The NEB-MGP Final Arguments .... an extract (PermafrostNews - Anne Crossman)

I have had an involvement with northern work and a pipeline bringing northern gas to southern markets for many decades.  The current iteration of this project is going through Final Arguments with the National Energy Board.  Looking back to December 2009, the Joint Panel Review report laid out 176 recommendations from their process of the last several years of presentation, testimony and project briefs.  And much of what is being stated now revolves around the implementation of those recommendations.  I had the good fortune of being in Yellowknife during these discussions last week and listened to various parties express their views on the project moving forward with the NEB's blessing.


The sessions moved to Inuvik this week.  And with the anchor fields and much of the activity to be entered in the Inuvialuit and Gwichin Settlement Areas, these conversations might well be the most important.  And commentary from Nellie Cournoyea and Fred Carmichael could not be more appropriate and timely.  As with the discussion that I listened to in Yellowknife, the issue of the Dehcho land claim is front and center.  Some excerpts are provided below.

“17451. THE CHAIRMAN: Ms. Cournoyea, I think you probably heard my long preamble and the ensuing discussion with Mr. Nerysoo on the -- on what I’d call the Dehcho situation. I listened carefully to your argument and I think you dealt in large part --you’ve addressed that through your discussion of relative impacts and so on.

17452. But as Mr. Hamilton said, this is our last opportunity to talk to you on the record. I just wondered if you had any other thoughts on how the Board could take the Dehcho situation into account in our assessment of public interest.

17453. MS. COURNOYEA: Well, this issue has been going on for many years, you know, and I would say -- like myself -- I don’t speak for the Dehcho like Mr. Nerysoo has said but I really believe that they don’t have the right to purposely put impediments in our way and for no reason at all.

17454. And I think the government should create a right-of-way and there’s a provision for that and that’s what they should do, and then the Dehcho can take 100 years to settle their claim and do their land use plans so they can have all the time in the world.

17455. But right now, you know, I don’t believe it’s in the Canadian interest that one group or part of one group can hold up the economic opportunities of a lot of other people and there has to be some clear decision, you know, because there is a provision and then just clearly define it and let’s get on with our life, you know.”

And then Fred Carmichael, Chair of the Aboriginal Pipeline Group provided some of his thoughts:

17484. It is also important to note that the Joint Review Panel did not say no to the Mackenzie Valley Pipeline. In the preface of the Joint Review Panel final report it states, and I quote:

“The Panel adds that this future will be a better one than a future without the project. Without the project, the opportunities for economic and social improvement would be missed.”

17485. We have come through many hurdles and we are now counting on your favourable support. Many will agree that there has been sufficient scrutiny of the project.

17486. However, care must be taken so that the project is not burdened with unreasonable expectations. We take strong objections to the Joint Review Panel’s conditions which would freeze future development and I don’t believe that was their mandate in the first place.

17487. The Joint Review Panel is basically assuming that our governments and our people are either stupid or don’t care about the land and the environment. We take that as an insult. We have protected our land for thousands of years. We are proud of this land given to us by the Creator to provide for us. We will continue to use our land wisely.”

The public review processes for the proposed MGP began in the fall of 2004. After a technical review phase that lasted through much of 2005, the Joint Review Panel and the National Energy Board started their public hearings in early 2006.  As noted, the JRP Report was released  December 30, 2009.  The NEB with either approve or deny the project, likely by the Fall 2010.