Alaskan politicians to renew push for drilling in Arctic wildlife refuge: Yukon MP

Yukon MP Larry Bagnell says he's spoken with Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski about the future of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR),the calving grounds of the Porcupine caribou herd, and her stance hasn't changed.

"It was no surprise. As the chair of the senate energy committee she is going to continue and reopen her crusade to have drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge as soon as the new president is actually sworn in," said Bagnell.

The Porcupine herd's range extends from the North Slope of Alaska into northern Yukon and parts of the Northwest Territories. Indigenous Gwitchin leaders headed to Washington, D.C., last week to lobby for protection of the herd.

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Bagnell and Murkowski were both in Ottawa this week attending a Standing Committee of Parliamentarians of the Arctic Region.

Bagnell said he didn't have much time to speak with Murkowski about the future of the refuge.

"Unfortunately she came late and left early so I only got about 30 seconds with her," he said.

"There's not much you can say to any of the congressmen in Alaska. I mean, we've had this back and forth for years with them.They're all pro-drilling and they're not the ones we have to get on side."

Bagnell said a more realistic approach is to gain the support of Democrats in the American Senate and hope they can filibuster any bills that might propose drilling in ANWR.

"I'll be co-ordinating with them," said Bagnell.

He added, although it's a long shot, he'salso hoping the outgoing president could still grant special protection for the calving grounds.

The Yukon MP also said he's been in contact with the Canadian ambassador in Washington, D.C., and the Canadian Department of ForeignAffairs to discuss the future of ANWR.