Adam Johnson
Northern News Services
Published Wednesday, November 21, 2007

OTTAWA - As Ottawa plans to overhaul Northern regulatory standards, one Northern MP is leery of what the future could hold - and of the appointment of a former Alberta energy board chair to oversee it.

"I can't say that I'm happy with the appointment," said Western Arctic MP Dennis Bevington of the announcement of Neil McCrank as special representative responsible for the $6.6 million Northern Regulatory Improvement Initiative.

The initiative will investigate the regulatory process such as environmental and socio-economic permitting for projects such as the Mackenzie Valley pipeline.

Chuck Strahl, federal minister of Indian and Northern Affairs, announced the appointment during a Yellowknife press conference earlier this month.

Bevington said McCrank's record shows the public sector manager could have a negative effect on environmental policy in the North.

"I think Mr. McCrank, in his role as chairman of Alberta Energy and Utilities board demonstrated that he considered the environmental regulatory process as a bit of a rubber stamp for industry," he said.

"I don't think that's what Northerners are looking for."

After being officially appointed, McCrank told audiences in Yellowknife he was pleased with the current regulatory system, but thought "we can make improvements to make it an even better system."

Strahl said these changes would have not have a negative impact on environmental controls, but would be meant to streamline the process for industry.

"It is essential that we maximize the potential benefits of resource development projects, while protecting the environment," he stated in a later press release.

Bevington said maintaining a strong regulatory process is vital in the NWT, which has limited powers over development compared to provinces.

"We have even greater reasons than Alberta to demand a regulatory process that deals with socio-economic issues and environmental issues," he said.

"(McCrank) is very much a fellow traveller with the Conservative Party and I think that's something that Northerners should remember.

"I look forward to what Mr. McCrank has to say in his review," Bevington said. "But we will be looking at it very critically."

- with files from Cara Loverock