WHEREAS liquid natural gas LNG development in northeastern BC and proposed pipelines, terminal facilities, and tanker transportation from the north coast will have large, cumulative environmental, social and economic impacts; AND WHEREAS this development is happening across BC impacting the land and communities of northern BC both civic and First Nation, without the means of meaningful consultation and involvement; AND WHEREAS comprehensive planning and cumulative impact assessment have been lacking to date: THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that UBCM request that the Province of BC and First Nations convene and co-chair a strategic economic and environmental impact assessment of LNG development in British Columbia; AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that UBCM request that the Province and First Nations invite the federal government to participate in this joint planning process.
Ministry of Natural Gas Development Minister Responsible for Housing The Province has recognized the desire of British Columbia communities, Aboriginal groups and other stakeholders to understand the cumulative economic and environmental impacts of LNG development. In response, the Environmental Assessment Office set out a strategic approach for review of these projects, which included early identification and resolution of strategic and operational policy issues across government; coordination of regional forums, open houses, working group meetings; and a seamless approach to the regulatory regime. The Environmental Assessment Office has worked with the Ministry of Community, Sport and Cultural Development to develop a Social and Economic Effects Management Framework to support identification and mitigation of community level service and infrastructure effects arising from the construction of LNG projects and provide opportunities for monitoring, reporting and ongoing engagement with directly affected parties. The Province is leading the development of the Environmental Stewardship Initiative. The Initiative proposes to bring together First Nations, the provincial and federal governments and LNG proponents to collaborate on projects related to cumulative effects, environmental monitoring, habitat restoration and research.
Minister of Natural Resources Economic and environmental impact assessments of proposed liquefied natural gas developments in the province are required and are in various stages of development. Jurisdiction over the development of natural resources in Canada is shared between the provincial and federal governments. Accordingly, the Government of British Columbia is responsible for the economic impact assessments for proposed liquefied natural gas developments within the province. While all of the proposed developments in the province require federal environmental assessments, most of the projects will undergo a single environmental assessment process conducted in British Columbia that meets the requirements of both the provincial and the federal governments. Two of the proposed projects will require the project proponents to file an environmental assessment separately to the federal government, as these projects are proposed to be constructed on federal lands. It is important to note that First Nations must be invited to participate in the regulatory review and environmental assessments for proposed liquefied natural gas developments should these proposals potentially impact their Aboriginal or treaty rights.