Thoughts on BC Politics and More

The BC government and the proponent of a controversial gas pipeline are facing two challenges in the province’s Supreme Court seeking to revoke the project’s environmental certificate.   Last week, Gitxsan Nation hereditary chief Charles Wright (also known as Luutkudziiwus) filed a request for a judicial review alleging the government failed to consult the hereditary chief and incorrectly declared the Prince Rupert Gas Transmission (PRGT) project as “substantially started” ... ... “We want to be clear that this isn’t about stopping the PRGT project,” Wright said in a statement Monday. “We hold rights and title to our territory, and we have a duty to fulfil our stewardship responsibilities under our own laws. That means no pipelines in Madii Lii territory”  ... CLICK HERE for the full story

A pipeline project jointly owned by the Nisga’a Nation and a Houston-based company is seeking Indigenous equity partners as the B.C. government prepares to rule on the fate of the proposed route across northern British Columbia. The provincial government is reviewing an environmental regulator’s draft report in order to render the decision on the future of Prince Rupert Gas Transmission (PRGT) Ltd., which would transport natural gas from northeast B.C. to the West Coast. The BC Environmental Assessment Office’s 24-page draft report, obtained by The Globe and Mail, said PRGT is currently co-owned 50-50 by the Nisga’a and Western LNG. “PRGT Ltd. stated that it created equity ownership opportunities for any First Nation,” according to the draft report. The pipeline project‘s co-owners also say they are committed to providing employment to Indigenous people ... CLICK HERE for the full story