Statement from Alex Walker, Program Manager, Environmental Defence
Toronto | Traditional territories of the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishinaabeg, the Haudenosaunee, and the Wendat – Ksi Lisims is a harmful and unnecessary project which would open Canadians up to volatile global gas markets, increase global emissions, and harm BC’s environment through fracking and methane flaring. The project referral also includes the 800-km Prince Rupert Gas Transmission (PRGT) pipeline, which would transport fossil gas to the facility, costing up to $12 billion.
The project violates Indigenous rights, with the BC government issuing an environmental certificate for the project despite three First Nations explicitly denying their consent: the Lax Kw’alaams Band, and the Kitsumkalum and Metlakatla First Nations. There is nothing nation-building about violating Indigenous Rights.
The emissions produced from this project in British Columbia will be between 3-6 MtCO2e per year: up to 10 per cent of the province’s total annual emissions. When burned for energy abroad, the LNG will produce over 32 MtCO2e per year.
This project doesn’t fulfill the criteria the government said it would use to determine if a project was in the national interest. It does not advance the interests of Indigenous peoples and it does not contribute to clean growth and climate objectives. It is an oxymoron to call Ksi Lisims a nation-building project. Why has it been added to the list?
The North Coast Transmission Line is equivalent to a massive government subsidy to power heavy industries in Northern BC. It will transport BC’s clean hydroelectric power to fuel polluting industries in order to ship fossil fuels abroad to be burned. British Columbians foot the bill through their hydro rates and provincial taxes, but don’t receive the benefits of Made-in-Canada clean electricity.
Environmental Defence strongly urges the federal government to develop clear, transparent standards for what qualifies as a PONI under Bill C-5. Those standards must ensure that only projects aligned with Canada’s climate commitments, community well-being and environmental protections receive this designation.
Anything less turns the concept of nation-building into political cover for more pollution.
For more information on LNG, see our backgrounder here.
Background
Ksi Lisims (s’lisims) is a proposed LNG liquefaction and export terminal located in Wil Milit, British Columbia, on treaty land of the Nisga’a Nation. It has been granted a 40-year license to export 12 million tons per annum (mtpa) of LNG. The project is a partnership between the Nisga’a First Nation, Rockies LNG Limited Partnership, and Western LNG LLC. Secured financiers include Blackstone Inc., led by Trump-affiliated businessman Steve Schwarzman.
LNG from Ksi Lisims would also enter the global LNG market by 2030, when the International Energy Agency predicts that there will be a global oversupply of 65 billion cubic meters (bcm). Ksi Lisims has secured offtake agreements with Shell and Total Energies for just 17% of the planned lifetime output for the project. With foreign buyers and largely foreign investors, this project would offshore any potential economic benefits, while harming BC’s environment through disruptive construction, harmful gas flaring and fracking.
Earlier today, the Canadian Infrastructure Bank announced a $139.5 million loan to BC Hydro to support the early stages of developing the North Coast Transmission Line.
ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENCE (environmentaldefence.ca): Environmental Defence is a leading Canadian environmental advocacy organization that works with government, industry and individuals to defend clean water, a safe climate and healthy communities.
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For more information or to request an interview, please contact:
Midhat Moini, Environmental Defence, media@environmentaldefence.ca
