Oil exploration company halts drilling near Gasp, announces talks with First Nations

Under mounting pressure from First Nations leadersand environmental activists, an oil exploration company has agreed to temporarily halt drilling activities at their site in the Gaspsie and hold consultations with the surroundingM'ikmaq communities.

"It's the first time they're listening," saidListugujChiefDarcyGray.

The decision from Junex, the companybehind the oil exploration, means that there will be no drilling activities for the rest of the year atthe Galt#4 well, located between the city of Gasp and the town ofMurdochville.

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It is being hailed as a step in the right direction bythe three chiefs from the Mi'kmaq First Nations of Gespeg, Listuguj and Gesgapegiag, who have repeatedly called on Junexand the provincial government to initiate discussionsabout drilling on their ancestral territory.

"This is important to us because it is only with dialogue that things will get better," said Gray. "All three Mi'kmaq communitieswill work together under a common voice."

The consultations and suspension of drilling willlast four months, beginning in September.

Pressure fromMi'kmaqchiefs and environmental activists

While Gray said he recently noticed a change in attitude from Junexwhich had maintained that the oil projectwas consensual and to the benefit of the community he didn't link the announcement to recent protests and an occupation of the oil exploration site.

In August, frustrated environmental activists blocked access to the #4 Galt well for days by erecting a barrier on the access road and demanding an end to drilling activities on the land.

The occupation ended with two arrests after provincial policeraided the makeshift camp and dismantled the blockadeon Aug. 14.

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Junex announced after the police intervention that it would proceed withdrilling leading activists to set up a camp along the riverbed to continue protestingand Mi'kmaq chiefs alsocalled for a halt to the oil project.

"We're very happy that they joined us and asked for a work stoppage,"saidPascal Bergeron, spokesperson for EnvironnementVert Plus.

The company changed its tune late this week, saying in statement that maintaining relations withFirst Nations communitiesispart of its corporate policy.

While Mi'kmaqchiefs and environmental activistshave welcomed the decision, the camp set up by the group of activists will remain for now.

"We've won time for us to get people engaged and demand for a full halt,"said Bergeron. "It's a good delay that we've just won."