CLICK HERE 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.