All First Nations agreements now in place for Coastal GasLink pipeline

TransCanada says it has signed project agreements with all 20 indigenous communities along its Coastal GasLink pipeline route from Northeast B.C. to Kitimat.

Support for the agreements comes from both traditional and hereditary leaders in the communities, the company said in a news release Thursday.

“When we first began this project over six years ago, our goal was to build more than just relationships with First Nations communities in B.C.; it was to build trusted partnerships, and that has made all the difference. We are grateful to these First Nations communities for this opportunity and appreciate the incredible support they have shown us over the years.”

Earlier this year, TransCanada said it had signed agreements to provide $620 million worth of contracts to more than a dozen First Nations governments and businesses.

Another $400 million in contract awards are expected, totalling a $1 billion impact for indigenous communities and businesses, TransCanada says.

Karen Ogen-Toews, CEO of the First Nations LNG Alliance, said the announcement was great news.

“When the pipeline goes through, it will mean employment and career opportunities for Indigenous people, and long-term revenue for their communities and councils," Ogen-Toews said in a statement.

Indigenous communities with agreements include:

1. Stellat’en First Nation
2. Saik’uz First Nation
3. Cheslatta Carrier Nation
4. McLeod Lake Indian Band
5. Saulteau First Nations
6. Kitselas First Nation
7. West Moberly First Nations
8. Lheidli T’enneh First Nation
9. Nadleh Whut’en Indian Band
10. Burns Lake Indian Band
11. Blueberry River First Nations
12. Halfway River First Nation
13. Doig River First Nation
14. Wet’suwet’en First Nation
15. Yekooche First Nation
16. Nee Tahi Buhn Indian Band
17. Skin Tyee First Nation
18. Witset First Nation
19. Nak’azdli Whut’en
20. Haisla Nation 

The $4.8-billion Coastal GasLink pipeline will take natural gas from Northeast B.C. to Kitimat, where it will processed and shipped to Asian markets through Shell's LNG Canada project. Both projects have secured regulatory approvals by the province, and a final investment decision on LNG Canada is imminent.

The project has been challenged over whether the province has jurisdictional authority over the pipeline, or the federal government.

Last week, a group of Northern B.C. mayors penned a letter to Michael Sawyer about his challenge, and voiced their disappointment with his 11th hour effort to stall the pipeline.

Email Managing Editor Matt Preprost at editor@ahnfsj.ca.

[Top image with article: Indigenous band agreements in place along the Coastal GasLink Pipeline route. Supplied​]