Interveners unhappy with Mackenzie funding

Gary Park

Government environment agencies have granted C$380,000 to 19 non-government organizations planning to intervene in the Mackenzie Gas Project hearings — only one tenth of what 36 groups had sought.

The Canadian Arctic Resources Committee made a joint request with the World Wildlife Fund and the Sierra Club of Canada for almost C$80,000 and ended up with only C$15,000.

Arctic committee spokeswoman Sheila Montgomery told the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. that that the funding is inadequate to review thousands of pages of technical information that comprise the environmental impact statement.

She said that decision by the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency and the Mackenzie Valley Environmental Impact Review Board will not allow “meaningful public participation” in the technical conferences.

A spokeswoman for Alternatives North said independent groups will not be able to focus seriously on the affect the project will have on the Northwest Territories people and economy.

She said the review will now largely be in the hands of the Canadian and Northwest Territories governments, which have signaled their clear support for the project.

The Canadian government is providing C$1.5 million in three phases for individuals and organizations to participate in the environmental assessment.

Phase 1 funding of C$116,515 was awarded to 16 applicants in June and the latest allocation of C$380,000 in intended to help the public provide technical analysis to the joint review panel. The final phase will enable the public to prepare for and participate in the public hearings.