INUVIK - In only took a few minutes for Fred Carmichael to sum up his opinion of the importance of the Mackenzie Gas Project to the Beaufort Delta at the final regulatory hearings for the proposed pipeline held at the community centre Tuesday afternoon.

"It's the first step to regaining economic self-sufficiency for our region," said the former Gwich'in Tribal Council president and current chair of the Mackenzie Valley Aboriginal Pipeline Group.

The National Energy Board panel includes, from left, Gaetan Caron, Ken Vollman and David Hamilton. - Andrew Rankin/NNSL photo

Carmichael was making the group's final arguments to the National Energy Board panel, which included Gaetan Caron, Ken Vollman and David Hamilton. The board will decide whether to grant regulatory approval for the project in September.

The proposed $16.2 billion Mackenzie Gas Project is not expected to start production until at least 2018.

Tuesday was the first of three days of hearings where 26 interested parties such as Environment Canada, Dehcho First Nations and backers Imperial Oil and Shell Canada will make presentations to the panel.

Nellie Cournoyea, Inuvialuit Regional Corporation president, and Richard Nerysoo, Gwich'in Tribal Council president, were the first to make presentations Tuesday, expressing their support for the project.

Cournoyea said the region, which depends a lot on government subsidies, is desperate for the pipeline to proceed.

"A community dependent on government is ultimately not a stable or a healthy community," she said. "We want Inuvialuit people to be self-reliant.

"We cannot use what is not here to feed and support our families. We must get off government support; this is not how we want to live."

She took a shot at environmental organizations, such as the World Wildlife Fund, whose numerous presentations to the Joint Review Panel, she said, resulted in unneeded delays in the project.

"We say go home and look after your own backyards. We are more than capable of looking after ours."

Cournoyea also criticized the delays caused by the oil and gas companies themselves. Imperial Oil announced in March that, if approved, construction of the pipeline is now estimated to begin no earlier than 2013.

"At this time we have difficulty supporting the extended deadline they have suggested," she said. "It has been one delay after another."

Michael Fabijan, Kavik-AXYS vice-president, attended the hearings on Tuesday afternoon. His company helps businesses put permit applications together throughout the Inuvialuit Settlement Region. He said his company stands to benefit greatly if the pipeline goes ahead.

Like Cournoyea and Carmichael, he said there's no time like the present for the project.

"As Nellie and Fred have both said there's going to be so many benefits to the people here. They've been waiting a long time so they can control their own destiny.

"They're ready for it. They're not going to do it without the protection of their lands that they've always wanted."