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 Canada香蕉视频直播檚 first large-scale liquefied natural gas project, LNG Canada香蕉视频直播檚 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.
香蕉视频直播淚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 香蕉视频直播� and the communities across B.C.香蕉视频直播檚 North and in the Lower Mainland that want these projects to succeed,香蕉视频直播� 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.
香蕉视频直播淭he number jumps to $937 million when we add in amounts for contracts in businesses in other parts of the Canada,香蕉视频直播� Calitz said. 香蕉视频直播淚t is just the beginning. We still have years of construction ahead of us.香蕉视频直播�
He expressed frustration with the attention focused on a dissident group of Wet香蕉视频直播檚uwet香蕉视频直播檈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, Gitga香蕉视频直播檃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-T香蕉视频直播檈nneh, Nadleh Whuten, Nak香蕉视频直播檃zdli Whut香蕉视频直播檈n, Nee Tahi Buhn, Saik香蕉视频直播檜z, Salteau, Skin Tyee, Stellat香蕉视频直播檈n, Wet香蕉视频直播檚uwet香蕉视频直播檈n, Witset and Yeekooche First Nations.
香蕉视频直播淭here is far too much at stake for LNG Canada not to defend our project,香蕉视频直播� Calitz said. 香蕉视频直播淣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.香蕉视频直播�
tfletcher@blackpress.ca
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