Yukon lobbies B.C. business to support Alaska gasline

Gary Park, PNA Canadian correspondent

The Yukon government is enlisting support from the British Columbia business community for an Alaska Highway natural gas pipeline, dangling the prospect of jobs by the thousands and revenues by the billions.

Energy, Mines and Resources Minister Scott Young told 300 business leaders at the Vancouver Board of Trade Oct. 2 they should champion two northern pipelines, with special emphasis on the Alaska project.

He said a highway delivery system would generate 10,000 jobs in British Columbia during the construction phase and another 30,000 once it was in full operation, plus billions of dollars in government revenue.

“Canadians should embrace the opportunities presented by the construction of two world-class pipeline projects,” Kent said.

“We need to think proactively about the vast array of opportunities that are presented by a growing and robust natural gas market, or by locating new energy sources as an Alaska Highway pipeline in areas with rich mineral potential like northern B.C. and Yukon.”

He was sure “an abundant new supply of energy in close proximity to world-class mineral deposits could revitalize the industry.”

Kent appealed to the Board of Trade, which has more than 4,400 members in all industries, to help in convincing the British Columbia and Canadian governments, as well as the public, of the economic potential arising from pipelines along the Alaska Highway and Mackenzie Valley.

However, he warned that emissions from pipeline compression stations could violate the terms of the Kyoto Protocol, if it is implemented, and present a major stumbling block.