Apex Resources Inc (SLMLF)

[urbansndaup]

http://www.exec.gov.nt.ca/currentnews/speechDetails.asp?varStatement_ID=1056

Our resilience has been tested here, yet we are now closer than we have ever been to getting a decision on this project. Let’s not lose sight of that. The Government of the Northwest Territories certainly won’t. In less than a month, we are expecting the National Energy Board to finalize this important phase in the regulatory review process, and issue its Reasons for Decision - hopefully, to be followed shortly by a Certificate for Public Convenience and Necessity.

This certificate will be the trigger for the next phase of work and investment in the project, which will need to be completed in order for the proponents to reach a decision. We anticipate that the upcoming gathering of technical information and processing of regulatory permits will involve Aboriginal businesses and partnerships. There is much work to be done, but we are growing close to the time where all of our hard work will realize the potential of this huge opportunity.

I will continue to champion this project and the Government of the Northwest Territories will continue to work towards a project that will maximize the benefits from the pipeline for northerners. And once the Mackenzie Gas Project is built, our Aboriginal people can use the knowledge and skills they have gained from working on the Mackenzie pipeline to help build another important northern project – the Alaska Highway natural gas pipeline.

While this work is being done, we can also expect an all-weather Mackenzie Valley Highway to be built. This nation-building project will open up the Northwest Territories, reduce the cost of living in our communities and provide the oil and gas industry with improved access to our resources. It will also require partnerships and Aboriginal equity participation to occur – participation that will benefit our Aboriginal people and the private sector partners that will be a part of it.

Public information..