INUVIK
Several organizations in Inuvik have now expressed their displeasure with the federal government's move to ban offshore oil and gas activity in the Arctic ocean, following a joint announcement between Prime Minister Justin Trudea and U.S. President Barack Obama that came just before Christmas.

Tom Zubko appeared at town council last week to condemn the federal government's decision to ban licenses for offshore drilling in the Arctic ocean. - Stewart Burnett/NNSL photo

"We were taken aback," said Duane Smith, president of the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation.

"We were not consulted in any meaningful way on the matter."

The IRC has been dealing with onshore and offshore oil and gas in the region for at least 50 years, he said, and it's the primary reason the organization lobbied for its rights to be entrenched in the Canadian Constitution with the Inuvialuit Final Agreement.

"We are the only ones that have developed any gas within this region, as well as a corporation that presently provides energy support to this community," he said.

The Inuvialuit have rights not only as Canadian citizens but under their land claim agreement to be properly consulted, he added.

Smith said he was told by the minister of Indian and Northern Affairs Canada about the move a few hours before it was announced to the public, and he was not asked for his own input on it.

Smith said he recognizes there are concerns with regards to potential negative impacts that oil development could bring, but there's also the reality that it brings benefits to the region.

"I'm hoping that we'll have a meeting fairly soon with the Prime Minister to discuss this matter and discuss Arctic affairs in general and how we can work together to develop an Arctic policy that gives clear understanding to all of Canada on how we want to work together to look at how this place should be developed with the people that reside here," said Smith.

The IRC also sent a letter to Trudeau on the subject.

Tom Zubko kicked off the discussions when he came to town council Monday, Jan. 9.

"Without any consultation whatsoever, the Prime Minister made a decision that he is going to take away all the potential future that offshore exploration, drilling and production would afford our children and grandchildren. I'm absolutely appalled that he would do something like this," he said.

Jozef Carnogursky, president of the Nihtat Gwich'in Council, expressed a similar sentiment at the council meeting Wednesday, Jan. 11, saying he doesn't know what the federal government's definition of reconciliation is at this point when decisions are being forced on the North.

The federal government has not, as of press time, responded to the concerns expressed by the three organizations.

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