N.W.T. MLA questions neutrality of fracking info sessions

An N.W.T. MLA is questioning whether the information on fracking being provided at workshops in the Sahtu region is unbiased.

Oil and gas giantConocoPhillipshopes to start using the controversial process at two wells in the regionthis winter.

The information sessions are being funded partly by theGNWT.

"Could the minister please explain why the people hired to conduct these sessions are all representative of oil producers?" BobBromley, MLAforWeledeh, asked in the legislative assembly Monday.

The workshops are being led by the Indian Resource Council,an Alberta-based organization that represents oil and gas producing First Nations, primarily in Western Canada, and they're being offered in partnership withConocoPhillips.

David Ramsay, minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment, described the Indian Resource Council as a neutral third party.

"They were brought in at the request of the people in Fort Good Hope," he said.

Ramsay also said he's open to holdingmore public forums,so that people in theSahtucan make informed decisions about their resources.