Cablegate: Mackenzie Pipeline Project Moves Toward Hearings

This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

252128Z Nov 05

UNCLAS OTTAWA 003505

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR WHA/CAN (HOLST, NELSON) AND INR (SALCEDO)

USDOC FOR 4310/MAC/ONA

DOE FOR INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS: PUMPHREY, DEUTSCH

INTERIOR FOR OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY: PEARCE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON ENRG EINV CA
SUBJECT: MACKENZIE PIPELINE PROJECT MOVES TOWARD HEARINGS

SENSITIVE

REF: OTTAWA 3349

1. (U) As anticipated (reftel), though with a week's delay,
on November 23 Exxon-controlled Imperial Oil Resources
informed Canada's National Energy Board (NEB) that the
proponents of the Mackenzie Valley natural gas pipeline
project are ready to proceed to public hearings.

2. (U) The NEB will proceed with a Pre-Hearing Planning
Conference during the weeks of 5 and 12 December, in order
to provide information on the NEB hearing process, which is
expected to take place early in 2006. The conference will
be held in four communities in the Northwest Territories
(Inuvik, Yellowknife, Fort Good Hope and Fort Simpson).
Details and related documents are available on the NEB's
website at www.neb-one.gc.ca.

3 (SBU) According to a contact at Natural Resources Canada,
Imperial's go-ahead represents an important step forward for
the Mackenzie project. Not only does it change the dynamic
of the debate over the project's merit and technical scope,
but the decision also signals that the company is optimistic
about reaching settlements with the First Nations groups
along the pipeline route. Imperial, according to post's
contact, has signaled through its announcement that it has
made good progress on land claims with three out of the four
tribal groups on the route, the Gwich'in, Inavialuit, and
Sahtu. The fourth group, the Deh Cho, has taken a much
tougher stand regarding land issues. Deh Cho grand chief
Herb Norwegian was quoted saying that project proponents
must reach an agreement with his group prior to the NEB
hearings in January.
DICKSON

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