Remember a former TV news anchor, turned BC Liberal head cheerleader, who tweeted about the soon-to-be LNG jackpot, “What would you do with a trillion dollars” ... it’s a “A once in a generation bonanza announced in BC!”

Recently, according to Canada’s Energy Citizens, Senator Rosa Galvez, Chair of the Energy, Environment and Natural Resources Committee, made comments questioning industry’s commitment to their environmental responsibilities in the oil sands.

On April 2^nd she said, “when we fly over the oil patch, it’s a very sad vision. It’s a very sad environment. We can smell the petroleum and we can see that the land is scorched.”

Seriously .... she sees a land that is scorched?

Sadly, these comments do not reflect the reality of industry standards – standards that are some of the highest in the world – to maintain and ensure clean air and that land impacted by development is reclaimed and returned to a natural state.

 

BC NDP Premier John Horgan

Meantime a week and a half earlier (March 22^nd) Premier John Horgan, every changing his mind on resource projects, commented in a BC government media release that:

“The LNG Canada proposal has the potential to earn tens of billions of dollars and create thousands of jobs for British Columbians over the life of the project.”

“It’s a private-sector investment that could benefit our province for decades to come” .... YES, there’s a BUT coming ... “but not at any price – we need to make sure the values British Columbians believe in come first.”

Looking to the thoughts of the Green Party however, partners in a semi-coalition with the BC NDP, at least Adam Olsen is clear on where he sees things.

In late March Olsen commented that the Bill is legislating the tax policy for LNG Canada, and is one part of a package of incentives that the BC NDP government have used to entice the proponents to commit to the project.

Olsen went on to state, “The wrong incentives motivate us”, before continuing:

“We strongly oppose this LNG program developed by the BC NDP. And, we question our colleagues in the official opposition who exposed many holes in the program, yet continue to support it”.  

It should come as no surprise to anyone however that the BC Liberals are supporting an LNG industry in British Columbia.  That was one of the biggest tenets of their 2013 campaign.

Former BC Liberal Premier Christy Clark

A Province newspaper story prior to the 2017 provincial election reminded us about all of the promises we had been made by the Christy Clark Liberals:

Five massive LNG plants (maybe more), 100,00 jobs and billions of dollars in new government revenue – enough to wipe out the debt and maybe even eliminate the sales tax.

And then there was former TV news anchor, turned BC Liberal head cheerleader, who had tweeted about the soon-to-be LNG party, “What would you do with a trillion dollars” ... it’s a “A once in a generation bonanza announced in BC!”

Still, while the NDP’s partners, the Green Party, did not vote to support the LNG tax initiative, it was easily passed.  On April 4^th Premier John Horgan issued the following statement after the legislative assembly passed the Income Tax Amendment Act – the act which sets out the final pieces of the Province’s fiscal framework for liquefied natural gas projects in British Columbia:

“The legislative assembly has passed the final pieces of this government’s fiscal framework for LNG, which secures the largest private-sector investment in Canadian history.

“Our government set four stringent conditions for LNG in B.C.: a fair return for our natural resources, jobs and training opportunities for British Columbians, partnerships with First Nations, and the project must fit within our CleanBC plan.”

He then concluded by affirming the commitments that had been negotiated, while at the same time pledging an ongoing commitment and partnership with First Nations, 

“It takes hard work and commitment, but our government has shown it is possible to secure economic opportunity and prosperity for people, while taking bold action on climate change and pursuing meaningful reconciliation with Indigenous peoples.”

And this week it was announced that in five years from now, ships will be carrying 1.2 million tonnes of compressed BC natural gas from Kitimat to Asia annually. On April 9^th, Jera Company Inc (JERA) stated they were:

“… pleased to announce that it has entered into a Heads of Agreement (“HOA”) with Diamond Gas International Pte. Ltd., a subsidiary of Mitsubishi Corporation, for the sale and purchase of LNG from LNG Canada Project.  The contract is for the purchase of up to 16 cargoes of LNG a year for approximately 15 years beginning in fiscal 2024. This first procurement of LNG from Canada diversifies JERA’s supply portfolio and can be expected to contribute to stable and economical LNG procurement in the future.”

And according to “Together 4 LNG” ... the $40 billion LNG Canada terminal project has been called the largest infrastructure project in Canadian history and is already sparking an economic renaissance in BC’s north (see related story in Snapshots and Spotlights below). This week's announcement practically guarantees Kitimat will become Canada’s main energy connection to the Asia Pacific region....

Still, they said, while there are real concerns about any resource development project, and a lot of good scientists continue to scrutinize the potential effects of natural gas extraction ... it turns out they're pretty benign, as long as they are regulated and monitored properly and with a science-based focus.

In the 2013 election, BC Liberal Premier Christy Clark promised us ‘sunshine and lollypops’ with an incredible LNG industry just ready to explode on the scene ... an industry that would see 5 or more LNG plants built by 2020 (that’s next year by the way) ... over 75,00 jobs (upwards of 100,000) ... and a $100 BILLION dollar prosperity fund to pay off the provinces debt.

It never materialized ... although it is slowly now beginning to trickle into existence ... no thanks to Green Party leader Andrew Weaver ... and Premier Horgan’s own Environment Minister, George Heyman, who prior to becoming an elected MLA had been the executive director of Sierra Club BC, one of the province’s oldest environmental organizations.

So, LNG is coming ... contracts are being booked ... but as I was writing this an old saying came to mind .... A day late, and a dollar short.

According to the website Historically speaking, the saying means .... action taken was taken late and is of no use. An opportunity has not only been missed, but if it had been snagged, it would have been to no avail as there was inadequate preparations made that would have resulted in a favorable outcome.

In other words, it’s the same thing as saying too little, too late.

It was for the BC Liberals but hopefully for BC as a whole, it will be the start of other projects what will indeed see thousands of jobs created ... revenues to government that will stop the never-ending increases to the provincial debts, and much needed schools built all across the province.

Finally I would like those reading this to know that I did try over several days to get a response, for this story, from the BC Liberals Caucus Communications person.  Regrettably, that individual declined to answer my questions instead stating to me, “We’re happy to have you on our distribution list to receive news releases… and I can try to provide additional background information here and there… but can’t provide quotable commentary beyond that.”

This was disappointing given on many occasions I have been able to receive comments for questions asked, especially of several MLA’s.

Oh well ... there’s always next time.



P.S.  Before we start counting any money rolling from LNG, to BC government coffers, don't forget the lawsuit initiated by former Liberal, Democratic Alliance, and NDP MLA Gordon Wilson lawsuit:
Former B.C. Liberal leader and NDP cabinet minister Gordon Wilson will have his day in court – 10 consecutive weeks, actually – as a trial has been set for April 14, 2020 to hear his $5 million libel lawsuit alleging he was defamed by Surrey NDP MLA Bruce Ralston, Premier John Horgan, NDP MP Rachel Blaney and others concerning his job performance as advocate for the LNG, or liquefied natural gas program during Christy Clark’s Liberal government.

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