Teck drilling program approved

The Alberta Energy Regulator has given Teck Resources the go-ahead to evaluate more than 170 wells along the Athabasca River despite opposition from local Aboriginal groups. Concerns over the impact of hunting, foraging and traditional use of the land were raised by the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation and Mikisew Cree First Nation as well as Fort Chipewyan Métis. However, Teck says impact will be minimal. “Over the past five years we have repeatedly tried to intervene in various applications and proposed policies governing tar sands development in the region in an attempt to safeguard our treaty rights,” said Athabasca Chipewyan Chief Allan Adam, in a news release. “Yet, it would seem that our concerns fall on deaf ears and application after application and policy after policy are continually approved without adequate consultation or consideration of our inherent and constitutionally protected Aboriginal and treaty rights.”