Fort Simpson (May 12/06) - Logan McKay is worried about the changes that will happen in the North if the Mackenzie Valley Pipeline is built.

The 11-year-old was one of several people who made a presentation May 8, the first day of the Joint Review Panel's stop in Fort Simpson.

McKay explained to the seven member panel that he thinks the pipeline will cause more acid rain and pollution in the air. People might also become homeless, said McKay, because there will be more people in the North.

"I think it's not going to be very good for the environment or very good for the air and certainly not very good for the people," said McKay.

Many of McKay's concerns about whether the pipeline will be beneficial to Northerners were echoed in other presentations made during the first day of community hearings.

Nahendeh MLA Kevin Menicoche spoke about the need for the benefits of development to remain in the Northwest Territory.

Addressing the panel, Menicoche said that for too long northern people have been exploited by the rest of Canada.

"They (Canada) should ask not what the North can do for them, but rather what they can do for the North," said Menicoche, borrowing a line from the former U.S. president John F. Kennedy.

Menicoche added that until the Deh Cho process is settled the region will be at a disadvantage. The residents need assurances that their future will not be traded away for continental oil security, said Menicoche.

He also touched upon his concerns about unions failing to give northern workers good jobs, and the need for local business to be able to participate as much as they are able.

In conclusion, Menicoche said the pipeline could be good for the Deh Cho, but it could also be a burden. Resource development is important to the North, but it has to be meaningful development, he said.

The possible social impacts the pipeline could have on the people of the Deh Cho were also a topic touched upon by a number of presenters.

"My overall impression is there is no respect for the residents of Fort Simpson," said Diane Cooke who recently moved to the village.

Cooke expressed her concerns about the additional work load that will be placed upon the health and social services sector. A lot of people could suffer and be hurt from the impact of the pipeline, she said.

"We do care," said Randy Ottenbreit of Imperial Oil in response.

A lot of time and care has been put into identifying the negative social impacts and potential measures so they can be avoided. There have already been a number of commitments to keep the workforce separate from the communities, Ottenbreit said.

Ottenbreit acknowledged that the project cannot deal with all of the possible social effects by themselves. Plans are being developed to work together with the government, communities and agencies, he said.

Community hearings continued in Fort Simpson on Tuesday and general hearings took place on Wednesday. The Joint Review Panel will spend a day in Wrigley on May 11, Fort Liard on May 12, Jean Marie River on May 15 and Trout Lake on May 16.