LNG industry will be hamstrung by opposition from FN bands

[blackbird]

Two FNs bands are taking a huge proposed LNG project on the BC north coast to court.  Same old story.

Something needs to be done to end these repeated roadblocks to making Canada an independent energy superpower.  Perhaps it could be just another attempt to grab a large chunk of wealth out of it.  

FNs bands and environmental groups who oppose industrial and resource development should never be able obstruct these projects.  We need some laws to prevent this from repeatedly happening.  This is bad for the economy, bad for jobs, and bad for all British Columbians.  Many of us are tired of it.

"B.C. First Nations make legal challenges to huge Ksi Lisims LNG project"

"

VANCOUVER — Two British Columbia First Nations are taking the federal government to court to quash a decision approving the Ksi Lisims floating natural-gas facility and marine export terminal.

The Lax Kw'alaams Band and the Metlakatla First Nation filed separate judicial reviews in Federal Court earlier this month, alleging the Minister of Environment and Climate Change ignored their concerns about the adverse impacts of the massive LNG project.

The  Impact Assessment Agency of Canada announced last month that the minister had given the greenlight to the facility off the northwest coast of B.C.

Federal Energy Minister Tim Hodgson hailed the decision -- just hours after B.C. issued an approval -- as an example of the federal government's "one project, one review" system in which it relied on the province for its assessment.

But the Metlakatla First Nation says in court documents that the decision relied on "speculative economic concepts" to justify the project's adverse impacts, while ignoring "mounting evidence" that it's not economically feasible.

The Lax Kw'alaams Band says in court documents that the project is to be located in its traditional territory, and threatens to displace its Aboriginal rights and title in "perpetuity."

Both applications say the Metlakatla First Nation and the Lax Kw'alaams Band have outstanding Aboriginal title claims for the Mylor Peninsula in B.C. Supreme Court, where construction of a transmission line is needed to power the natural gas facility.

The project to build two floating facilities off Pearse Island in northwest B.C. is huge, designed to process two-billion cubic feet of gas per day and export 12-million tonnes of LNG per year.

In September, two other legal challenges were filed in British Columbia claiming that a pipeline to supply the project had not been "substantially started," contrary to a decision made by the provincial government back in June.

The "substantially started" assessment meant that the environmental assessment certificate approving construction of the Prince Rupert Gas Transmission line, issued in 2014, remained valid.

The project is being developed in partnership between the Nisga'a Nation, Rockies LNG Limited Partnership and Western LNG, although documents show the project's assets will be constructed, owned and operated by wholly owned subsidiaries of Western LNG, based in Houston, Texas.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 23, 2025"

B.C. First Nations make legal challenges to huge Ksi Lisims LNG project

 

 

Edited October 23, 2025 by blackbird

[Nefarious Banana]

Hereditary Chiefs . . . Canada's stumbling block.

[eyeball]

11 minutes ago, Nefarious Banana said:

Hereditary Chiefs . . . Canada's stumbling block.

Instead of reconquest what are the chances of a civil war between conservative and progressive First Nations?

[CdnFox]

27 minutes ago, eyeball said:

Instead of reconquest what are the chances of a civil war between conservative and progressive First Nations?

Well it wouldn't be a civil war it would literally be a war between two nations.

It's always possible but what's more likely is a legal backlash where conservatives take power preventionally and federally and appoint people that see the law differently and the native start losing their rights just as they started gaining them when people sympathetic to their cause took power.

[blackbird]

"But the Metlakatla First Nation says in court documents that the decision relied on "speculative economic concepts" to justify the project's adverse impacts, while ignoring "mounting evidence" that it's not economically feasible."

How could the parties involved in investing and building such a project not have an idea how much money they would be making once the project is completed?   The Metlakatla FN's claim that it is "speculative economic concepts" and "not economically feasible" is complete nonsense.  Of course the companies know what kind of money will be generated by the project.  There is already an LNG terminal  in Kitimat that ships LNG.  So they obviously know how much LNG will be shipped and how much money will be coming in.  

The BC government also would have some idea of the kind of revenue they will get in taxes and royalties when the LNG begins flowing through the terminal.  This is a huge revenue generator and the FNs who are opposing it don't really know what they are talking about or just making up a fake narrative.  Their court case should be dismissed as frivolous.