Skip to content

No need to talk LNG

Opinion

It appears that Sunshine Coast concerns regarding the proposed LNG plant at Woodfibre in Howe Sound are not going to be heard. Well, at least not on the Coast.

The Environmental Assessment Office (EAO) accepted Woodfibre LNG’s application last week and has set up three public open houses for discussion Jan. 28 to 30 — in Squamish, West Vancouver and Bowen Island respectively.

There are no plans to host a meeting on the Sunshine Coast.

Last time we checked a map, the Sunshine Coast was part of Howe Sound, and if anyone, including the folks at the EAO, thinks we will not be affected by this proposal, then think again.

Not hosting an open house for Coast residents is a slap in the face.

Sure, Coast residents can provide input via email and snail mail or by filling out a form on the EAO website. Or they can jump on the ferry — at their own expense — and travel to either Squamish, West Vancouver or Bowen Island to have their voices heard in person, but that just doesn’t seem fair, does it?

We are certainly not in the minority in that thinking.

The Sunshine Coast Regional District board, which has expressed lots of concerns with the proposal on multiple occasions during the past year, is urging the EAO to change their minds and host a meeting here.

MLA Nicholas Simons and MP John Weston both agree that local concerns should be addressed in person and have pledged to do whatever they can to get a meeting locally.

Last week, a lively dialogue session (not hosted by the EAO) was held for the public featuring a panel of experts speaking for and against LNG.

St. Hilda’s Church Hall was packed for the meeting, so clearly there is lots of local interest in this issue.

And LNG is not simply a nuts and bolts issue. It is very complex. We are certainly not convinced either way that having an LNG facility potentially right in our back yard is a good or bad thing, both economically and environmentally. There are lots of questions we have and clearly there are lots of questions that many Coast residents have, too.

We would encourage the EAO to reconsider its decision and host a proper, public consultation with Coast residents. If you want to have open, honest and complete transparency in this process, which is what the mandate of the EAO is — isn’t it? — then making sure you host meetings with all Howe Sound residents who will be impacted by this project is the right thing to do.