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Welcome Message from Our Conference Chair

Dear Colleagues,

On behalf of your host, CI Energy Group, I am pleased to welcome you to what is sure to be another successful Arctic Symposium.

2012 marks the 12th year of this annual event which began as a forum to bring together those looking to realize and capitalize on the Mackenzie Gas Project but has grown to encompass so much more.

All these years later, the will to see the Mackenzie Gas Project through is still very much alive. Now closer to reality than ever before, the project received approval by the National Energy Board (NEB) and federal cabinet approval – these are huge milestones surpassed. The major question of the day is whether the project is still a “go” given the current market climate.

This year excitement around Arctic development has been fully reinvigorated! In March of 2011, the federal government pledged $150 million towards building an Arctic highway between Inuvik and Tuktoyaktuk, N.W.T. In July 2011, the N.W.T. saw a record land sale of 2.2 million acres in the Norman Wells region of the Central Mackenzie Valley with commitments from major players like Husky Energy, ConocoPhillips, Imperial Oil, MGM Energy and Shell Canada of over $500 million. And finally, Shell received tentative approval for permission to drill exploratory wells in Arctic waters for the summer of 2012 and the NEB is expected to have the results from the Arctic Offshore Drilling Review by the end of 2011.

Today, this event continues to gather all those interested in seeing an Arctic gas pipeline take shape, as well as those interested in offshore and other emerging Arctic oil and gas opportunities.

This is THE event that people attend to get their Arctic updates, solidify existing relationships, make new connections and forge new deals and partnerships that will take their business to the next level.

The 2012 program is full of passionate and knowledgeable speakers who will provide you with timely information, project updates, and experience that will inform your business strategy. Attending this event puts you in the room with the thought leaders who are enabling sustainable Arctic development.

Listen, ask your questions and bring your business cards to Canada’s premier Arctic oil and gas event. We look forward to seeing you in March!

Best regards,

Joseph L. Handley
Former Premier, Northwest Territories