with Imperial Oil's tact.

Imperial's request to meet with the Gwich'in was accompanied by a notice that the company would seek arbitration under the National Energy Board Act if talks failed to produce an agreement.