Businesses in the Mackenzie Delta aren't expecting a lot of work in the gasfields this winter. Contractors and suppliers are sending their trucks and crews south to find work, as the region's only well being drilled this winter is from a ship in the Beaufort Sea.

Last year Gruben's Transportation employed about 200 people to help construct and maintain two wells in the Mackenzie delta.

But owner Mervyn Gruben says offshore drilling doesn't require any construction, and he expects to hire only 12 people this winter.

Gruben says he's had to turn away a lot of former employees.

"Heck of a lot of people calling, looking for work, but there's just nothing for them to do, nothing for us to do," he says.
However, Gruben has connections with companies in the south, and is sending some of his equipment to work in the Sahtu, Alberta, and British Columbia.

The owners of Storr and Son's Contracting say they are down to six employees, and things might get worse.

"Not much happening with oil and gas," says Glena Hansen, the company's president. "But in terms of other work, everybody's going to be after what little work there is in our business for construction."

Hansen says she hasn't completely given up hope.

Officials with Chevron Canada say the company might go ahead with its plans to do a seismic survey in the delta this winter.

CBC News