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Hamilton Spectator
29-07-2025
- Business
- Hamilton Spectator
BC LNG project divides Indigenous nations, risks financial and environmental harm
A long-delayed and controversial liquefied natural gas (LNG) pipeline and export terminal in northern British Columbia is now officially back on track and promoted as a new opportunity for Indigenous economic development. However, a report released last week warns that the risks — to land, community and even investors — are far greater than the promised benefits. The Prince Rupert Gas Transmission (PRGT) pipeline and Ksi Lisims LNG terminal are poised to export up to 12 million tonnes of LNG annually, much of it destined for Asian markets. The pipeline's route cuts through Gitxsan and Tsimshian territories, but many hereditary leaders and community members remain opposed. Janna Wale, who is a Gitxsan community member and co-author of the new Yellowhead Institute report said the dominant narrative portraying LNG projects as straightforward economic opportunities overlooks significant realities. 'There's been one kind of narrative presented — economic growth is good and LNG equals opportunity. But there are trade-offs and checks and balances. It's important to include those in the conversation,' Wale said. Financial risk stands out as a core issue for Indigenous communities being drawn into the project as equity investors, joint venture partners or through procurement contracts. Hayden King, executive director of the Yellowhead Institute, said these communities also bear the greatest risks if things go wrong. Few long-term shipper contracts have been signed, forcing the project to depend on the volatile spot LNG market, where global competition is fierce and prices are unpredictable. The report highlights that Japan and South Korea — key prospective markets for BC LNG exports — are already experiencing surpluses. 'Given the glut in the LNG market, where is this going to be sold, to which market and how is it going to get there? Those answers are not yet clear and so that presents a risk to those in it, and then those that are impacted by it,' King said. Emily Lowan, who co-authored the financial risk analysis for the report, said typically, 80 per cent of a project's funding comes from loans and 20 per cent from direct investment. With this setup, sharing the equity portion equally between two parties (Western LNG and the Nisga'a Nation) means each party must directly invest 10 per cent. 'Equity owners are paid after lenders, which means they are financially vulnerable if a project defaults or does not result in projected returns,' Lowan said. While Ottawa's $10 billion Indigenous Loan Guarantee Program is seen as proof that the government wants Indigenous communities to have a real share in these projects will offer some financial cushion, Lowan said the program does not cover lost revenue if profits fall short or shield nations if a commercial partner collapses. Lowan said at the time the report was written, no loan guarantee programs protected the full corporate debt exposure. With project costs for the PRGT soaring and on track to reach $30 billion as outlined in the report, a hypothetical $3 billion equity stake for the Nisga'a Nation would absorb nearly 30 per cent of Canada's Indigenous loan guarantee fund. If costs overrun — as seen in previous megaprojects — lenders may demand more equity or refuse additional financing, potentially triggering defaults, she said. The report highlights how the floating LNG terminals and associated infrastructure will threaten marine ecosystems through dredging that destroys coral reefs and oyster beds, underwater noise pollution and shipping operations that produce significant greenhouse gas emissions. 'It really is a watershed of impacts. When you start to impact one part of that system, the rest of the ecosystem will be impacted as well. These cascading effects are especially concerning as climate change stresses these environments,' Wale said. The pipeline crosses two of British Columbia's largest salmon-producing river systems, requiring clear-cutting through major waterways and drilling beneath critical spawning habitats. Wale warned the pipeline will bisect important salmon runs, huckleberry patches and moose habitat critical to Indigenous food security and cultural practices. Despite this, the pipeline's approval relies on a permit granted in 2014. In June, British Columbia's Environmental Assessment Office ruled construction was 'substantially started,' allowing developers to move forward without a new review. This permit bypasses contemporary environmental standards, even as climate impacts worsen — raising concerns among conflicting Indigenous voices. Socially, resource hub towns such as Terrace are expected to face higher housing and food costs and overwhelmed health services. 'There will be 1,200 people in a man camp just a kilometer away … our health care system here is hanging on by its threads, and we're going to be bringing in over 1,000 workers into a tiny community,' said Gina Mowatt, a Gitxsan member. The influx of transient workers in 'man-camps' also raises worries about increased risks of sexual violence toward Indigenous women, a pattern linked to such developments. Beyond these risks, the report details uncertainty linked to BC's shifting LNG policy. The 2024 commitment to 'net-zero ready' LNG projects by 2030 still allows ongoing fossil gas use if electricity isn't yet available, meaning emissions will persist and put additional strain on local environments. While the Nisga'a Nation has actively invested in and supported the project, many hereditary leaders and community members of the Gitxsan and Tsimshian nations oppose it, asserting they never gave free, prior and informed consent. King warned that this dynamic revives a colonial 'divide and develop' tactic that pits Indigenous Nations against one another. 'There are plenty of opportunities for First Nations to negotiate with BC or Ontario or Canada, but fewer opportunities for nations to negotiate and undertake this type of diplomacy amongst themselves and I think that's by design,' he said. 'I don't think Canada wants nations to be working together. I think they want them to be divided.' He said the governments and corporations cultivate division by labeling communities that support resource development as 'the good Indians' while portraying resisting groups as 'the bad Indians.' This 'cleavage that's created and cast,' King said, mainly benefits external actors and undermines Indigenous governance, long-standing diplomatic relations and collective power. He said the approval process itself risks deepening these divisions by advancing consultation and consent with only select Indigenous groups, while excluding others is further fracturing Indigenous unity. Mowatt frames the conflict as a struggle between Indigenous communities and external actors, rather than a dispute within Indigenous nations. '[Instead] the war is against PRGT; the war is against these massive international corporations that are coming into our territory, every intention to destroy our lives here,' Mowatt said. As the project moves forward amid fractured consent and complex risks, the social and environmental stakes continue to weigh on the communities whose lives and lands intersect with the pipeline's path. 'We need the whole picture … it's about the legacy left for future generations, and who actually gets to decide what that legacy will be,' Wale said. Sonal Gupta / Local Journalism Initiative / Canada's National Observer Error! 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National Observer
28-07-2025
- Business
- National Observer
BC LNG project divides Indigenous nations, risks financial and environmental harm
A long-delayed and controversial liquefied natural gas (LNG) pipeline and export terminal in northern British Columbia is now officially back on track and promoted as a new opportunity for Indigenous economic development. However, a report released last week warns that the risks — to land, community and even investors — are far greater than the promised benefits. The Prince Rupert Gas Transmission (PRGT) pipeline and Ksi Lisims LNG terminal are poised to export up to 12 million tonnes of LNG annually, much of it destined for Asian markets. The pipeline's route cuts through Gitxsan and Tsimshian territories, but many hereditary leaders and community members remain opposed. Janna Wale, who is a Gitxsan community member and co-author of the new Yellowhead Institute report said the dominant narrative portraying LNG projects as straightforward economic opportunities overlooks significant realities. 'There's been one kind of narrative presented — economic growth is good and LNG equals opportunity. But there are trade-offs and checks and balances. It's important to include those in the conversation,' Wale said. Financial risks Financial risk stands out as a core issue for Indigenous communities being drawn into the project as equity investors, joint venture partners or through procurement contracts. 'There's been one kind of narrative presented — economic growth is good and LNG equals opportunity. But there are trade-offs and checks and balances. It's important to include those in the conversation,' Janna Wale said. Hayden King, executive director of the Yellowhead Institute, said these communities also bear the greatest risks if things go wrong. Few long-term shipper contracts have been signed, forcing the project to depend on the volatile spot LNG market, where global competition is fierce and prices are unpredictable. The report highlights that Japan and South Korea — key prospective markets for BC LNG exports — are already experiencing surpluses. 'Given the glut in the LNG market, where is this going to be sold, to which market and how is it going to get there? Those answers are not yet clear and so that presents a risk to those in it, and then those that are impacted by it,' King said. Emily Lowan, who co-authored the financial risk analysis for the report, said 80 per cent of PRGT's funding comes from loans and 20 per cent from direct investment. With this setup, sharing the equity portion equally between two parties (Western LNG and the Nisga'a Nation) means each holds a 10 per cent ownership stake in the whole project. 'Equity owners are paid after lenders, which means they are financially vulnerable if a project defaults or does not result in projected returns,' Lowan said. While Ottawa's $10 billion Indigenous Loan Guarantee Program is seen as proof that the government wants Indigenous communities to have a real share in these projects will offer some financial cushion, Lowan said the program does not cover lost revenue if profits fall short or shield nations if a commercial partner collapses. Lowan said at the time the report was written, no loan guarantee programs protected the full corporate debt exposure. The Nisga'a Nation's $3 billion equity stake would absorb nearly 30 per cent of Canada's Indigenous loan guarantee fund. If costs overrun — as seen in previous megaprojects — lenders may demand more equity or refuse additional financing, potentially triggering defaults, she said. Environmental and social concerns The report highlights how the floating LNG terminals and associated infrastructure will threaten marine ecosystems through dredging that destroys coral reefs and oyster beds, underwater noise pollution and shipping operations that produce significant greenhouse gas emissions. 'It really is a watershed of impacts. When you start to impact one part of that system, the rest of the ecosystem will be impacted as well. These cascading effects are especially concerning as climate change stresses these environments,' Wale said. The pipeline crosses two of British Columbia's largest salmon-producing river systems, requiring clear-cutting through major waterways and drilling beneath critical spawning habitats. Wale warned the pipeline will bisect important salmon runs, huckleberry patches and moose habitat critical to Indigenous food security and cultural practices. Despite this, the pipeline's approval relies on a permit granted in 2014. In June, British Columbia's Environmental Assessment Office ruled construction was 'substantially started,' allowing developers to move forward without a new review. This permit bypasses contemporary environmental standards, even as climate impacts worsen — raising concerns among conflicting Indigenous voices. Socially, resource hub towns such as Terrace are expected to face higher housing and food costs and overwhelmed health services. 'There will be 1,200 people in a man camp just a kilometer away … our health care system here is hanging on by its threads, and we're going to be bringing in over 1,000 workers into a tiny community,' said Gina Mowatt, a Gitxsan member. The influx of transient workers in 'man-camps' also raises worries about increased risks of sexual violence toward Indigenous women, a pattern linked to such developments. Beyond these risks, the report details uncertainty linked to BC's shifting LNG policy. The 2024 commitment to 'net-zero ready' LNG projects by 2030 still allows ongoing fossil gas use if electricity isn't yet available, meaning emissions will persist and put additional strain on local environments. Rifts between Indigenous nations While the Nisga'a Nation has actively invested in and supported the project, many hereditary leaders and community members of the Gitxsan and Tsimshian nations oppose it, asserting they never gave free, prior and informed consent. King warned that this dynamic revives a colonial 'divide and develop' tactic that pits Indigenous Nations against one another. 'There are plenty of opportunities for First Nations to negotiate with BC or Ontario or Canada, but fewer opportunities for nations to negotiate and undertake this type of diplomacy amongst themselves and I think that's by design,' he said. 'I don't think Canada wants nations to be working together. I think they want them to be divided.' He said the governments and corporations cultivate division by labeling communities that support resource development as 'the good Indians' while portraying resisting groups as 'the bad Indians.' This 'cleavage that's created and cast,' King said, mainly benefits external actors and undermines Indigenous governance, long-standing diplomatic relations and collective power. He said the approval process itself risks deepening these divisions by advancing consultation and consent with only select Indigenous groups, while excluding others is further fracturing Indigenous unity. Mowatt frames the conflict as a struggle between Indigenous communities and external actors, rather than a dispute within Indigenous nations. '[Instead] the war is against PRGT; the war is against these massive international corporations that are coming into our territory, every intention to destroy our lives here,' Mowatt said. As the project moves forward amid fractured consent and complex risks, the social and environmental stakes continue to weigh on the communities whose lives and lands intersect with the pipeline's path. 'We need the whole picture … it's about the legacy left for future generations, and who actually gets to decide what that legacy will be,' Wale said.
Hamilton Spectator
27-05-2025
- Hamilton Spectator
Venturing into Khutzeymateen: Canada's only grizzly bear sanctuary
Hidden deep in northwest B.C.'s coast lies the lush inlet of the Khutzeymateen, bustling with grizzly bears and other rich fauna. Created in 1994 as the first specially protected area for grizzly bears and their habitat in Canada, it is widely regarded as the densest natural grizzly bear habitat in North America. The sanctuary is located about 45 kilometres northeast of Prince Rupert and only is accessible by boat or plane. The Gits'iis tribe of the Lax Kw'alaams Band has been the steward of this region for thousands of years. The area became protected through an agreement with the B.C. Government and the Tsimshian First Nation three decades ago, and has helped conserve the grizzly bear population that calls the Khutzeymateen their home, as well as preserve the social, ceremonial, and cultural uses of the Coast Tsimshian who depend on the area. Two rangers from the Tsimshian Gits'iis tribe are situated at the K'tzim-a-deen Ranger Station at Khutzeymateen Inlet — K'tzim-a-deen translates to 'valley at the head of the inlet' in the Tsimshian language of the Gits'iis people. They keep track of bear sightings and any commercial activity, monitoring people's behaviours around the bears and staying involved in the ecology of the area. Each year from May to the end of July, Prince Rupert Adventure Tours takes passengers on their yellow catamaran to one of the only places on the planet where grizzly bears can be observed in their natural habitat, living freely in the wilderness. Khutzeymateen is also a vibrant haven for bald eagles, seals, sea lions, orcas, humpback whales and mountain goats, while coastal wolves also roam the rugged landscape. Nearby waters invite glimpses of majestic whales and playful dolphins, showcasing the area's rich biodiversity. The bears of Khutzeymateen Jasmine Newton, a tour guide with Prince Rupert Adventure Tours, mentioned that between the 40 to 50 bears that roam the 45,000 hectare sanctuary, some of them can be territorial. 'We've seen that happen with some of the females that we know really well. Hot Chocolate is a bear [and] she's got a son named Marshmallow who we watched almost every day last year, and so we've noticed kind of fluctuations with them. 'Usually grizzly bears will kick out their young at about two to three years, but she kicked him out a little bit early, and so we kind of saw them moving between different territories. Last year. He kept trying to follow her and get back on her good side and spend time with mom again, but she wouldn't let him.' The sanctuary mainly has grizzlies, but there have been sightings of black bears before, However, grizzlies do not like to associate with black bears, so when their paths do cross — typically at the beginning of the season right when grizzlies come out of hibernation — it can be fatal for black bears. 'Some of the bears are transitory, so they'll move in and out. Most of them are resident bears, we think so. They'll have their dens up in the alpine habitats, and they'll stay there for five months out of the year. The rest of the time, they're down along the shorelines hunting for salmon. 'From July onwards, they're looking for berries around this time of year, in the very beginning of the season. They like things like skunk cabbages and bulbous roots, and sedge grass is a really important part of their diet.' They forage for shellfish and clams and consume about 40 to 60 pounds of protein-rich sedge grass each day. Salmon is the most important part of their diet, while the other things they eat help sustain them. Newton shared that without salmon, the bears would not be able to build enough body fat to last through hibernation. Threats to the sanctuary's bears 'Grizzly bear habitat used to be all over North America, specifically in B.C. It used to go all the way down to Vancouver. But they've been pushed out of their territory by human encroachment, building cities and especially extractive industries like pipelines. This is one of the last intact grizzly bear habitats in North America,' said Newton. Overfishing in northern coastal waters also poses a significant threat to the grizzlies, the salmon populations and the sanctuary itself. 'Something that has been on my mind recently is that we have lots of bottom trawler licenses in the Chatham Sound. If you look at bottom trawling, it's a really unsustainable practice of fishing that contributes to a lot of the overfishing we see here, specifically for salmon,' said Newton. Bottom trawling was banned in all new Canadian Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) established after April 25, 2018. However, the ban does not apply retroactively to MPAs established before that date. 'Without the healthy salmon populations, the bears would not survive here. The reason the bears do so well here and on a broader level, in northern B.C., is because we have some of the largest intact rivers here, like the Skeena and the Nass.' Newton is also an Environmental Studies and Indigenous Studies double-major at the University of Victoria. She stressed the present threat of climate change that will impact the sanctuary in the future. 'With climate change comes a lot of animals and tons of wildlife that are going to be forced from down south to up north, to a sanctuary such as this, so we might not have enough intact ecosystems to support that, as well as, connectability, so there might not be safe passages for these wildlife to come up from down south.' She also brought up how the bears are not hibernating as long as they should in the winter due to winters being warmer in recent years. 'They're generally not going to go out and kill a moose, so they're not going to have a major food source through the wintertime. They could dig for grass or roots underneath the snow, but then they'd have to waste energy going down the mountainside. So it's better for them to just go through hibernation, but they have to have enough salmon in order to do that.' Eco-tourism BC Parks, Lax Kw'alaams and Commercial Bear Viewing Guides work in collaboration to ensure the Khutzeymateen Protected Areas are managed proactively and public access be monitored conservatively to ensure the grizzly bears and their habitats are the first priority. In 1994, Captain Doug Davis founded, Prince Rupert Adventure Tours, a marine ecotourism business to showcase the amazing wildlife and scenery of the Pacific Northwest. Bear viewing guides, like Captain Davis', contribute a per person donation to the Khutzeymateen Park Enhancement Fund (KPEF), which supports shared stewardship initiatives for the area. 'Any tourism business at its core is a little bit extractive. There is always going to be some impact, whether that be from our fuel emissions or our presence itself. But, I think our impact is very minimal,' said Newton. 'It's all on a sliding scale in my brain for tourism, because if you look down south in the Victoria and Vancouver area, whale watching has been detrimental, especially to the southern resident killer whales,' she said. 'Up here, it's not exactly the same because we're the only tourist boat of this scale for hundreds of kilometres.' She added, 'The boat was custom-made to minimize sound disturbance underwater and above water for the bears, and to prioritize fuel efficiency.' The captain says bear sightings have been fairly steady throughout his 30-year career. The month of May also witnesses the mating season. The tour typically sees between five and 10 bear sightings each trip. However, every day is different with no guarantees. The tour boat observes precautions to minimally disturb the environment around it. Its primary goal was to leave the grizzly bears and the inlet in the same natural state they found it. Note: This article is co-written with Harvin Bhathal of the Terrace Standard.
Yahoo
09-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
World-renowned Tsimshian artist's carving found by his B.C. neighbours on a sailboat in Mexico
A couple from Hazelton, B.C., says an unusual discovery while purchasing a boat in Mexico has instilled them with a sense of destiny for an upcoming round-the-world sailing trip. Self-described adventurers Shannon and Steve McPhail have been planning to sail around the world when their youngest daughter graduates high school next year. Shannon said she had been feeling apprehensive about the upcoming trip. But what they found on that boat in Mexico makes her feel like the voyage was meant to be. "It just felt like it was something that blessed our trip," Shannon said during an interview on CBC's Daybreak North. "It's an adventure that now I'm looking forward to with kind of a whole new sense of energy." 'I couldn't believe my eyes' The couple were on a sailing trip up and down the west coast of B.C. and Alaska when Steve found his dream boat online — a Fast Passage, made in Canada. "He found one in Mexico and he put a sort of a Hail Mary bid on it and it was accepted," Shannon said. Steve recently went down to work on the boat in the port city of Guaymas, as the vessel, he admitted, "needs a little bit of love." Steve McPhail works on his recently-purchased boat in Guaymas, Mexico. (Steve McPhail) While he was admiring some of the artwork left behind on the vessel, a unique signature on one of the carvings caught Steve's eye. "I just took a closer look and I couldn't believe my eyes — Roy Vickers," Steve Henry Vickers is a world-renowned Tsimshian artist. Perhaps more remarkably, he's also a close friend of the McPhails and a neighbour of sorts. Vickers lives 15 kilometres up the Skeena river from their home in Hazelton. "Instantly I messaged Roy and Shannon and yeah, it just blew my mind," Steve said. Distant memory Vickers is an author, painter and carver who is a member of both the Order of British Columbia and Order of Canada. One of his best-known works is King Salmon Housefront, on display at the Vancouver International Airport. He's also been nominated for a Grammy after creating the artwork for a Grateful Dead box set. The King Salmon Housefront piece by Roy Henry Vickers on display in the Vancouver International Airport. (Vancouver International Airport) Vickers says hearing about the carving brought back a faint memory from many years ago, when he was working in his gallery in Tofino in the 1990s. "It's like this beautiful memory that has come back to life," Vickers said. "That's one of the most unique pieces I've ever carved." He carved it for a friend who was doing exactly what Steve and Shannon are going to do — sail around the world, he said. The friend insisted the artwork stay with the boat, according to Vickers. He says the carving is unique because it is made from mahogany, whereas he usually works with cedar. The carving is a likeness of himself, with his hair under his headdress carved in the style of Japanese artist Hiroshige, wearing a button blanket with an eagle. A carving by Roy Henry Vickers that was recently found on a boat in Mexico. (Steve McPhail) Carving instills confidence As for the boat, and the trip, Steve said he hopes to continue working on the ship, and plans to sail home in the spring. But he might have to leave those plans for another year. "A sailor's plans are written in the sand at a low tide," he said with a laugh. For Shannon, knowing about the carving and the intention behind it has made her feel confident, no matter what happens. "It's the spirit of going out to explore the world and to be safe," she said. "It feels really good."
CBC
09-02-2025
- Entertainment
- CBC
World-renowned Tsimshian artist's carving found by his B.C. neighbours on a sailboat in Mexico
Social Sharing A couple from Hazelton, B.C., says an unusual discovery while purchasing a boat in Mexico has instilled them with a sense of destiny for an upcoming round-the-world sailing trip. Self-described adventurers Shannon and Steve McPhail have been planning to sail around the world when their youngest daughter graduates high school next year. Shannon said she had been feeling apprehensive about the upcoming trip. But what they found on that boat in Mexico makes her feel like the voyage was meant to be. "It just felt like it was something that blessed our trip," Shannon said during an interview on CBC's Daybreak North. "It's an adventure that now I'm looking forward to with kind of a whole new sense of energy." 'I couldn't believe my eyes' The couple were on a sailing trip up and down the west coast of B.C. and Alaska when Steve found his dream boat online — a Fast Passage, made in Canada. "He found one in Mexico and he put a sort of a Hail Mary bid on it and it was accepted," Shannon said. Steve recently went down to work on the boat in the port city of Guaymas, as the vessel, he admitted, "needs a little bit of love." While he was admiring some of the artwork left behind on the vessel, a unique signature on one of the carvings caught Steve's eye. "I just took a closer look and I couldn't believe my eyes — Roy Vickers," Steve said. WATCH | Vickers sees his carving again for the first time in years: Tsimshian artist's carving discovered on a boat in Mexico 3 days ago Duration 0:13 A carving made by world-renowned B.C. artist Roy Henry Vickers was recently discovered by his neighbours, who had travelled from Hazelton, B.C., to buy a sailboat in Mexico only to see a familiar name inside. Roy Henry Vickers is a world-renowned Tsimshian artist. Perhaps more remarkably, he's also a close friend of the McPhails and a neighbour of sorts. Vickers lives 15 kilometres up the Skeena river from their home in Hazelton. "Instantly I messaged Roy and Shannon and yeah, it just blew my mind," Steve said. Distant memory Vickers is an author, painter and carver who is a member of both the Order of British Columbia and Order of Canada. One of his best-known works is King Salmon Housefront, on display at the Vancouver International Airport. He's also been nominated for a Grammy after creating the artwork for a Grateful Dead box set. Vickers says hearing about the carving brought back a faint memory from many years ago, when he was working in his gallery in Tofino in the 1990s. "It's like this beautiful memory that has come back to life," Vickers said. "That's one of the most unique pieces I've ever carved." He carved it for a friend who was doing exactly what Steve and Shannon are going to do — sail around the world, he said. The friend insisted the artwork stay with the boat, according to Vickers. He says the carving is unique because it is made from mahogany, whereas he usually works with cedar. The carving is a likeness of himself, with his hair under his headdress carved in the style of Japanese artist Hiroshige, wearing a button blanket with an eagle. Carving instills confidence As for the boat, and the trip, Steve said he hopes to continue working on the ship, and plans to sail home in the spring. But he might have to leave those plans for another year. "A sailor's plans are written in the sand at a low tide," he said with a laugh. For Shannon, knowing about the carving and the intention behind it has made her feel confident, no matter what happens. "It's the spirit of going out to explore the world and to be safe," she said. "It feels really good."
