The Ksi Lisims liquified natural gas project and North Coast Transmission Line are among the next group of projects to be considered for fast-tracking by the federal government.
Prime Minister Mark Carney was in Terrace Thursday morning to announce the next round of “nation-building projects” being referred to his Major Projects Office (MPO).
Part of Bill C-5, enacted in June, aims to advance infrastructure projects that serve the national interest. It gives the federal cabinet broad powers to speed up the regulatory process for projects that are identified through the MPO.
The first batch of projects was announced in September, and included two in northwest B.C. – the second phase of the LNG Canada facility and the Red Chris Mine expansion.
Premier David Eby said at an unrelated event in Langley today he’s “proud” to see two more B.C. projects being considered by the MPO.
“I’m counting on the federal government to be a strong partner for us in actually delivering these projects,” said Eby.
The provincial and federal governments gave the green light to the Ksi Lisims LNG project on B.C.’s north coast in September. Once fully operational, it would be able to export about 12 million tonnes of LNG every year to overseas markets in Asia.
The massive floating export facility would be located on the northern tip of Pearse Island, on Nisga’a Nation territory. The First Nation is a proponent of the project, along with Rockies LNG and Western LNG, though final investment decisions for the project haven’t yet been made.
The export terminal is slated to be built in South Korea by Samsung Heavy Industries and floated over to the site.
The project will depend on the construction of the 900-kilometre Prince Rupert Gas Transmission pipeline, which was granted a substantial start by the B.C. government in June.
The province has said the Ksi Lisims facility would be connected to B.C.’s electricity grid and is required to be net-zero ready by 2030.
The Lax Kw’alaams Band and the Metlakatla First Nation filed separate judicial review applications in Federal Court in October alleging their concerns about the adverse impacts of the massive LNG project were ignored.
Among the issues raised during consultations with First Nations was the proposed plan to use natural gas-fired power barges to electrify the project before it’s connected to B.C.’s electrical grid.
In a document outlining the reasons for the decision to approve the project’s environmental assessment certificate, B.C.’s Environment Minister Tamara Davidson and Energy Minister Adrian Dix dismissed concerns about rising capital costs and a potential oversupply in the global LNG market, noting the proponents ultimately bear the financial risk of the project.
They acknowledged Ksi Lisims would have potential negative effects on the region’s infrastructure, but argued the economic benefits would outweigh those risks.
Critics of the project have also pointed to Western LNG’s ties to U.S. private equity firms and the Trump administration.
Project overview documents filed with the B.C. government say the three proponents, including Nisga’a Nation, would be limited partners of the project, with Western LNG as the main owner and operator.
B.C. Green party leader Emily Lowan called the federal government’s decision “dangerous.”
“Ksi Lisims is 100% foreign-owned through Houston-based Western LNG, backed by U.S. private equity giants like Blackstone and Apollo Global Management. Its pipeline will be built by Bechtel, a U.S. defence contractor that’s made billions off war and oil,” said Lowan in a statement.
A group of First Nations leaders and community members also travelled to Terrace on Thursday to oppose the decision to fast-track the projects. They said the moves violate Indigenous rights and ignore active legal challenges.
“When they say ‘in the national interest,’ who is [Carney] speaking of?,” said Wet’suwet’en Hereditary Chief Na’Moks. “This is all American led, and the money to support this is coming from Canadians.”
Na’Moks told Vista News the group was denied entry to the site where Carney was set to speak, and were told only approved individuals and media were permitted for security reasons.
The North Coast Transmission Line is intended to support the construction of future major projects in B.C.’s north, such as mining and LNG expansion.
The first two phases of the project would twin the existing line running from Prince George to Terrace. The third phase includes the construction of new transmission infrastructure from Terrace to Bob Quinn Lake.
B.C. Energy Minister Adrian Dix has said the first two phases of the project are now expected to cost about $6 billion – doubled from previous estimates.
Carney announced the Canadian Infrastructure Bank is loaning BC Hydro $139.5 million to support the early works phase of the project.
The B.C. government has introduced two bills this year to help fast-track the transmission line.
Bill 14, or the Renewable Energy Projects (Streamlined Permitting) Act, was passed in the spring to allow certain renewable energy projects to bypass environmental assessments.
Bill 31, the Energy Statutes Amendment Act, was tabled last month and is now in its second reading. The bill aims to get the transmission line built faster and enable First Nation’s co-ownership of the project.
Other Canadian projects tapped for potential fast-tracking in Thursday’s announcement are the Canada Nickel’s Crawford Project in Timmins, Ontario, the Nouveau Monde Graphite’s Matawinie Mine in Saint‑Michel‑des‑Saints, Québec and the Northcliff Resources’ Sisson Mine in Sisson Brook, New Brunswick.
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