VANCOUVER / UNCEDED xʷməθkʷəy̓əm, Sḵwx̱wú7mesh AND səlilwətaɬ TERRITORIES — Last Thursday, the B.C. government green-lit the Prince Rupert Gas Transmission (PRGT) pipeline by determining that the construction’s progress was enough to constitute a “Substantial Start”.

This decision will allow this destructive project to proceed despite its environmental assessment being over a decade old. The US-owned pipeline will supply fracked gas to the not-yet approved Ksi Lisims LNG terminal in Northern B.C. It doesn’t have the consent of all First Nations whose territories it crosses. This approval violates Indigenous Rights, will destroy critical watersheds for salmon and is disastrous for the climate.

“From passing Bill 15 to now approving this pipeline, the B.C. government continues to advance dangerous, Trump-style policy,” said Climate Campaigner Isabel Siu-Zmuidzinas. “It’s completely unacceptable and devastating to approve a decade-old fossil fuel infrastructure permit without consent from all impacted First Nations and when today’s climate science and reality is incredibly dire.”

“The BC NDP has continually claimed to oppose Trump. Yet, they are copying his fossil fuel expansion policies and giving handouts to his billionaire donors and advisors who are backing PRGT. This decision undermines their credibility on their commitment to respect Indigenous Rights, climate leadership and ability to actually face Trump,” Siu-Zmuidzinas said.

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For more information please contact:
Isabel Siu-Zmuidzinas | Climate Campaigner
781-572-2795, isabel@wildernesscommittee.org