An Understanding of the Hearing Process

The media zoomed into Inuvik on 25th January, as the NEB (National Energy Board) began its first public hearing on the $7 billion Mackenzie Gas Project (MGP). Inuvik Drummers and Dancers opened the ceremony, followed by a high-spirited square dance performance to live fiddling by James Rogers and Angus Alunik.

In his opening speech, NEB chairman Kenneth Vollman quipped, “I hope we can carry this level of energy throughout the task ahead of us”. The scope of the NEB’s “undertaking is huge”, as the NEB is to “make a decision on the proposal to build a pipeline system from North of Inuvik to the Alberta border, covering nearly 1,400 kilometers”. The NEB’s decision will be made in 2007, after weighing in the economic, environmental and social interests against the possible negative impacts this pipeline will bring to Canadians. Vollman also said the public hearings are intended to “hear all voices”.

The Process

Over the course of this year, the NEB and JRP (Joint Review Panel) will work to collect evidence for its final decision on whether to recommend approval of the project to the federal government. The NEB hearings will focus on addressing the technical details of the pipeline, while the JRP hearings will focus on the social and environmental aspects, especially in smaller communities. The JRP will make recommendations to the NEB based on its findings. If you would like to make a presentation to the NEB or JRP, you can either register as an intervener to speak at general and technical hearings, or go to community hearings, where you do not have to register, but simply sign in at the door.

The hearings are for gathering specific evidence and concerns, so your comments will be more constructive if you did some research beforehand. The NEB and JRP will not be explaining the project at the hearings, their focus is on hearing and addressing issues. Inuvialuit interested in understanding the workings of the project before speaking up can access information by going to the MGP and their community corporations.

While NEB and JRP are acting as intermediaries between the public and oil companies, the public can also ask questions directly to the representatives of the oil companies at the hearings. Should a relevant organization not be present, questions for them will be relayed through the NEB and JPR. There will be translators of local dialects present at all hearings, as well as transcripts and audio web casts of most of the hearings at NEB’s website at http:// www.ngps.nt.ca/jrphearings_e.html.

The Pipeline

This $7 billion project encompasses two underground pipes to transport natural gas and natural gas liquids from the three anchor fields of Niglintgak, Taglu and Parsons Lake. The larger Mackenzie Valley Pipeline is 30 inches in diameter, and can deliver up to a billion cubic feet of natural gas to Alberta per day. The other 10 inch diameter pipe, the Mackenzie Gathering System, will be used to transport up to 4000 cubic meters liquid gas per day.

Imperial Oil, ConocoPhillips, Shell Canada, Exxon Mobil and the Aboriginal Pipeline Group make up the 5 partners in the MGP, with Imperial holding the major share. A large part of the hearings in Inuvik so far have been on whether the owners of the MGP will provide adequate expandability and access for other oil explorer groups, such as Mackenzie Explorer Group (Devon, EnCana, Chevron, BP, Anadarko and Nytis) and Mosbacher Operating Ltd. To be honest, it was a little dry listening to the lawyers and witnesses from these companies tackled engineering aspects such as development plans, supply and market studies; however, the information becomes accessible once you become accustomed to their language. You will gain alot of knowledge about how these companies plan to execute their plans for the pipeline and the land.

Rosie Albert, Roger Kuptana and Agnes White were there to translate the proceedings in Inuvialuktun. Rosie recommends attending the hearings. She said, “They[Inuvialuit] should care because this is all happening in the area, the gas that the companies are pumping out and sending down south, it’s ours. They should be concerned where it’s going…They should worry about the environment, how they are going to go by…some lakes and rivers are very important to us for hunting and trapping.”

She believes in being involved. “Some people complain later and say why did they decide to do that? I say to them you have no idea because you didn’t go to listen. If they are concerned they could have been here.”

Rosie was also a translator at the Berger Inquiry, but she can tell the conditions are different this time. “The younger generation doesn’t go out hunting as much as they used to, and they are looking forward to jobs,” she said

Charles Gordon

harles Gordon is somewhat notorious in the region, as the youth who once cycled eleven hours on the ice road to run away from home. The story goes that he stole his sister’s purple bike, set off from Aklavik and almost made it to Inuvik, but was foiled at the end of the road by the RCMP.