That Pipeline!

BY Anne Crossman

Likemany people in the Inuvialuit s ettlement region, there are many who are getting a bit frustrated with the length of time it’s taking to get a pipeline to carry all that natural gas from the m ackenzie d elta down to a lberta.

t his proposed pipeline has a long history. It started in the 1970s with all kinds of exploration work going on, took a real dive in activity after t homas b erger said that land claims needed to be settled before anything happened.

s o the Inuvialuit settled their land claim in the early 1980s and we are still waiting to see that pipeline!

a ctually, there is a pipeline which the Inuvialuit built to bring natural gas to Inuvik from the Ikhil field here in the d elta. It took a while but it got done because the Inuvialuit wanted it done.

t his m ackenzie pipe is way more difficult to move forward – mostly because of all the players involved and the agreements that have to be in place before anything gets done.

t here are many, many players involved in this process – all levels of government and land claims organizations; most of the communities in the n W t; many n orthern businesses; scientists who seem to be experts in all things arctic; big (really, really big) oil and gas companies; all manner of environmental groups; the regulatory agencies; lots of ordinary people; some reporters; and last, but not least –oodles of lawyers!

Forthe past four years – FOUR YEARS – we’ve been listening to all the arguments both for the pipeline and against it. Those who have said they are against this project have expressed fears for the land and the animals and their way of life. They worry that a huge influx of people from down South could cause all kinds of social problems. And there is a concern that large amounts of money in the communities will bring more drugs and alcohol and all the problems they bring.

o thers have said that if the project is closely monitored and the rules for how the project is to go ahead are strict, then it could mean their homes would be better, their children wouldn’t have to leave to get jobs and they could be selfsufficient.

t he application by the m ackenzie g as Project group (Imperial o il, ConocoPhillips, s hell Canada and the a boriginal Pipeline g roup) was officially made in 2004. First the federal n ational e nergy b oard started its hearing in Inuvik in January 2005. t hen they went up and down the valley and heard from all kinds of people – experts and industry and ordinary folks. t hey ended their meetings in Yellowknife last fall.

t hen the Joint review Panel started its hearings in Inuvik in February of 2005 and they went on and on and on up and down the valley. t hose hearings ended in n ovember 2007 in Inuvik.

So where are we now?

a s far as the hearings are concerned, they have finally (and mercifully!) ended. t he Joint review Panel has hired a group of around six or so people to write the final report. t hose people have to sift through 11,000 pages of testimony and come up with a manageable document which the panel can use to come up with its recommendations. t his panel was put together by the federal government so that report has to be approved by that level.

t hen the report goes to the n ational e nergy b oard and gets incorporated into their deliberations which they are working on at this time. It is expected that all this information will be going to the federal cabinet mid-2009. Can you believe it? Five years to get an answer on whether all the rules and regulations have been met.

t here’s a bit of a new wrinkle in the process that will have to play out over the next months. transCanada Pipeline has been a big backer of the a boriginal Pipeline g roup (which includes the Inuvialuit, the Gwich’in and other n orthern a nd lastly, the companies will have to decide whether or not they want to go ahead and build this pipeline. It’s expensive, no question. s o when all the ducks have been lined up in a row and the stars are in the right place and everyone has been good –the m ackenzie g as Pipeline could start being built in 2010 and be finished with gas moving through it by 2014.

First n ations in the s ahtu). transCanada may end up being the company that builds the pipeline instead of the m ackenzie g as group, who do not normally build pipelines – they explore and develop oil and gas fields. We have not heard the end of that scenario.

What will all this mean for the Inuvialuit?

t here will be jobs for a few years during the construction phase. t here will be some jobs at the compressors stations along the route. t here will be jobs once the announcements are made in the big exploration push that will happen.

s o now is the time to get training. take the time to get the specialized training in areas which take a few years. t here will be jobs for truck drivers and other heavy equipment operators, for sure. b ut there will also be jobs for computer operators and crew bosses and those kinds of positions which could lead to other oil and gas jobs as far as a person wants to go. remember that there is that a laska gas pipeline project that is just starting through its process. If you have those skills already, they will be looking to hire over there as well.

While we still aren’t able to look into the future to see whether this pipeline is going to go ahead, it will be important to the Inuvialuit to be as prepared as possible with knowledge and training.

June 2008

A report will be presented by the Joint Review Panel to the federal government which will be reviewed and approved. This is also the time when the companies and the panel could be asked questions.

Later 2008

The National Energy Board will then get together to hear final arguments from the intervenors.

2009

The National Energy Board will prepare its report and reasons for its decisions. It will send that report to the federal government for final approval.

2009

The Mackenzie Gas Project group will then make its final decision on whether to go ahead with construction of the pipeline.

2009

There will be some more hearings to take place in the NWT about various permits (and there are lots) that will be required.