Statement on LNG Canada Final Investment Decision

Today a positive final investment decision was reached on phase one of LNG Canada’s proposed LNG export facility in Kitimat. My office released the statement below in response to this announcement.


Media Release


Weaver statement on LNG Canada FID
For immediate release
October 1, 2018

VICTORIA, B.C. – Andrew Weaver, leader of the B.C. Green Party, responded to the news that the LNG Canada project has received a positive final investment decision (FID).

“I am deeply disappointed that the NDP minority government’s tax giveaway has resulted in the country’s single biggest source of emissions receiving an FID,” said Weaver.

“Adding such a massive new source of GhGs means that the rest of our economy will have to make even more sacrifices to meet our climate targets. A significant portion of the LNG Canada investment will be spent on a plant manufactured overseas, with steel sourced from other countries. B.C. taxpayers will subsidize its power by paying rates twice as high and taking on the enormous public debt required to build Site C. There may be as little as 100 permanent jobs at LNG Canada. I believe we can create far more jobs in other industries that won’t drastically increase our emissions.

“In opposition, the NDP were outspoken critics of the Liberal’s LNG regime, then rightly noting that it did not amount to a fair value for our resource and that the emissions were too high. Our Caucus was shocked when they turned around and delivered an even larger giveaway once in power. We did everything we could to deter them from making this decision, but we are only three MLAs up against the 84 whose parties support the heavy subsidization of this industry.

“It breaks my heart that the young people of today must watch as politicians who once professed to champion climate action and a hopeful vision for the future instead succumb to the temptation of short-sighted political wins. Young people deserve better and our Party will keep fighting for them.

“Our Caucus has been clear that we do not support the government’s LNG regime. The government does not have our votes to implement this regime and will have to work with the B.C. Liberal MLAs if they want this project to go forward.

“Despite our profound disappointment on this issue, we have been working closely in good faith with the government to develop a Clean Growth Strategy to aggressively reduce emissions and electrify our economy. The B.C. NDP campaigned to implement a plan to meet our targets and reaffirmed that promise in our Confidence and Supply Agreement. We will hold them to account on this. We will have more to say once that plan becomes public later this year.”

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Media contact
Jillian Oliver, Press Secretary
+1 778-650-0597 | jillian.oliver@leg.bc.ca<mailto:jillian.oliver@leg.bc.ca>

4 Comments

  1. Virginia Pollock-
    October 17, 2018 at 1:07 pm

    The LNG project is a win for foreign interests. Because of eatables markets selling natural gas cheaper out product will not be able to compete with them. Producing a product in this playing field at a loss is so counter productive it boggles the mind why Canada would go into debt to do this. We are taking from our country wealth to give to foreigners.
    This is not a win for us. The whole setup is horrible! In fact the Three sisters with Iran will gain from our foolishness. Canadians taxpayers are going in a countinuous debt where we get nothing and this foreign powers get everything. I don’t like these foreign powers, where terrorism breeds.
    What on earth is driving the LNG in Canada. I can see a few top people getting very rich in Canada while they care less about Canadian citizens. I guess these men are the Globalists who now take everything for themselves and throw the rest of us under the bus.
    LNG is a lose lose for Canada, it’s citizens and a win for a handful of international movers and shakers.
    Throwing Canadians into debt is a Liberal pastime and we are sickened by their blatant disrespect and bullying.

  2. Elaine-
    October 2, 2018 at 5:17 pm

    All serendipity- Federal subsidies payoff. First Site C, now LNG
    —- next I suppose TMP.

    I rebut M. Dutchak, who demeans himself by even alluding to Mr. Weaver’s understanding of economics!!! Andrew Weaver is an idealistic example of our times for all who are striving for a cleaner/ greener environment for our children.

  3. Malcolm Dutchak-
    October 2, 2018 at 12:17 pm

    sad to see you don’t understand economics very well, besides the 100 permanent 100’s of spinoff jobs created in Kitamit never mind thousands of jobs doing further development in NE BC and our two other neighbor provinces in developing natural gas fields

    we also all breath the same sir world wide so if LNG used in other countries will cut down on pollution that is helping clean the sir for my kids and grandkids

    you need to look at the BIG picture not your small narrow views

    thank you
    Malcolm Dutchak

  4. Donna Modeste-
    October 2, 2018 at 9:49 am

    Does anyone care that First Nation Hereditary Chiefs were not consulted. These politicians think they can wine and dine any First Nation person from an Indian Act band office to gain consent on these toxic deals.