December 30, 2010

Mackenzie Gas Project: the missing ICT link for Canada's Innovation Nation: NWT Finance Department Responds Positively with MacKenzie Valley Fibre Link - Feasibility Study: CATA Advocacy Win

For full details from the Campaign launched last January, please review:
http://www.cata.ca/Media_and_Events/Press_Releases/cata_pr01051001.html

January 5, 2010

Mackenzie Gas Project: the missing ICT link for Canada's Innovation Nation: Tech potential of communications was better recognized 40 years ago

The Joint Review Panel gave a green light to the proposed Mackenzie Gas Project, but omitted to include a wide-area fiber optics network in its recommendations.

Contact: Emily Boucher, Media Adviser at eboucher@cata.ca

Ottawa, ON - January 5, 2010 - The 16.2 billion dollar Mackenzie Gas Project was given a go-ahead last December 30th by the Joint Review Panel - an independent body with a mandate to evaluate the potential impacts of the proposed project on the environment and lives of the people in the project area.

"This mega project offered a significant opportunity to help build Canada's Innovation Nation," said CATAAlliance CEO, John Reid who pointed out that "the word telecommunications is not mentioned a single time in the report that was supposed to cover all expected benefits."1

He added, "The "core question" addressed by the Panel should have incited it to cover information and communication technology (ICT)."
Campaign Update,  December 17, 2010:
http://www.contractregistry.nt.ca/Public/ViewPublicNotice.asp?Action=View&Procurement_ID=PM011013 Ref #SC423848 - MacKenzie Valley Fibre Link - Feasibility Study- the NWT Finance department is now looking at the issue. Please continue to advance the ICT messaging.