Latest news with #Gitanyow
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
B.C. premier defends new LNG pipeline with terminus near Prince Rupert
B.C. Premier David Eby is defending the provincial government's approval to continue construction on a new pipeline project that will supply natural gas to a proposed floating liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal north of Prince Rupert, saying his government would not turn away investment in the province. The Prince Rupert Gas Transmission project is a joint venture between the Nisga'a Nation and Texas-based Western LNG to supply natural gas to the proposed Ksi Lisims LNG facility, a project the province says is still undergoing environmental assessment. "The Ksi Lisims project is an Indigenous-owned project led by the Nisga'a Nation. They are a treaty nation that has control over their jurisdiction," Eby said, speaking from Seoul, South Korea, as he nears the end of his 10-day trade mission to Asia. "They have a vision for economic growth in the area, for their people, which includes selling B.C. resources into the Asian market, where I am right now." The Nisga'a Nation and Western LNG say the Ksi Lisims project would be a floating production facility capable of producing 12 million tonnes of LNG per year. The project faces opposition from several environmental groups and the Gitanyow hereditary chiefs, who argue it will have negative environmental consequences, including a risk to important salmon habitat. Tara Marsden, sustainability director for the Gitanyow hereditary chiefs, previously told CBC News there are concerns about Western LNG's financial backing from Blackstone Inc. Blackstone is a major American asset manager whose CEO publicly endorsed U.S. President Donald Trump and contributed to his election campaign — with Marsden saying the investment undermines any notion that the project is needed to push back against Trump's tariff threats. CBC News asked Eby whether the bulk of the profits from the Prince Rupert Gas Transmission project would enrich a U.S. company. "We're not in the business of turning away investment in British Columbia," the premier responded. "Especially investment that assists us in diversifying our customers for our resources and allows us to get a higher price for those resources." The pipeline was first approved in 2014 under the ownership of Calgary-based TC Energy Corp, when it was meant to supply the now-cancelled Pacific NorthWest LNG terminal spearheaded by Malaysian energy giant Petronas. It was purchased by the Nisga'a Nation and Western LNG in 2024 under their revised proposal for the Ksi Lisims facility. Eby says he wants to work with Alberta Eby was also asked Monday about comments from Alberta Premier Danielle Smith, who said she could convince him to drop his opposition to a second crude oil pipeline from Alberta to B.C.'s North Coast. "I'm not the one who stands between Premier Smith and a pipeline to the coast. There's no proponent, there's no money, there's no project right now," Eby said. "In the event that Premier Smith is successful in assembling those things, we'll cross that bridge when we come to it." Prime Minister Mark Carney said last week he supports "nation-building projects," including a possible decarbonized oil pipeline — if he can find consensus among the said companies in South Korea that he's talking to are focused on bringing in hydrogen. He said that would involve Alberta using blue hydrogen, and B.C. exporting green hydrogen, which he said would aid in carbon transition. "I'm happy to talk to Premier Smith about our shared goals of increasing prosperity, about uniting the country," he told reporters. "Focusing on a project that currently does not exist, and focusing on our differences rather than where we can work together, is not the spirit." Eby travelled from Malaysia to Seoul where he met with officials from conglomerates like Hyundai and Samsung as well as the Canadian ambassador to South Korea. His trade mission to Asia, a bid to diversify the province's trading relationships amid the tariff war with the U.S., will wrap up Tuesday.
CBC
2 days ago
- Business
- CBC
B.C. premier defends new LNG pipeline with terminus near Prince Rupert
B.C. Premier David Eby is defending the provincial government's approval to continue construction on a new pipeline project that will supply natural gas to a proposed floating liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal north of Prince Rupert, saying his government would not turn away investment in the province. The Prince Rupert Gas Transmission project is a joint venture between the Nisga'a Nation and Texas-based Western LNG to supply natural gas to the proposed Ksi Lisims LNG facility, a project the province says is still undergoing environmental assessment. "The Ksi Lisims project is an Indigenous-owned project led by the Nisga'a Nation. They are a treaty nation that has control over their jurisdiction," Eby said, speaking from Seoul, South Korea, as he nears the end of his 10-day trade mission to Asia. "They have a vision for economic growth in the area, for their people, which includes selling B.C. resources into the Asian market, where I am right now." The Nisga'a Nation and Western LNG say the Ksi Lisims project would be a floating production facility capable of producing 12 million tonnes of LNG per year. The project faces opposition from several environmental groups and the Gitanyow hereditary chiefs, who argue it will have negative environmental consequences, including a risk to important salmon habitat. Tara Marsden, sustainability director for the Gitanyow hereditary chiefs, previously told CBC News there are concerns about Western LNG's financial backing from Blackstone Inc. Blackstone is a major American asset manager whose CEO publicly endorsed U.S. President Donald Trump and contributed to his election campaign — with Marsden saying the investment undermines any notion that the project is needed to push back against Trump's tariff threats. CBC News asked Eby whether the bulk of the profits from the Prince Rupert Gas Transmission project would enrich a U.S. company. "We're not in the business of turning away investment in British Columbia," the premier responded. "Especially investment that assists us in diversifying our customers for our resources and allows us to get a higher price for those resources." The pipeline was first approved in 2014 under the ownership of Calgary-based TC Energy Corp, when it was meant to supply the now-cancelled Pacific NorthWest LNG terminal spearheaded by Malaysian energy giant Petronas. It was purchased by the Nisga'a Nation and Western LNG in 2024 under their revised proposal for the Ksi Lisims facility. Eby says he wants to work with Alberta Eby was also asked Monday about comments from Alberta Premier Danielle Smith, who said she could convince him to drop his opposition to a second crude oil pipeline from Alberta to B.C.'s North Coast. "I'm not the one who stands between Premier Smith and a pipeline to the coast. There's no proponent, there's no money, there's no project right now," Eby said. "In the event that Premier Smith is successful in assembling those things, we'll cross that bridge when we come to it." Prime Minister Mark Carney said last week he supports "nation-building projects," including a possible decarbonized oil pipeline — if he can find consensus among the premiers. WATCH | Smith pushes for pipeline through northwest B.C.: Hearing PM talk about northwestern pipeline 'very encouraging': Alberta premier | Power & Politics 7 days ago Duration 8:37 Alberta Premier Danielle Smith tells Power & Politics she found Prime Minister Mark Carney's comments on a possible northwestern pipeline 'very encouraging' and a 'sea change' from where first ministers' discussions on energy projects were six months ago. Eby said companies in South Korea that he's talking to are focused on bringing in hydrogen. He said that would involve Alberta using blue hydrogen, and B.C. exporting green hydrogen, which he said would aid in carbon transition. "I'm happy to talk to Premier Smith about our shared goals of increasing prosperity, about uniting the country," he told reporters. "Focusing on a project that currently does not exist, and focusing on our differences rather than where we can work together, is not the spirit." Eby travelled from Malaysia to Seoul where he met with officials from conglomerates like Hyundai and Samsung as well as the Canadian ambassador to South Korea. His trade mission to Asia, a bid to diversify the province's trading relationships amid the tariff war with the U.S., will wrap up Tuesday.
Hamilton Spectator
6 days ago
- Politics
- Hamilton Spectator
Prince Rupert gas pipeline cleared to keep environmental permit indefinitely
Prince Rupert gas pipeline cleared to keep environmental permit indefinitely The Prince Rupert gas pipeline project is 'substantially started' and will keep its valid environmental certificate for the life of the pipeline, the BC Environmental Assessment Office has ruled. The Prince Rupert Gas Transmission (PRGT) pipeline is jointly owned by the Nisga'a Nation and Western LNG, but other First Nations and environmentalists say the decision favours corporate interests over climate commitments and Indigenous rights. Tara Marsden, sustainability director for the Gitanyow hereditary chiefs, said the decision was not unexpected, but still 'damaging and daunting.' She said the province frequently bends or breaks its own laws and regulations to accommodate PRGT, undermining the integrity of the environmental review process. 'This is absolutely not in the interests of Gitanyow and many other nations who have expressed concern,' Marsden said. 'It's going to be a significant reversal of the climate policy of this government.' The BC government has legislated targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. But according to critics, pursuing additional LNG and pipeline projects will undercut any progress made by adding significant new emissions that were not considered in the province's climate plans. Marsden said the government is acting without responsibility, forcing First Nations to fight in court because it doesn't respect consultation, Indigenous rights, UNDRIP or true consent — and the decision was politically and economically driven, not based on policy, law or sound science. 'This government can now do whatever it pleases with no accountability,' Marsden said. 'First Nations are left to fight for these things on the ground and in the courts.' She said the report by the Environmental Assessment Office (EAO) — the agency tasked with technical review — was 'very slim,' noting that Gitanyow's own submission was likely twice as long. Janelle Lapointe, senior advisor at the David Suzuki Foundation and member of Stellat'en First Nation, said the approval casts significant doubt on the province's willingness to meet its climate targets, respect Indigenous rights and title, and even follow its own policy on determining whether a project has had a 'substantial start.' The keyword — substantial start — is critical because under BC's Environmental Assessment Act, a project's environmental certificate will expire unless enough real, physical work has been completed on the ground before a set deadline — in this case, November 25, 2024. According to the EAO report , the PRGT pipeline was considered 'substantially started' because the company cleared 42 km of pipeline route, built nine permanent bridges, upgraded or built 47 km of access roads, and set up work areas before the deadline. The company also spent about $584 million on the project since 2013. The concerns related to greenhouse gas emissions and incomplete permits were not part of the decision and was mainly based on the physical work completed on the ground. 'If PRGT was really a good project, it wouldn't need a decade-old permit, quiet approvals, and a government bending the rules to push it through,' Lapointe said. She said since the original environmental assessment certificate was issued in 2014, lands, waterways, and ecology have only become more vulnerable due to continued extraction, corporate greed, and the accelerating effects of climate change. Lapointe said the project will cross hundreds of fish-bearing streams and rivers in a watershed that her community depends on. The government is again refusing to ensure the project won't harm their ecosystems, especially salmon — a key species important to their culture and vital to the local economy, she said. 'The province has failed to address the concerns of the Indigenous nations asserting their rights to protect our territory. It sets a very dangerous precedent,' Lapointe said. She pointed out that newly passed Bill 15 and the PRGT approval highlight a troubling trend — the provincial government is making it easier for corporations to move projects forward, while making it difficult for Indigenous nations to exercise their rights and oppose developments that threaten their territories. 'Are they going to allow outdated permits from 2014 to be treated as more legitimate than the rights of sovereign nations? I am left wondering, why is our province bending over backwards to hand over critical energy infrastructure to American billionaires?' Lapointe said. Christina Smethurst, communications head at Dogwood BC, a Victoria-based non-profit, non-partisan citizen action group, said while the EAO issued the approval, there has been no clear public statement or ownership from elected government officials about the decision, with significant environmental, Indigenous rights and economic implications. 'The BC NDP have abandoned any semblance of caring about climate change,' Smethurst said. 'Where is the government on this? Who of our elected officials will take responsibility for making this decision?' Marsden said Gitanyow is preparing legal and other actions, and the fight to protect their lands will continue. Lapointe said they would follow Gitanyow's lead in the ongoing opposition to the pipeline. Marsden also challenged the narrative that this project would help Canada's energy independence. 'This isn't about getting out from under the thumb of Americans. It's actually about enriching people who are in Trump's inner circle,' Marsden said. Sonal Gupta / Local Journalism Initiative / Canada's National Observer Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Winnipeg Free Press
24-04-2025
- Politics
- Winnipeg Free Press
Supreme Court of Canada agrees to weigh in on B.C. First Nations' title dispute
The Supreme Court of Canada has agreed to weigh in on a dispute between First Nations that have overlapping land title claims in British Columbia. The overlapping claims involve the Gitanyow Nation, the Nisga'a Nation and the Tsetsaut Skii km Lax Ha Nation, and Canada's high court on Thursday agreed to hear appeals of decisions by lower courts in B.C. The Gitanyow Nation's title claims overlap with the Nisga'a Nation's claims, which are covered by a treaty, and both the B.C. Supreme Court and Court of Appeal denied the Nisga'a's bid to be added as a defendant in the Gitanyow's case, which is scheduled for trial in B.C. Supreme Court next month. The Tsetsaut Skii km Lax Ha Nation also has overlapping claims with the Gitanyow, and the Supreme Court of Canada is now poised to decide how courts will handle complex title disputes between First Nations. Lawyer Ryan Beaton, a member of the Tsetsaut Skii km Lax Ha Nation's legal team, says hearing the cases separately would have been 'inefficient' and the high court now has 'an opportunity to speak to how these overlapping cases should be litigated.' Beaton says the top court has yet to address how courts should deal with overlapping title claims, and its decision will set down guidelines and principles 'for how these types of overlaps will be litigated' in the future. 'In B.C., especially with most First Nations not having treaties with the Crown, there are many title claims and many potential title cases that will involve overlapping claims,' he said. During Elections Get campaign news, insight, analysis and commentary delivered to your inbox during Canada's 2025 election. 'We said to the Supreme Court and, urging them to take this appeal, that there needs to be some guidance from the country's highest court on how the courts, lower courts, should deal with these cases as they start to come now.' This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 24, 2025.
