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TO READ SPEAKER TRANSCRIPTS AND HEAR PRESENTATIONS MADE AT THIS
PAST CONFERENCE
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Every three years since 1999, the Edmonton Chamber of Commerce
has partnered with government and industry to host a major symposium
on Northern affairs – a vehicle to Meet the North and network
with its key players.
MTN 2006 was the third such gathering, and its speakers included
a vibrant mix of public and private interests. In 2003, presenters
covered a wide cross-section of topics, each offering one piece
of the Northern economic puzzle according to his or her specialty.
This year, four themes emerged to dominate discussion: the multi-billion
dollar MacKenzie Valley Gas Project, an ongoing shortage of skilled
labour in the patch, a heightened demand for oil, and the social
concerns of Northern residents.
Nearly every presenter touched on the Gas Project, a multi-billion
dollar pipeline that will tap an enormous reserve – nine
trillion cubic feet of natural gas - located in the MacKenzie
Delta. And several speakers suggested how the growing youth population
in Northern Canada could be harnessed to address a worsening labour
drought – a situation that could make it hard to find 10
000 workers for the pipeline’s construction.
Speakers also assigned the oil boom a high priority, with the
President of Economic Development Edmonton providing an extensive
explanation of how the tar sands of Fort McMurray went from a
being blip on the public radar to a hot topic of discussion.
Through three sessions – Business Development, Workforce
Development, and Infrastructure – presenters at Meet the
North 2006 provided information and assurance to delegates interested
in doing business with northern companies.
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