It’s
easy to reach the conclusion that the Mackenzie Gas Project
has been frozen in time as squabbling and court actions continue
between the Deh Cho First Nations and the Canadian government.
But other issues are starting to bedevil the regulatory process,
as residents of the Northwest Territories add to the list
of concerns.
An official with the National Energy Board confirmed earlier
in March in Yellowknife that public hearings will not start
before the end of summer, well behind the possible spring
start that the project backers had hoped for at one time.
Kakfwi, a vigorous supporter of the current Mackenzie project
but a key player in stalling the initial attempts to develop
Canada’s Arctic gas in the 1970s, told D.I.A.N.D. Minister
Scott he does not like the notion that the devolution of power
to the Northwest Territories “is being drafted in the
bowels of government but I’m not engaged.”
He said the Akaitcho, Deh Cho and K’ahsho Got’ine
all want to participate in developing the northern strategy.
The Akaitcho and Deh Cho are ready to take their fight to
the courts unless they get assurances that the transfer of
powers will not affect existing and future land treaties —
a battle that could also spill over to the Mackenzie project. |
