The Mackenzie Gas Project and its Impact on the Aboriginal
Way of Life
Source: http://www.dehchofirstnations.com/press/docs/map_overview_for_media.jpg
By: Ronnie Yu
To: Joseph Doucet
Date: February 28, 2005
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Table of Contents
Executive Summary ...................................................................................................................... 3
Introduction................................................................................................................................... 4
1.0
Primary Objectives ........................................................................................................... 4
2.0
Mackenzie Delta ................................................................................................................ 5
2.1 Background ................................................................................................................... 5
2.2 Why now, what’s changed?........................................................................................... 6
3.0
Major Players .................................................................................................................... 7
3.1 The Producers............................................................................................................... 7
3.1.1 Imperial Oil Resources Ltd............................................................................ 7
3.1.2 Shell Canada Limited..................................................................................... 8
3.1.3 ConocoPhillips Canada ................................................................................. 8
3.1.5 Aboriginal Groups ......................................................................................... 9
3.2 Constructing the Mackenzie Valley Pipeline ................................................................ 9
3.2.1 TransCanada Pipeline Limited ...................................................................... 9
3.3 Mackenzie Delta Explorers......................................................................................... 10
4.0
Regulatory System .......................................................................................................... 10
4.1 Stages of the MGP Environmental and Regulatory Review Process.......................... 11
4.1.1 Preparation .................................................................................................. 11
4.1.2 Preliminary Information Package and Trigger Application ....................... 11
4.1.3 Joint Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Panel Hearings Coordinated
with Regulatory hearings...................................................................................... 12
4.1.4 Completion of Regulatory Processes ........................................................... 13
5.0
Environmental Impact Assessment ............................................................................... 13
6.0
Current socio-economic Issues....................................................................................... 14
6.1 Employment & Education:.......................................................................................... 14
6.2 Women Participation .................................................................................................. 16
6.3 Alcohol, drugs, gambling and crime........................................................................... 17
6.4 Cost of Living.............................................................................................................. 18
7.0
Discussion & Conclusion ................................................................................................ 19
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Executive Summary
The Mackenzie Gas Project offers a unique source of natural gas that has the potential to fuel the
increasing demands of society. In order to accomplish this complex endeavour, a number of
obstacles have to be overcome. The first was the ban that was set forth by Berger’s Inquiry of
1977; the idea of a pipeline running through Canada’s Northwest Territories was not accepted
due to environmental and technology concerns. It wasn’t until four Producers (Imperial Oil,
Shell Canada, ExxonMobil and ConocoPhillips Canada) and an Aboriginal Group decided to
work together to bring an idea back to life and to bring about new opportunities for the people of
the North. Fulfilling all the regulatory requirements for a number of agencies, federal and
provincial legislatures is not an easy task. A Cooperative Plan had to initially be set forth to
outline the scope of the project, potential socio-economic and environmental issues, and identify
roles and obligations to the regulatory assessment.
Subsequently, filing a Preliminary
Information Package (PIP) for both the federal and provincial body was later completed leading
to its current phase with the Environmental Impact Assessment addressed by the Joint review
Panel.
Key concerns from the people of the North that are currently under review include employment
uncertainty, education, alcohol & drug abuse, gambling, crime, cost of living; issues that are
attributed to the construction of the Mackenzie Gas Pipeline. The primary objective of this study
is to address the current status of the MGP along with the aboriginal issues pertaining to the
construction of the pipeline but in addition the potential mitigations that can be assessed or
identified.
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Introduction
The Mackenzie Gas Project, a first of its kind, is taking a leap forward in providing both North
America and the global economy with nearly 800 million cubic feet per day of natural gas1.
Although this is a substantial supply for a 28 year-old discovery there is still debate over the
management and regulation of the project, especially with the vast number of agencies involved.
Accordingly a cooperative plan and a joint review panel have been established in conjunction
with ecological and socio-economical studies, in order to assess the viability of the project.
Many issues surrounding this project: issues concerning potential environmental impacts to
issues concerning the Northern People’s safety, way of life and their future.
1.0
Primary Objectives
The Mackenzie Gas Project (MGP) is to build a gas pipeline from the far reaches of the
Northwest Territories to North American Market, thereby ushering in a new source of natural gas.
In order to provide a history of the MGP, a broad overview of the project will initially be
presented, as well as key groups involved with the project; the producers, aboriginal groups and
government regulators. Subsequently, environmental implications will be discussed, specifically
the process of the environmental assessment, the benefits of the project and the current socioeconomic issues that aboriginals face. In an evaluation of the MGP’s history and issues, it is
evident that the pipeline is a complex project with huge potential benefits.
1
www.mackenziegasproject.com/theProject/overview/ on February 18, 2005
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2.0
2.1
Mackenzie Delta
Background
The Mackenzie Gas Project (MGP) is a proposed 1220-kilometre natural gas pipeline system
along the Mackenzie Valley in partnership with four producers: Imperial, Shell, ExxonMobil and
ConocoPhillips Canada and the Aboriginal Pipeline Group. The proposed pipeline will produce
natural gas in the Mackenzie Delta of Canada's Northwest Territories and thus connect northern
gas fields with North American markets. Currently valued at $7 billion (CDN), the project is
estimated to be operational by 2010. (The project was originally valued at $5 billion but an
additional facility in Inuvik to separate the natural gas liquids and a 480 km pipeline from Inuvik
to Norman Wells was later incorporated into the overall cost). 2
The Mackenzie Delta was first discovered in the 1970s and found to contain billions of cubic
meters of oil and gas. This resource, however, was left untapped for one reason. The Federal
Government of Canada issued a moratorium on the basis of Berger’s Inquiry of 1977. Justice
Thomas Berger’s report “Northern Frontier, Northern Homeland” argued that technology was
not capable of building a corridor across the Northwest Territories without doing unacceptable
environmental damage. Subsequently, native land claims were also being settled as a result a
ban of a Northern natural gas pipeline was upheld until now!3
2
3
http://www.mackenziegasproject.com/ on February 2, 2005
http://www.cbc.ca/news/background/aboriginals/mackenzievalley_pipeline.html on February 2, 2005
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2.2
Why now, what’s changed?
In 2001, twenty-five years after the discovery, the gas still resides underneath the permafrost but
the aboriginal perspective has evolved. The native population still values their heritage but they
no longer live off the land as hunters, trappers and gathers, rather, the native population views
the future for their people in labour, in trades and as professionals. Therefore, they desire better
infrastructure for their children and improved accessibility of goods, education, and jobs. This
desire for improve future conditions was a major decisional factor in pursuing the MGP,
especially since nearly half of the population in the Northwest Territories are under 25.4 As a
partner in the Mackenzie Gas Project, the native population would be guaranteed many jobs. In
terms of environmental concerns, improved technology and construction techniques have vastly
improved over the last two decades, and will be able to safely provide 800 million cubic feet of
gas per day to fuel the growing demand.5
Although many aboriginals in the NWT are in favour of the massive project, there are also
people who oppose the commercialization of their land and fear the implications of the increase
in monetary richness to their community. Some worry about the possible destruction of their
heritage and way of life; others are concerned with teenagers and their accessibility to alcohol
and drugs. The injection of high wages from the oil & gas companies could lead to more
problems that there already are. 6
4
http://archives.cbc.ca/IDC-1-73-295-1558/politics_economy/pipeline/clip11 on February 2, 2005
As per Dalona Hope at ConocoPhillips Canada Ltd. on February 12, 2005
5
http://www.mackenziegasproject.com/theProject/overview/gasSupply/gasSupply.html on February 3, 2005
6
ibid
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3.0
Major Players
3.1
The Producers
The MGP is comprised of three natural gas fields: Taglu,
Niglintgak and Parsons Lake. Imperial Oil, Shell Canada,
ExxonMobil and ConocoPhillips Canada have an interest
ownership in these three anchor fields.
Source:
http://www.mackenziegasproject.com/theProject/projectDe
scription/naturalGasFields/index.html
3.1.1
Imperial Oil Resources Ltd
Imperial Oil Resources Limited (IMO.TO) is a leading producer, refiner and marketer of crude
oil, natural gas and petroleum products in Canada. The company has played a pivotal role in the
petroleum industry for more than 120 years and continues to do so, particularly in the
development of Canada’s North.
Imperial Oil has taken an active, central role in the
development and part ownership of the joint venture, including aboriginal interests to the
advance completion of the MGP. Currently, IMO wholly owns and operates the Tagul natural
gas field which “is located near the northern margin of the Mackenzie Delta, about 120 km
north-northwest of Inuvik and about 70 km west of Tuktoyaktuk. The field is estimated to
contain 81 Gm3 (2.8 Tcf) of recoverable raw natural gas and NGLs.”7 Imperial Oil plans to
construct and operate the Mackenzie gathering system and pipeline on behalf of both the
producers and the aboriginal groups.8
7
http://www.mackenziegasproject.com/theProject/projectDescription/naturalGasFields/Taglu/Taglu.html
http://www.mackenziegasproject.com/ on February 10, 2005
8
http://www.imperialoil.ca/Canada-English/HomePage.asp on February 10, 2005
http://www.mackenziegasproject.com/ on February 10, 2005
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3.1.2
Shell Canada Limited
Shell Canada Limited (SHC.TO) is one of the country’s largest integrative companies.
It
currently, explores, produces and markets crude oil, bitumen, natural gas, natural gas liquids and
sulphur. It also refines oil and markets it as gasoline and as other refined petroleum products.
Currently, Shell Canada owns 100% of the Niglintgak natural gas field (1 trillion cubic feet) in
the MGP. “The Niglintgak natural gas reservoir is located at the southern end of the Niglintgak
Island in the Mackenzie Delta, about 120 kilometres northwest of Inuvik and about 85 kilometres
west of Tuktoyaktuk.”9 Shell also has an interest in the Mackenzie gathering system and the
Mackenzie Valley pipeline.
3.1.3
ConocoPhillips Canada
ConocoPhillips Canada (COP:NYSE) is one of the country’s largest oil and gas E&P companies,
stretching across western Canada to offshore Atlantic Canada as well as to the Mackenzie Delta
where it owns a 75 percent interest in the Parsons Lake natural gas field (1.8 trillion cubic feed)
which is located “70 kilometres north of Inuvik and about 55 kilometres southwest of
Tuktoyaktuk.”10
In addition, ConocoPhillips holds a 16 per cent stake in the Mackenzie Valley
Pipeline Project and has interest in the Mackenzie gather system too. A future anchor field that
COP will explore is Amauligak where it will hold a 50 percent working interest, located in the
Beaufort Sea.
9
http://www.mackenziegasproject.com/theProject/projectDescription/naturalGasFields/Niqlintgak/Niqlintgak.html
on February 12, 2005
10
http://www.mackenziegasproject.com/theProject/projectDescription/naturalGasFields/ParsonsLake/ParsonsLake.ht
ml on February 12, 2005
-8-
3.1.4
ExxonMobil Canada Properties
ExxonMobil Canada Properties (XOM:NYSE) is a U.S. based corporation engaged in E&P and
transportation of crude oil, natural gas and petroleum products worldwide. It also manufactures
and markets basic petrochemicals. It currently holds the remaining 25% stake in the Parsons
Lake natural gas field, and has interest in the Mackenzie gathering system and Mackenzie Valley
pipeline.11
3.1.5
Aboriginal Groups
The Aboriginal Pipeline Group (AGP) is an organization that was established in 2000 to
represent the people of the Northwest Territories in relation to the proposed Mackenzie Valley
Pipeline. The organization currently does not have any holdings in the three gas fields, but has
up to 33% interest in the pipeline that will run from the Inuvik area facility, extending along the
Mackenzie River Valley to Norman Wells, to Alberta. At this point, it will connect with an
extension of Nova Gas Transmission Ltd.12 AGP’s pre-development phase cost was estimated to
be $80 million and is being funded by TransCanada Pipelines that will be repaid from future cash
inflows.13
3.2
Constructing the Mackenzie Valley Pipeline
3.2.1
TransCanada Pipeline Limited
TransCanada Pipeline Limited (TRP) could be considered the sixth element alongside the four
Producers and the AGP in the construction of one of the largest projects in the history of Canada.
TRP would bring to the table pipeline expertise and a promise to construct the immense pipeline
11
ibid
http://www2.ngps.nt.ca/applicationsubmission/Documents/MGP_CPCN_Vol1_Set_1_S.pdf on February 12, 2005
13
http://www.gov.nt.ca/RWED/mog/downloads/jan2004_ogupdate.pdf on February 12, 2005
12
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down the Mackenzie Valley in two winters upon receiving a regulatory green light.
The
organization would also be given the opportunity to attain an additional interest of 50% if any of
the Producers decide to reduce their ownership share out of consideration for TRP funding the
AGP of $80 million.14
3.3
Mackenzie Delta Explorers
Current explorers include: “Anadarko, BP, Devon, Encana, Burlington, ChevronTexaco and
PetroCanada”.15
4.0
Regulatory System
There are a number of regulatory bodies that are assessing the MGP on an ongoing basis. The
regulatory bodies are as follows:
Agencies with Public Hearing
Processes
Agencies with a Direct Interest in
EIA and Regulatory matters
Observers
Mackenzie Valley Land and
Water Board
Joint Secretariat for the Inuvialuit
Settlement Region
Government of Yukon
Mackenzie Valley
Environmental Impact Review
Board (MVEIRB)
Environmental Impact Screening
Committee for the Inuvialuit
Settlement Region
Government of the Northwest
Territories Resources
Gwich'in Land and Water
Board
Inuvialuit Game Council
Nominee of the Deh Cho First
Nation to the Mackenzie Valley
and Water Board
Sahtu Land and Water Board
Northwest Territories Water
Board
Inuvialuit Land Administration
Department of Indian Affairs and
Northern Development
Canadian Environmental
Assessment Agency
Inuvialuit land Administration
Commission
The National Energy Board
(NEB)
14
http://www.mackenziegasproject.com/moreInformation/upload/June18,2003-APG%20Agreement-TCPL-v1.pdf
on February 12, 2005
15
http://www.transcanada.com/Customer_Express/Update/jun02/pdfs/northern_gas_west.pdf on February 18, 2005
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Environmental Impact Review
Board for the Inuvialuit
Settlement Region
16
4.1
Stages of the MGP Environmental and Regulatory Review Process
4.1.1
Preparation
With the vast number of parties involved, a Draft Cooperation Plan (DCP) was created. The
DCP’s proposed environmental assessment would fulfill the requirements for all involved parties
saving each party the cost of doing their own individual evaluations. The Cooperation Plan can
be viewed as a road map, outlining the environmental impact assessment and regulatory review
of the northern gas pipeline for all federal and territorial legislatures. This Plan would fulfill the
various parties’ needs for standard policies and procedures, information filing, public registries,
hearing processes and so on. 17 In addition, it would avoid duplication, outline methods of
cooperation and provide consensus, clarity and certainty for the agencies involved. The Plan is
not intended to bind the agencies nor will it exclude other regulators who are currently not
involved with the Cooperation Plan. This was the initial step of four stages that was completed
in 2001-2002. The subsequent stage is the preparation of the Preliminary Information Package
and the Trigger Application.
4.1.2
Preliminary Information Package and Trigger Application
The first step after the Cooperation Plan was the filing of the Preliminary Information Package
(PIP) to the National energy Board in order to start the federal process. This voluntary document
16
17
Mahony, J. (2002). Pipeline Regulatory Plan One Step Closer. The Daily Oil Bulletin.
Mahony, J. (2002). Pipeline Regulatory Plan One Step Closer. The Daily Oil Bulletin.
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outlines the scope of the project, including potential socio-economic and environmental issues,
approach to the issues and identify roles and obligations to the regulatory assessment. A second
PIP copy, in addition with other required filings, would be submitted to the Mackenzie Valley
Land and Water Board (MVLWB) such that a trigger affect would start the regional regulatory
process. These initial steps are necessary to determine the potential environmental impact and
concerns prior to any construction or review. The PIP and Trigger Application was filed in June
2003.18
4.1.3
Joint Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Panel Hearings Coordinated with
Regulatory hearings
This stage of the process involves public hearings and debates in order to gage public concerns
regarding the environment, way of life, culture and economy. The environmental assessment
will be instigated with an independent, seven-member Joint review Panel which was established
on August 18, 2004 by the Federal Environment Minister. The panel will submit an EIA report
to the “Minister of the Environment, the Minister of Indian and Northern Affairs, Responsible
Ministers (including the Government of the Northwest Territories, Department of Fisheries and
Oceans etc.), the National Energy Board, the Mackenzie Valley Environmental Impact Review
Board, the Inuvialuit and Responsible Authorities (some federal departments).” This report will
outline reasons for and against the proposed project as well as recommendations and a summary
of the concerns from the general public. Thus far, the EIA is has not been completed, nor has the
project been approved.19
18
http://www.mackenziegasproject.com/moreInformation/upload/June%2003%20Newsletter%20PDFFinal.pdf on
February 16, 2005
http://www.mackenziegasproject.com/theProject/regulatoryProcess/ & http://www.ngps.nt.ca/about_us_e.html on
February 16, 2005
19
http://www.jointreviewpanel.ca/faq.html on February 17, 2005
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4.1.4
Completion of Regulatory Processes
Upon approval of the proposed project, licences and permits will be issued and construction may
commence.
5.0 Environmental Impact Assessment
As outlined in the “Stages of the MGP Environmental and Regulatory Review Process” section,
the environmental impact assessment “compares the existing environmental, social and
economic conditions with the Project plan and predicts the Project’s impact on communities and
the environment.”20 This process is very important as it will determine the proceedings of the
Project. Data is initially collected that includes information on the physical environment, social
concerns and potential impacts as assessed through community hearings, workshops and other
communication vehicles. The EIA is currently under review. Issues emerged in late 2004 with
the Deh Cho First Nations (DCFN), as claims of lack of involvement and misrepresentation on
the seven member joint review panel became evident. The DCFN claims that other aboriginal
people with settled land claims were given proper representation on the panel whereas the DCFN,
who currently does not have settled land claims, were not given equal opportunity. As a result,
an application was filed to halt the Joint Review Panel appointment considering 40% of the
proposed pipeline runs through the DCFN’s territory.21 Currently, this is still an ongoing battle
between the Federal Government and the DCFN and hope to be resolved in the near future.
http://www.jointreviewpanel.ca/documents.html on February 17, 2005
20
http://www.mackenziegasproject.com/moreInformation/upload/MGP_ExchangeApr04_B.pdf on February 16,
2005
21
http://www.dehchofirstnations.com/press/ on February 15, 2005
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6.0
Current socio-economic Issues
The project will primarily affect four main areas: the Inuvialuit Settlement Region, the Gwich’in
Settlement Area, the Sahtu Settlement Area and the Deh Cho Territory. The pipeline will run
through these particular regions and may positively or inversely affect the socio-economic way
of life of these people. Issues that have been brought up through community consultation
focusing on education, job security, and alcohol & drug awareness.22 In addition, the economic
concern about the future increase in the cost of living is an issue because it is a major factor in
the stability of the North.
6.1
Employment & Education:
As seen the graph, the projected workforce required will peak
in 2007-2008 at an estimated 9000 workers. Generally, the
majority of jobs will occur during the winter months when the
ground is stable to support the construction equipment and
workers.
Source:
http://www.mackenziegasproject.com/moreInf
ormation/upload/EIS IB People 3of4.pdf
The MGP will involve an initial two year
construction period which will provide nearly 8700 jobs in
building the pipeline, the natural gas fields and the facilities for
the native population of 12,000.23 It is also estimated that the project will create labour income
of $300 million due to project construction activities and a further $28 million per year during
operations. 24 The distribution of employment can be illustrated between construction and
operations.25 Operational duties entail field office and head offices work for the Producers. The
22
http://archives.cbc.ca/400d.asp?id=1-73-295-1559 on February 10, 2005
http://www.ngps.nt.ca/documents/EIS_IB_People_3of4.pdf on February 11, 2005
24
http://www.mackenziegasproject.com/moreInformation/upload/EIS_IB_People_3of4.pdf on February 11, 2005
25
http://www.gov.nt.ca/RWED/mog/downloads/tcplnwtmay_13.pdf on February 11, 2005
23
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strong job prospects may encourage some
discouraged workers to enter back into the
labour force. At the same time, however, this
could also lead high school students to forgo
their
education
and
enter
the
project
workforce to earn above average wages.
Source: Wright Mansell Research Ltd.
Another concern is the long-term job security once the pipeline, gathering systems, and other
facilities are complete. The headcount requirement to run the plants will not be able to satisfy
the entire population, nor will some of the senior positions be available to the people of the north
unless proper training programs are established. 26 There is, however, a possibility that the
construction and completion of the MGP will encourage other E&P companies, such as Devon
and Petro-Canada, to continue exploration for reserves, thereby providing future job
opportunities.
27
For the time being, opportunities in road, highway construction and
infrastructure will continue to expand as the North continues to grow. Local services will also
grow to support the needs of both the work force and the local communities.
To facilitate the growing need for skilled workers, the Pipeline Operations Training Committee
(POTC) was introduced and initiated the Technical Training Program and the Pipeline and
Production Operations Apprenticeship Program which trains people as Production/Field
operators, engineering technologists, electricians and mechanics. In addition, education and
related training can also be found at a number of post-secondary institutions such as the Aurora
College, NWT Community Mobilization, Yukon College, Northern Alberta Post-Secondary
26
27
As per Dalona Hope at ConocoPhillips Canada Ltd. on February 12, 2005
Dept. of Education. (2002, May). Significant Gas Discovery in the Mackenzie Delta. Oil & Gas Update. 1.
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Institution Society, NAIT and SAIT. 28 The availability of education helps to ensure long-term
opportunities for the Northern Communities and also establishes a foundation for young people
to build careers, which is one of the main reasons the Northern population supports the MGP.
6.2
Women Participation
Participating and voicing out concerns are crucial to the development of the environmental
impact assessment package; however, participation from the female population has been limited
as per the Status of Women Council of the NWT. Low female attendance at workshops and
hearings about the Mackenzie Gas Project are the result of:29
•
Lack of confidence and acknowledgement from their male counterparts
(Patriarchal traditions dictate that men deal with the outside world)
•
Low self-esteem due to the lack of formal education
•
Feel they maybe branded as trouble makers
•
Afraid their actions may jeopardize jobs for their husbands or adult children
•
Difficult to attend during work hours
Furthermore, this has been an ongoing issue in the North and could be rectified with specific
workshops focused on the female population and have a spokesperson convey their concerns
without feeling the repercussions as previously discussed.
28
29
http://www.mackenziegasproject.com/opportunities/educationTraining/ on February 16, 2005
http://www2.ngps.nt.ca/commentsDraftEISToR.htm on February 24, 2005
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6.3
Alcohol, drugs, gambling and crime
With the fast-paced growth in the NWT, alcohol, which accounts for nearly 90% of policing
problems;30 drug abuse, gambling and crime are growing problems for the people of the North.
With the potential construction of the pipeline project, employment stress may cause such
behaviour that stems from:31
•
Family disruption that results from employment rotations
•
Prolong absences from home
•
Stress on children while parents are away
•
Work place demands, financial responsibilities
•
Diversity of workplace
•
Workplace prejudice and discrimination
Solutions to some of these problems are:
Increase in social and health care services
Corporate, federal and territorial involvement to educate (ie. Alcohol/Drug Preventive
Education Program)
Implementation of more detoxification systems (ie. treatment centers)
Enforce zero-tolerance in alcohol-free and drug-free camps and workplaces
Establish money-management and personal/family budgeting support
Increase law enforcement personnel to ensure the safety of the general public.
30
31
http://www.mackenziegasproject.com/moreInformation/upload/EIS_IB_People_3of4.pdf on February 21, 2005
http://www2.ngps.nt.ca/documents/TORReview.DOC on February 24, 2005
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6.4
Cost of Living
The cost of living in the North is one of the highest in Canada. An average income for a NWT
family to live in the Mackenzie Delta and Valley is estimated to be $26,000.32 This figure is
“well below the average of $44,000 for non-aboriginal earners” in the North.33 The attributing
factors for such a high cost of living are transportation costs associated to the geographical
distance to supply sources; and construction and operating costs incurred to maintain
infrastructures due to the prevailing cold temperatures.
It is also anticipated that as the development of the project commences, skilled workers will
move closer to the jobs, specifically Inuvik, Norman Wells and Fort Simpson. These particular
areas would see the most pressure in the housing market. Subsequently, this explosion in
development would lead to demand for accommodations to outpace development. Yellowknife
currently has a “vacancy rate of 0.3 per cent”34 driving up housing costs and labour costs. This
stimulation may occur more prominently during the construction phase of the pipeline.
To reduce the cost of living, government and private sectors need to improve the transportation
sector via increasing competition, better accessibility to reduce import costs and increase export
of goods and services.35 In addition, provide government housing to combat the increase in cost
and to help low-income families.
32
http://www.ngps.nt.ca/documents/EIS_IB_People_3of4.pdf on February 16, 2005
http://www.ngps.nt.ca/documents/EIS_IB_People_3of4.pdf on February 16, 2005
34
http://strategis.ic.gc.ca/epic/internet/inimr-ri.nsf/fr/gr116462f.html on February 17, 2005
35
http://www.gov.nt.ca/FMBS/documents/2005-2008busplans/DOT.pdf on February 17, 2005
33
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7.0 Discussion & Conclusion
The Mackenzie Gas Project offers a unique glimpse into what will be an impact to the global
natural gas economy but more so to the people of the North. Certainly, the cost of such a project
is staggering but the potential is endless; planning is currently underway as the Cooperation Plan
has been completed and the environmental impact assessment is under way. There have been a
few issues regarding the Deh Cho First Nations but will more than likely be rectified once both
parties agree on a mutual resolution. However, the impacts on the aboriginal way of life still
remain uncertain. Issues of long-term employment uncertainty, gender participation, alcohol &
drug abuse, gambling and crime are real issues that the aboriginals would like to be addressed
with the proposed MGP. Solutions to the matters include employment guarantees at all levels
provided with education and training and having a system in place so that everyone has a voice.
Additional coordination to assist employed aboriginals with saving programs, increase awareness
with community problems, family counselling, assistance in areas such as financial & planning
and stress are but a few in the right direction. The MGP is an exciting project that will
undoubtedly open more doors to the people of the North and provide them with a future that they
long for their future generations.
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