[IPSM] Prentice Report Card

[Macdonald Stainsby]

Warning: the following, while containing much useful information, was 
put together by the office of Dennis Bevington, Western Arctic NDP MP.

Macd



What Jim Prentice has said & what he has done


      On the Mackenzie Valley Pipeline:

*Talk:*
“Canadian government has created a regulatory framework in northern 
Canada which has proven so complex, so unwieldy, so fraught with 
uncertainty and delay that it actually imperils the Mackenzie Valley 
pipeline project.” (House of Commons, November 16, 2005)

“This pipeline project is one of the largest energy projects in Canadian 
history. Its timely approval is extremely important.” (Speech to the 
Canadian Association of Petroleum Production Accounting, May 24, 2005)

“…I assure you of this, a Conservative government led by Stephen Harper 
would have the Mackenzie Valley Pipeline well along the way.” (Speech to 
the Canadian Association of Petroleum Production Accounting, May 24, 2005)

“I wish to be clear however, that there is now a new government in place 
in Ottawa, and that there is now new political leadership, and things 
have changed in terms of development in the north and the Mackenzie 
Valley Project in particular.

“The new Government intends to move forward in a pro-active way. We 
intend to work respectfully with both Aboriginal communities and 
leaders, and other stakeholders. We intend to consult, but that 
consultation will be followed by decision making.

“Our decisions will reflect the best interest of Canada, and the 
consensus of the majority of Aboriginal and public government 
stakeholders. We do not intend to convert the process of consultation 
into a quest for unanimity.

“Unanimity would be an excellent outcome but it is not always 
attainable, and we do not intend to allow the legitimate aspirations and 
prosperity of the majority of Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal stakeholders 
to be frustrated by inaction.” (Speech to Circle of Northern Leaders, 
Norman Wells, NWT, April 19, 2006)

*Action:*
Created a process within his department to steamroller the approval of 
the project.


      On Environmental Regulatory Boards:

*Talk:*
“This is an important board and it has significant responsibility in 
respect of the Mackenzie Valley pipeline. The minister has an obligation 
to set the public's concerns to rest and reassure Canadians of the 
integrity of the appointment process.” (House of Commons, June 17, 2005)

“One of our first orders of business is to ensure we have efficient 
regulatory regimes that are well equipped and funded, and ready to 
respond to commercial signals.” (Speech to Canadian Energy Pipeline 
Association Annual Dinner, May 23, 2006)

“I have studied the ‘spider’s web’ of suffocating northern regulation 
that the former government created and we intend to take action to deal 
with it.

In fact, I am pleased to report that earlier this month, my Cabinet 
colleague Minister Ambrose, the minister responsible for the Canadian 
Environmental Assessment Agency, approved a pilot project to substitute 
the National Energy Board process for a review panel process under the 
Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, for the proposed Brunswick 
Pipeline in eastern Canada.” (Speech to Canadian Energy Pipeline 
Association Annual Dinner, May 23, 2006)

“As the minister, I have no intentions to either support or fund 
procedures that are dysfunctional, non-constructive, or systematically 
in opposition to the interest of Canada or the interest of the majority 
of northerners.” (Speech to Circle of Northern Leaders, Norman Wells, 
NWT, April 19, 2006)

*Action:*
Failed to fill the vacant positions on the Northern Environmental 
Regulatory Boards. This puts in jeopardy the ability of the boards to 
reach quorum, which will result in no environmental assessments being 
completed. Prentice was, however, able to appoint Mulroney-era cabinet 
ministers Barbara McDougall, Benoît Bouchard and Harvey Andre.


      On Natural Resource ownership by the territories:

*Talk:*
“Those discussions have to begin afresh with a new table to start from 
scratch,” (CBC News October 5, 2006)

*Action:*
Scrapped six years of work by federal officials in order to provide a 
job for Mulroney era cabinet minister Harvey Andre.

-- 
Macdonald Stainsby
http://independentmedia.ca/survivingcanada
http://lists.econ.utah.edu/mailman/listinfo/rad-green
In the contradiction lies the hope
    --Bertholt Brecht.