Although Woodfibre LNG would be a relatively small facility, the federal decision to grant environmental approval to the project is huge for B.C.
And it shows the new partnerships that are in play.
First, Ottawa and Victoria. Like the Harper government, Justin Trudeau’s Liberals are on the same page with Christy Clark on B.C. LNG. While the Liberals talk about the broken and gutted system under Harper, Environment and Climate Change Minister Catherine McKenna had nothing but praise for the “substituted” environmental assessment of Woodfibre LNG, which saw B.C. do all the heavy lifting. McKenna said the review process was “thorough, science-based” and “considered public and Indigenous input and views.” Greens who now realize they voted the wrong colour in October are in despair.
Second, First Nations and senior governments. First Nations are giving B.C. LNG legitimacy. Squamish Nation’s environmental approval last fall paved the way for positive provincial and federal assessments. In announcing her decision last week, McKenna twice referred approvingly to the “Indigenous” contribution to the assessment process. And though Ottawa has tactically delayed approval of the $36-million Pacific NorthWest LNG project near Prince Rupert pending answers to “tough” questions, the real story is the eleventh-hour about-face by the elected leadership of Lax Kw’alaams First Nation, who are now conditionally supporting the megaproject.
Third, First Nations and the LNG industry. Despite the opposition of some band members, Squamish Nation chiefs and council have heavily bought into Woodfibre LNG, partnering up with the company for a 10 per cent stake in the project after imposing legally binding conditions on it.
In her interview with Coast Reporter this week, MP Pam Goldsmith-Jones twice cited the Squamish Nation’s two-dozen conditions on top of Canada’s 122 conditions to validate federal approval. When Squamish Nation’s 10 per cent equity in the project was pointed out, she acknowledged the band’s duo status as approving authority and co-proponent “changes things,” is likely an indication of things to come with B.C. First Nations and LNG, and is “all the more reason the federal environmental process must be independent and must be seen as independent.”
Based on the outlines of these emerging partnerships, the future of LNG in this province and the re-industrialization of Howe Sound appear to be almost assured.
