The narrow media focus on a pipeline protest camp in northwest B.C. obscures the larger picture of broad support and nearly $1 billion in economic benefits that have already flowed from CanadaB次元官网网址檚 first large-scale liquefied natural gas project, LNG CanadaB次元官网网址檚 CEO says.
Speaking to the annual B.C. Natural Resource Forum in Prince George, Andy Calitz vowed that the project will stick to its five-year construction schedule that began last fall.
B次元官网网址淚t is difficult for me to fathom how there could be such a strong show of support for one Indigenous group that opposes the Coastal GasLink pipeline, and by association, LNG, and so little attention to all of the support the project has from first nations communities, elected and hereditary chiefs B次元官网网址� and the communities across B.C.B次元官网网址檚 North and in the Lower Mainland that want these projects to succeed,B次元官网网址� Calitz said.
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By the end of 2018, LNG Canada had approved more than $530 million in contracts and subcontracts to area businesses across the province, including first nations businesses.
B次元官网网址淭he number jumps to $937 million when we add in amounts for contracts in businesses in other parts of the Canada,B次元官网网址� Calitz said. B次元官网网址淚t is just the beginning. We still have years of construction ahead of us.B次元官网网址�
He expressed frustration with the attention focused on a dissident group of WetB次元官网网址檚uwetB次元官网网址檈n hereditary chiefs and their outside supporters, which included a wave of protests staged simultaneously across North America and extending to Europe.
Little mention is made of the Indigenous communities that support the export facility at Kitimat, the Haisla, GitgaB次元官网网址檃t, Gitxaala, Kitselas and Kitsumkalum First Nations, he said.
The list of communities who have signed agreements for the pipeline spans the province, including the Blueberry River, McLeod Lake, West Moberly and Doig First Nations in the northeast.
Along the pipeline route from the shale gas fields around Dawson Creek to Douglas Channel at Kitimat, impact and benefit agreements have also been signed with elected councils of the Cheslatta Carrier, Halfway River, Lheidli-TB次元官网网址檈nneh, Nadleh Whuten, NakB次元官网网址檃zdli WhutB次元官网网址檈n, Nee Tahi Buhn, SaikB次元官网网址檜z, Salteau, Skin Tyee, StellatB次元官网网址檈n, WetB次元官网网址檚uwetB次元官网网址檈n, Witset and Yeekooche First Nations.
B次元官网网址淭here is far too much at stake for LNG Canada not to defend our project,B次元官网网址� Calitz said. B次元官网网址淣ot to stand up for first nations and the more than 15,000 members they represent; not to stand up for the northern communities, and municipal, provincial and federal governments that have stood up for our project in the past.B次元官网网址�
tfletcher@blackpress.ca
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