The British Columbia government and three aboriginal First Nations have negotiated the first break in a three-month blockade of oil and natural gas sites in the province's northeast.
Three of seven Treaty 8 First Nations have signed a five-year memorandum of understanding that sets out the rules for new oil and gas developments and a fee structure for services provided by native communities.
"The overall purpose of the agreement is to provide certainty and build positive long-term relationships amongst governments and industry," said Energy Minister Richard Neufeld.
A spokesman for Neufeld said the government is now pursuing similar deals with the other First Nations.
In particular, the industry is anxious about the Ladyfern area, where Petro-Canada and Canadian Natural Resources Ltd. have been stalled in their efforts to develop what is rated as the hottest gas play in North America.
A spokesman for Petro-Canada said the company is "encouraged" by the breakthrough so far and is hoping headway can be made in the Ladyfern area.
For now, he said, Petro-Canada has suspended construction indefinitely on a feeder pipeline to tie in three new gas wells, noting that the "window is becoming smaller and smaller" to complete the project this winter.
