SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - In what the GNWT is calling "a big step forward," the NWT Chamber of Commerce has successfully pushed three key NWT infrastructure developments with the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, which will now lobby for those projects - as well as reforming the NWT regulatory regime - with the federal government.

Canadian Chamber of Commerce President Perrin Beatty, left, congratulates John Curran, NWT Chamber executive director, on a successful policy debate resulting in four NWT-related resolutions that will now be adopted as national policy during the Canadian chamber's annual general meeting in Victoria last week. - photo courtesy of the NWT Chamber of Commerce

At last week's annual general meeting of the Canadian chamber - which represents the interests of more than 175,000 businesses throughout the country - the Canadian chamber voted to adopt four NWT-specific priorities as part of its federal lobbying efforts for the next three years: the Mackenzie Gas Project, the Mackenzie Valley Highway, hydroelectric projects and the much-maligned regulatory process (see fact file on page 29).

"I think what's really unique in this case is that we've got four policies here where they really are very NWT-focused, and what we were really successful at doing is showing them that investing in the NWT is investing in all of Canada," said John Curran, executive director for the NWT chamber, who made the presentation outlining all four priorities to the Canadian chamber.

"It puts them on the national stage among people who are professional lobbyists. Certainly, promoting business interests in the NWT is something that is part of my job, but they have a team of people where that is their only job - to promote the interests of their members. Their focus is just the federal government."

When talking about the pipeline, Curran centred on the benefits the Canadian provinces will receive from the project, he said.

"The biggest thing that I focused on was the fact that it's infrastructure in the national interest. Of the $16.2 billion they say it's going to cost, $13.8 billion of that is expected to go outside the NWT," said Curran. "Arctic sovereignty was also a factor there ... this is as much about nation-building as pushing the railroads through southern Canada from coast to coast back in the 1800s, and that really struck a chord with them."

Bob McLeod, minister of industry, tourism and investment for the GNWT, visited the United States this year to determine the market for Canadian natural gas in the United States, admitting the trip was partly aimed at getting the federal government to up its fiscal commitments to the pipeline. McLeod praised the NWT chamber for touting the all-round benefits of the pipeline and other projects.

"It's consistent with the message I've been putting out in different jurisdictions," he said. "When I was in Ontario (three weeks ago), I pointed out to Ontario businesses that the province's GDP would increase by $5 billion and Alberta's GDP is going to increase by $9 billion.

"I think it's a big step forward and it really helps a lot to have business from across Canada supporting us in these four priority areas."

Chamber Policies

Four policies, as stated by the NWT Chamber of Commerce and adopted as part of the canadian chamber of commerce's federal lobbying efforts for the next three years

1. Ensure the Mackenzie Gas Project is not placed at a competitive disadvantage to other large scale energy projects by utilizing direct investment, tax breaks and/or loan guarantees; funding adjacent infrastructure; and supporting workforce development to maximize First Nations involvement in the project.

2. Fund the completion of an all-weather north-south Trans Canada Highway through the Mackenzie Valley from Wrigley to Tuktoyaktuk immediately as a means of strengthening Arctic sovereignty, fuelling economic development in the North and enhancing the economics of the Mackenzie Gas Project.

3. Invest in strategic NWT hydroelectric projects including expansion of the Taltson hydroelectric facility and construction of a 700-km transmission line to the Slave Geologic Province; advancement of mini-hydro generation facilities in Lutsel K'e and Whati; development of a north-south electrical transmission grid connection to Alberta facilitating the sale of clean, Northern hydro power to larger southern markets, to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, extend NWT mine life, increase Northern mine development and mineral exploration activity, create new economic development opportunities and enhance Canada's Arctic sovereignty.

4. Reform the resource development regulatory regime in the NWT based on the 13 priorities put forward by the Indian and Northern Affairs Minister's own special representative and endorsed by the NWT Chamber of Commerce and other territorial organizations, including the Northern Aboriginal Business Association.