Lheidli T’enneh Chief Dolleen Logan has criticized the $1.3 billion West Coast Olefins (WCOL)Ltd Natural Gas Extraction project set to be built in Pineview.
She says the project will cause environmental issues and add to the already low air quality Prince George deals with on a regular basis.
“The main message is, it’s not welcomed in Lheidli T’enneh territory, we don’t want them here and we know Pineview doesn’t want them here. We want the government to hear this message, I want the federal government to hear this message. I want Canada’s financial and energy sectors to hear this message,” she stated.
This announcement follows a meeting on July 27th, when Pineview residents gathered to share concerns over the project, which resulted in a vote that resulted in 270 against the project and 21 in favour of the project.
“And the Pineview residents, they bought homes out in the country and who wants their homelands to be turned into an industrial park? Not us, and definitely not Pineview.”
She adds many Pineview residents have reached out to her and asked her what her position was on the project, and she hopes this announcement will clear up any confusion.
Chief Logan says WCOL President and CEO Ken James once eluded to having approval from local First Nations to the Northern BC Resources Coalition Facebook Live program.
“The CEO of WCOL is not listening. As far back as December 2019 our former Chief, Dayi Pountney stated that our nation did not support the project after WCOL CEO Ken James told a business television program that the local community and the local First Nations are supportive of this,” she explained.
Chief Logan said since then, Mcleod Lake Indian Band Chief Harley Chingee has also made his disapproval of the project well known.
WCOL is now hoping to have regulatory approval in the next 9-12 months, aiming to start construction next year.
“Chief Dayi Pountney said not in our territory and myself, Chief Logan says no, not in our territory. They’re not welcome here on our unceeded traditional lands,” she added.
Additionally, WCOL proposed to build a $5.6 billion petrochemical plant in the BCR area.