Governments cool to Mackenzie guidance

Territorial and federal governments have agreed with fewer than a dozen of almost 200 recommendations made by a panel supporting a proposed Mackenzie Arctic pipeline, according to a new report.

The Northwest Territories and Ottawa said Tuesday they agreed with 10 of 115 recommendations made by the joint review panel directly linked with the governments to mitigate social and environmental impacts of the $16.2-billion natural gas project.

The governments rejected outright 28 out of a total 176 recommendations the joint review panel deemed critical to the sustainability of the project.

The Sierra Club of Canada called Tuesday's interim response to the review panel recommendations "disrespectful" of the years of work and environmental consultations the panel completed.

"This is an insult to the effort and expertise that went into the joint review panel over the past five years," said Sheila Muxlow, prairie chapter director.

"None of the recommendations or arguments are spurious, or just for the sake of being there," added John Bennett, executive director of Sierra Club Canada. "They are there designed to make sure that the maximum amount of good is done out of this project, which has huge potential for environmental damage."