Meetings on N.W.T.'s draft fracking rules move to Deh Cho
Session in Fort Simpson tonight, Fort Liard and Nahanni Butte to follow
Public meetings on N.W.T.'s proposed fracking regulations get underway in the Deh Cho region today.
Fort Simpson is the first stop on a three-day tour of the region.
The territorial government is asking for public feedback on the draft regulations that sets out the requirements industry needs to meet before conducting hydraulic fracturing in the territory.
David Ramsay, minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment, says the issue of whether or not to frack is not on the table but Dehcho Grand Chief Herb Norwegian says it's premature to be talking about anything else.
"Ramsay can say that . . . but the resources belong to the people in the valley," he said.
"It's really up to us to decide whether that kind of development can occur."
Norwegian said oil and gas should stay in the ground until there is a new technology that can get it out of shale rock formations safely.
The meeting begins tonight at 5 p.m. at the Fort Simpson Recreation Centre.
On Wednesday a meeting will be held at Fort Liard's community hall at 5 p.m., and on Thursday at the Nahanni Butte recreation centre at 5 p.m.
Meetings have now been scheduled for May 13 in Hay River, May 14 in Fort Smith and June 15 in Yellowknife.