The recent news that the Northwest Transmission Line (NTL) project has received an environmental assessment certificate is fantastic for the advancement of the mining industry in Northern British Columbia and Prince George’s role as a service and supply centre.

 

The project may enable up to $15 billion worth of mine development activity, though this will not happen all at once. Over time, the project may facilitate power production along the Highway 37 corridor. Apart from this, local and provincial taxes over the lifespan of the NTL project alone will be $97 million including provincial commodity taxes($10.9 million), personal taxes ($9.6 million), corporate taxes ($1.7 million), and property taxes ($75 million) for local government coffers. During the three‐year construction phase, the project is expected to generate more than 860 person‐years of employment.

 

Along with long‐term mine and power development and short‐term construction benefits, the NTL provides a number of lessons about how to “get to yes” on significant land‐based economic development projects in contemporary

Northern British Columbia.

 

The first lesson is the general role and power of partnership. The Northwest Transmission Line Coalition brought together people from across the North and included First Nations, mining, community, and economic development interests. This in and of itself provides the impetus for senior governments to listen.

 

Second, inclusion of First Nations in significant projects from the outset is imperative. From the beginning, First Nations along the NTL route were included and involved in all NTL Coalition meetings and activities. Inclusion as true partners and moving beyond a “check‐list” approach to consultation and accommodation of First Nations interests generates positive results.

 

Third, is the importance of a productive federal‐provincial relationship. Over the past number of years, the prioritization of major projects coupled with productive relations between the federal and provincial governments has delivered results. In the case of the NTL, the positive federal‐provincial relationship yielded significant results: under a

November 6, 2010 agreement, the federal government delegated to the BC Environmental Assessment Office responsibility for the parallel federally required assessment. This doubtlessness expedited the issuance of an environmental assessment certificate, and demonstrates that a “one project, one process” approach to environmental assessment and review works and should be replicated whenever and wherever possible. The other item is the arrangement for sharing the $404 million total project cost. Federal‐provincial cost‐sharing has enabled a whole host of northern infrastructure projects, the NTL now among them. With the provincial government in transition, it is important to ensure that this continues.

 

The NTL is a project that clearly demonstrates the power of broad partnership, the imperative of early and meaningful inclusion of First Nations, and the vital importance of productive federal‐provincial relations. The beneficiaries of this success will be hard‐pressed communities in Northwest British Columbia and many service and supply businesses in Prince George, the north’s largest city. The NTL is also a critical milestone in IPG’s ongoing efforts to catalyze Prince George as a sustainable, knowledge‐based, resource economy connected to the world.

 

- Tim McEwan is the President and CEO of Initiatives Prince George