CBC: There is big news on the pipeline front. The first access and benefit agreement has been signed. Three Sahtu communities; Norman Wells, Tulita and Deline reached an agreement with the producers. The agreement will now be taken to people from the communities for a vote. Reporter Lisa Kochon has been trying to track down details of the deal. Lisa, what have you been able to find out?

KOCHON: All parties involved had to sign a confidentiality agreement, so they are really trying to control what information is made public right now. There will be public meetings. Right now, we don’t know when those meetings will take place. People will be given details of the deal and we expect more information to filter out after that. That’s all happening very fast. The communities are expecting to ratify the access and benefits agreement by Thursday. This is a very important week because Friday is the deadline to decide if the pipeline hearings will go ahead.

CBC: Okay. Thanks, Lisa. That’s Lisa Kochon reporting on the first access and benefits deal to be signed between aboriginal groups and the oil producers involved in the Mackenzie Valley pipeline.

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