CBC: As the deadline approaches for Imperial Oil to decide whether its Mackenzie gas project is ready for public hearings the mood in the Legislative Assembly is apprehensive. Regular MLAs are asking questions that reveal their fear the 1,300 kilometre pipeline won’t be built, but if the Premier is worried, he’s not saying so. Julie Green reports.

GREEN: It’s going to be a slow winter for oil and gas exploration in the Mackenzie Delta, and the MLA for Inuvik Twin Lakes is worried that slow may come to a full stop if Imperial Oil abandons the Mackenzie gas project.

MCLEOD: The problem is, Mr. Speak, that there are many excessive demands from all parties and this is preventing the project from moving ahead, and we may never see a pipeline.

GREEN: That was Robert McLeod on Friday. The anxiety and the questions resumed yesterday. Robert Hawkins is the MLA for Yellowknife Centre.

HAWKINS: What action this government will be taking, if any, to prevent Imperial Oil from backing out or postponing the Mackenzie Valley pipeline project?

GREEN: If the Premier is worried by the questions or the prospect of the $7 billion pipeline being scrapped, he’s not letting on.

HANDLEY: Everyday I’m in contact with some of the parties, all of the parties, depending on what’s happening, and monitoring what is going on. This is very, very tough negotiating.

GREEN: Negotiations are ongoing on several fronts. Between Imperial Oil and the government on the socioeconomic agreements, and between Imperial Oil and the federal government on taxes and royalties, and the Gwich’in are hoping to resume negotiations on access agreements as soon as this week. Meanwhile, regulators continue to prepare for hearings, apparently oblivious to rumours of the projects demise. Julie Green, CBC News, Yellowknife.

Julie Green - CBC Radio