Prime Minister Mark Carney appeared in Terrace yesterday to announce a list of major projects that his government is hoping to fast track with the intention of helping the National Economy.
One of the projects that was on the list is Ksi Lisims LNG, a massive export facility being developed just off of BC’s northwest coast inside of the Nisga’a First Nation’s territory.
The Gitanyow Hereditary Chiefs are very opposed to that particular project and one of their office negotiators, Watakhayetsxw, directed a great deal of criticism towards the announcement;
“Minister Carney made sure he invited people that were going to back him up. Those people are in it for the money and not the environment. And he did not say anything today that would guarantee protection for my Wilp. That’s our territory they’re going to transect, but he never mentioned that. He just mentioned he’s going to bulldoze through the territory like he owns it. Well you can inform the Prime Minister he does not own it, we do.”
Wilp Sustainability Director Tara Marsden also spoke on the Gitanyow’s disappointment that they didn’t get an opportunity to give voice their opinion on the project to the government;
“It’s unfortunate we were not included in the discussion on this. We have been very clear about our concerns and transparently shared them with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans. We’ve never received any type of communication or discussion on the project. And I think the Prime Minister has made this determination in a very small circle of people and not those who are directly affected by this project in our region.”
They also disputed Carney’s claims that the project’s climate impacts is much better than other jurisdictions by saying that the project failed their own rigorous assessment on if a project is potentially harmful to the environment.
Another concern they have revolves around what they say is misinformation surrounding the project and Marsden highlighted some ideas on how to fix that.
“We’ve been calling for truth in advertising. Many people are familiar with the way cigarettes used to be marketed, that they were safe for your health and there was no ill effects to smoking tobacco. And with the branding of LNG and BC as being good for the climate, I think having more honesty and transparency in terms of the real impacts of LNG is needed. Maybe that requires some legislation. The BC Green Party has proposed legislation for truth in advertising around LNG.”
The Gitanyow have also been joined by the Council of Haida Nation in the voicing of concerns about the project while Lax Kw’alaams and Metlakatla have filed in Federal Court as well.