Historic Agreement Signed with 2 First Nations
Victoria, B.C.- The Province has signed revenue sharing agreements with Lax Kw'alaams and Metlakatla First Nations on two proposed LNG developments on Grassy Point.
They are the first revenue sharing agreements with First Nations in B.C. on LNG development. Premier Christy Clark says there is still work to do with other First Nations in that region.
The agreements provide the two First Nations with a portion of provincial government revenues from Sole Proponent Agreements (SPA) related to the Grassy Point lands, and proponents Aurora LNG and Woodside.
The Woodside SPA is for the southern parcel of Grassy Point while the Aurora LNG SPA is for the northern part of Grassy Point.
"We want to make sure our voice is heard when it comes to development within our traditional territory," said Chief Harold Leighton, Metlakatla First Nation. “Revenue sharing agreements are a good example of how things can happen when we approach LNG and other types of development in the spirit of partnership and cooperation.”
Chief Leighton added, “We have come to a time where status quo is no longer acceptable. We have an opportunity to build an economy and improve the social well being of the Metlakatla and the northwest. Unfortunately for First Nations, time is not with us. As First Nations we have to prepare ourselves and find ways we can work together and collaborate so that we are ready when any type of development happens in the north. We have to take advantage of these opportunities. When we look at LNG and the developments that are there and the benefits they could bring to the whole north, the Province, the country and the Metlakatla, we want to be part of that.”
Premier Christy Clark says the agreements will provide the stability First Nations, industry and the province need to make the development of LNG possible. Clark can’t say when revenue sharing would begin, but made it clear without such an agreement, the projects would not happen.
Development at Grassy Point is subject to various regulatory approvals and a final investment decision by the proponent.
Comments
“Clark canât say when revenue sharing would begin, but made it clear without such an agreement, the projects would not happen.” .. and will you still say that when no native bands sign agreements to let Enbridge cross their territories? We’ll see.
A giant step forward for everyone in BC, Thank you for your vision of the future.
More power to them, they obviously negotiated the consultation and accommodation process to the satisfaction of the Province, the LNG Company, and more importantly, those First Nations. Revenue sharing has always been the preferred approach for a majority of First Nations.
As for comparing a LNG pipeline to a Tar Sands Oil pipeline, there is no comparison. When a LNG pipeline ruptures and ignites, the contents burns off, if unignited, the natural gas just dissipates into the air.
When an oil pipeline ruptures, it almost never ignites, and oozes it’s contents all over God’s creation, making it’s toxic presence felt for decades.
Little wonder First Nations look upon LNG more favorably than oil.
Why do you call it tar sands?
You do realise the oil sands have leached into the environment since formed.
I’m talking about taking natives rights in consideration when making deals with extraction companies. Doesn’t matter what the extraction or industry is, the playing field and process is the same. But gov’ts are famous for considering rights only when it suits them. And I don’t think everyone would agree with you calling BC gods creation. The big bang may have something to say about that.
Seamut, in my opinion, some seem to use the term Tar Sands as an attempt to appear more opposed to the Oil Sands. After all, TAR sands sound far dirtier than OIL Sands, now doesn’t it!
The funny thing about tar and oil is that both are naturally occurring products. The following is the Wikipedia definition of Tar:
“Tar is a substance obtained from a variety of organic materials through destructive distillation. Tar can be produced from coal, wood, petroleum, or peat. It is black, and a mixture of hydrocarbons and free carbon.] Production and trade in pine-derived tar was a major contributor in the economies of Northern Europe and Colonial America. Its main use was in preserving wooden vessels against rot. The largest user was the Royal Navy. Demand for tar declined with the advent of iron and steel ships.
Tar-like products can also be produced from other forms of organic matter such as peat. Mineral products resembling tar can be produced from fossil hydrocarbons including petroleum. Coal tar is produced from coal as a byproduct of coke production. Bitumen is a term used for natural deposits of oil “tar” â such as at the La Brea Tar Pits.”
“The word “tar” is often used to describe several distinct substances which are not actually tar. Naturally occurring “tar pits” (e.g., the La Brea Tar Pits in Los Angeles), actually contain asphalt rather than tar. Tar sands deposits (sometimes called oil sands) contain various mixtures of sand (or rock) with bitumen or heavy crude oil and not tar (e.g., the Tar Tunnel in Shropshire). “Rangoon tar”, also known as “Burmese Oil” or “Burmese Naphtha”, is actually petroleum. “Tar” and “pitch” are sometimes used interchangeably; however, pitch is considered more solid while tar is more liquid.”
So, are we dealing with a Tar Sands Oil Pipeline or an Oil Sands Oil Pipeline?
Perhaps by arguing against TAR Sands development instead of OIL Sands development, some people get a warm and more fuzzy feeling about themselves as they utilize oil and oil byproducts, including many of the components of the very computers that we use to post!
But, I could be wrong!
Until we actually get some long term contracts signed from the major LNG companies that want to export this gas, I am not going to get too excited about this project.
It seems that we don’t actually have the huge reserves that the Government is harping about. At least we do not have them in areas that are easily accessible .
Furthermore established gas fields are declining at about the same rate as the new fields come on stream, so in effect we do not have anywhere near the amount that the Liberal Government would have you believe.
So it all comes down to signed contracts with purchasers of this gas, which I understand are usually for 20-30 years,.
No signed contracts. No LNG plants.
Palopu..Spend some time in the north east portion of this province and your opinion will change.. They don’t build billion dollar gas plants in the middle of no where because there aren’t any gas reserves.. One word is all you need to know…”Komie”..
Getting free money and not having to work for it. Bet the land isn’t even on their territory.
Northman if gas plants where built in the middle of no where, how would it be transported?
The mighty cold liquid natural gas.
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