Mackenzie pipeline hearings conclude - CBC News
"The Waiting is the hardest part..."
It's done. The regulatory hearings for the MVP have finally concluded. See you in September...
Friday, April 23, 2010
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Clearly, not all FNs think alike...
CBC News - North - Inuvialuit leader backs Mackenzie pipeline
Nellie Cournoyea, chair of the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation (i.e. the head of the Inuvialuit as a First Nation) expressed her support for the MVP at the National Energy Board hearings, urging approval for the line even in the absence of an agreement with the Dehcho First Nation.
Cournoyea makes the point that all of the anchor fields are actually within her region, hence the majority of the environmental impact. Impacts further down the line would be minimal...
Nellie Cournoyea, chair of the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation (i.e. the head of the Inuvialuit as a First Nation) expressed her support for the MVP at the National Energy Board hearings, urging approval for the line even in the absence of an agreement with the Dehcho First Nation.
Cournoyea makes the point that all of the anchor fields are actually within her region, hence the majority of the environmental impact. Impacts further down the line would be minimal...
Friday, April 16, 2010
The Biggest Piece of the Puzzle
CBC News - North - Don't OK pipeline without land claim: Dehcho
I'm going to go out on a limb and say that today was probably the most important one in the NEB's Yellowknife hearings. Most important because today's testimony relates to what really remains the thorniest issue to be resolved before an MVP project can go "in the ground", the approval of the Dehcho First Nation.
The actual testimony sounds reasonable: Dehcho Grand Chief Sam Gargan appeared at the NEB's hearing today and presented a message that essentially states that the Dehcho cannot possibly sign on to the MVP before settling their own land claim. And, since the Dehcho occupy roughly 40% of the route planned for the pipeline, their approval is crucial. On the surface, this sounds obvious.
Anyone who knows the background here knows there's more to it. The way it actually looks (to me, an outsider) is more like the Dehcho has been using their approval of the MVP as a huge bargaining chip in their land claim negotiations with the Canadian Federal Government. This probably isn't entirely fair, but there has certainly been a history of confrontation, especially when it came to the tenure of former Dehcho Grand Chief Herb Norwegian. Norwegian was almost legendary as the "last man standing" against the project, and he never wavered in his demand for land claim settlement before agreeing to the MVP.
The trouble is, they tried to play off both sides against the middle. Now, they're kind of stuck. Many communities within the Dehcho territory have come to side agreements with the project proponents, eroding the position of the First Nation as a whole.
Is it fair to accuse the Dehcho of being opportunistic? There's a fantastic quote in this news item that came from George Erasmus, the Dehcho's chief negotiator:
Getting the new things that are different from the other agreements takes time, because they will like to keep as much as what they have already and we would like to create the new things, and the new instruments, and the new regimes.
I don't think it's stretching things to take this as an indication that they are looking for things that other FNs didn't get in their agreements.
The most encouraging fact that comes out in this piece is that the Dehcho actually supports Imperial Oil's request to push back the commitment deadline, as it takes a little pressure off them in their land claim negotiations. Again, I'll go out on a limb and say that with this endorsement, Imperial will probably get the extension they're asking for.
I'm going to go out on a limb and say that today was probably the most important one in the NEB's Yellowknife hearings. Most important because today's testimony relates to what really remains the thorniest issue to be resolved before an MVP project can go "in the ground", the approval of the Dehcho First Nation.
The actual testimony sounds reasonable: Dehcho Grand Chief Sam Gargan appeared at the NEB's hearing today and presented a message that essentially states that the Dehcho cannot possibly sign on to the MVP before settling their own land claim. And, since the Dehcho occupy roughly 40% of the route planned for the pipeline, their approval is crucial. On the surface, this sounds obvious.
Anyone who knows the background here knows there's more to it. The way it actually looks (to me, an outsider) is more like the Dehcho has been using their approval of the MVP as a huge bargaining chip in their land claim negotiations with the Canadian Federal Government. This probably isn't entirely fair, but there has certainly been a history of confrontation, especially when it came to the tenure of former Dehcho Grand Chief Herb Norwegian. Norwegian was almost legendary as the "last man standing" against the project, and he never wavered in his demand for land claim settlement before agreeing to the MVP.
The trouble is, they tried to play off both sides against the middle. Now, they're kind of stuck. Many communities within the Dehcho territory have come to side agreements with the project proponents, eroding the position of the First Nation as a whole.
Is it fair to accuse the Dehcho of being opportunistic? There's a fantastic quote in this news item that came from George Erasmus, the Dehcho's chief negotiator:
Getting the new things that are different from the other agreements takes time, because they will like to keep as much as what they have already and we would like to create the new things, and the new instruments, and the new regimes.
I don't think it's stretching things to take this as an indication that they are looking for things that other FNs didn't get in their agreements.
The most encouraging fact that comes out in this piece is that the Dehcho actually supports Imperial Oil's request to push back the commitment deadline, as it takes a little pressure off them in their land claim negotiations. Again, I'll go out on a limb and say that with this endorsement, Imperial will probably get the extension they're asking for.
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Like the song said, "Give Me Just a Little More Time"
Mackenzie pipeline backers seek more time - CBC North
At the NEB Hearings today, proponents of the Mackenzie Valley Pipeline (henceforth to be abbreviated here as the MVP) asked the board to extend its proposed "sunset" date three years, to 2016. Opponents, predictably, want no such extension.
There are a number of reasons why the proponents would seek this extension. First off, current gas prices don't support this project, plain and simple. The MVP backers are hoping to see a stronger gas market before committing to construction. Second, they have not yet worked out the whole "fiscal framework" thing with the feds...
At the NEB Hearings today, proponents of the Mackenzie Valley Pipeline (henceforth to be abbreviated here as the MVP) asked the board to extend its proposed "sunset" date three years, to 2016. Opponents, predictably, want no such extension.
There are a number of reasons why the proponents would seek this extension. First off, current gas prices don't support this project, plain and simple. The MVP backers are hoping to see a stronger gas market before committing to construction. Second, they have not yet worked out the whole "fiscal framework" thing with the feds...
Monday, April 12, 2010
Mackenzie Endgame
Final Mackenzie pipeline hearings to start - CBC News
The final National Energy Board hearings on the Mackenzie Gasline begin today, in Yellowknife. This isn't "news" per se, since this has been scheduled for months, but I'm especially struck by Imperial Oil spokesman Pius Rohlheiser's comments:
The final National Energy Board hearings on the Mackenzie Gasline begin today, in Yellowknife. This isn't "news" per se, since this has been scheduled for months, but I'm especially struck by Imperial Oil spokesman Pius Rohlheiser's comments:
We believe it's a sound, potentially economic project that has the potential to provide meaningful, long-term positive benefits to a variety of stakeholders, including the companies involved, and governments, and the people of the North
This comment is a gratifyingly emphatic endorsement of the project by its most important proponent.
While I support this project, I hope these hearings provide an opportunity for all stakeholders to present their respective points of view.
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Denali Price Tag: $35 bln
Denali Projects Alaska Gas Pipeline Cost at $35B - ABC News
So that's Denali's number, $35 bln. Or, if you like, $6 bln less than TC's estimate to run a line to Alberta.
Wonder where they're saving that money?
So that's Denali's number, $35 bln. Or, if you like, $6 bln less than TC's estimate to run a line to Alberta.
Wonder where they're saving that money?
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