Cara Loverock
Northern News Services
Published Monday, November 12, 2007

YELLOWKNIFE - Significant changes to the Northern regulatory system are being made.

The federal government will invest $6.6 million over five years to overhaul regulatory systems in the NWT, Nunavut and Yukon, building on existing initiatives including amending the Canada Oil and Gas Operations Act, giving authority to the National Energy Board to regulate pipeline access and amending the Mackenzie Valley Resource Management Act.

Chuck Strahl, minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development, announced the Northern Regulatory Improvement Initiative on Nov. 7.

"We are committed to see the North realize its full potential," Strahl said of the initiative. "We will work with the North to develop a system that serves the North."

He assured the public that there will not be a reduction in environmental standards.

"It is essential that we maximize the potential benefits of resource-development projects ... to do that we must have predictable, effective and efficient regulatory systems across North America," said Strahl in a prepared press release from Indian and Northern Affairs Canada regarding the announcement.

Strahl also announced the appointment of Neil McCrank as the Minister's Special Representative to oversee the initiative. McCrank will consult with stakeholders in all three territories and submit a report to the federal government outlining proposed recommendations for improvement in the next few months.

"You've got one now that works very well at the moment ... We can make improvements to make it an even better system," McCrank said of the current regulatory system.

McCrank has extensive experience in Alberta's public sector. When asked at the press conference why a Northerner wasn't chosen for the position, Strahl downplayed any concerns and said that experience should be the main priority.