Factsheet: Partnering with First Nations on LNG development

Press Release

Liquefied natural gas (LNG) represents an unprecedented opportunity for British Columbia. The Province is working to ensure First Nations communities can be a part of B.C.’s emerging LNG sector. Access to skills training, good jobs, economic growth, and environmental stewardship projects are all part of the opportunity for First Nations.

The B.C. government is talking to more than 40 First Nations about financial benefits, skills training, and environmental stewardship associated with proposed natural gas pipelines and LNG infrastructure within their traditional territories.
Financial benefits offered are both immediate and long term: pipeline benefits packages deliver one-time payments to First Nations as they reach agreement with the Province, during construction milestones and ongoing benefits throughout the life of the project.
Nearly 90% of the 32 First Nations with proposed pipelines through their traditional territories, have indicated their support through one or more pipeline benefits agreements, including all 16 First Nations located along Chevron’s proposed Pacific Trail Pipeline route.
First Nations have been left out of economic development in B.C. for too long and, in many cases, need greater capacity to take full advantage of the LNG opportunity for their communities and for their community members.
Unemployment among First Nations is significantly higher than the general population, yet Aboriginal people are the fastest growing demographic in Canada. That’s why Aboriginal people are central to B.C.’s Skills for Jobs Blueprint, and it’s why the Province has launched a new Aboriginal Skills Training Development Fund – an investment of up to $10 million a year for community-based training programs.
First Nations in B.C. have been clear: the environment is just as important as economic growth for their communities. Northern and coastal First Nations leaders have worked with the B.C. government to create the Liquefied Natural Gas Environmental Stewardship Initiative to ensure that balance and establish strong environmental legacies.
B.C. has also extended the BC Training Tax Credit program for an additional three years to the end of 2017 and to encourage First Nations participation in trades, individual, and employer tax credits are enhanced by 50%.
LNG agreements with First Nations are a path to greater economic activity and prosperity for all British Columbians. They offer First Nations the opportunity to partner in economic development in a manner that provides industry with the certainty needed to make final investment decisions.
Throughout the province, 62 pipeline benefits agreements have been reached with 29 First Nations for four proposed natural gas pipelines – Prince Rupert Gas Transmission (PRGT), Coastal GasLink (CGL), Pacific Trail Pipeline (PTP) and the Westcoast Connector Gas Transmission (WCGT) natural gas pipeline projects.

Quick Links:

B.C.-First Nations Pipeline Benefits Agreements: ow.ly/FHpL0
Aboriginal Skills Training Development Fund Video: www.newsroom.gov.bc.ca/2015/04/bc-boosts-investment-in-aboriginal-skills-training.html
LNG project proposals: www.newsroom.gov.bc.ca/ministries/natural-gas-development/factsheets/factsheet-lng-project-proposals-in-british-columbia.html
Latest news information on LNG in BC: engage.gov.bc.ca/lnginbc
Follow the conversation on LNG using this hashtag #LNGinBC

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