First Nations oppose Petronas’ LNG project

First Nations in the Skeena Watershed have declared their opposition to the proposed Petronas LNG project on Lelu Island, in the Skeena Estuary, Canada.

The First Nations have cited a lack of consultation and damage to the salmon habitat as the reasons for the opposition.

Chief Malii or Glen Williams, President and Chief Negotiator for the Gitanyow First Nation, said: "When BC, the Prince Rupert Port Authority and Petronas sited a massive LNG development on the Skeena River's most critical salmon habitat, they created the legal obligation to consult and accommodate First Nations who have an interest in Skeena salmon. We have written CEAA several times since spring 2013 to express our concerns with the project and requested bilateral consultation. The Crown has refused, stating that because of the distance between our traditional lands and the terminal it is not required. This flawed reasoning does not uphold the honor of the Crown. Despite this we have continued to do our homework and we now have concrete scientific evidence that shows our salmon rely on these area and anything they do in these sensitive ecosystems need to be vetted through our Chiefs. The lack of consultation is unacceptable, industry and government have completely ignored our constitutionally protected rights and we will not stand for it."

Other Chiefs say that poor siting of the proposed facility and failure to seek First Nations consent place the LNG project at serious risk.

The First Nations leaders are calling for Petronas as well as the provincial and federal governments to withdraw the LNG project from the Lelu Island site immediately.

Adapted from press release by Callum O'Reilly

Read the article online at: https://www.lngindustry.com/liquefaction/06112014/first-nations-oppose-petronas-lng-project-1744/