GENOA, Italy – An open microphone and a slip-of-the-tongue by Prime Minister Jean Chretien and Canadian truckers knew of a potential flood of activity in the Great White North.

Chretien revealed his stand on the debate over where to build a natural gas pipeline from the Arctic to the U.S., indicating he wants a pipeline through the Northwest Territories to get Canadian gas to market.

The PM’s support had eluded two competing pipeline proposals until his private conversation with U.S. President George Bush was broadcast to journalists over a microphone left on at the Group of Eight summit in Genoa.

“One pipeline – we could save a lot of money,” Chretien told Bush.

Bush replied, “There’s only so much capital.”

Chretien later explained his comment to the media.

“We have Canadian gas from the Canadian Arctic from the (Mackenzie) Delta that we want to get into the market,” he said.

“No doubt about it that there will be a pipeline in the Mackenzie Valley. It’s the only way you can get the gas from the Delta down to the market. There is no other way. There will be a pipeline there.”

Several days after, his opinions were confirmed and a massive pipeline project was announced. n