Climate supporters disrupt NDP fundraiser urging the government and party donors to course correct on climate action

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səl̓ílwətaʔɬ (Tsleil-Waututh), xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), and Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish) territories (VANCOUVER, B.C.) –  As BC NDP Minister Adrian Dix and MLA George Anderson gathered with wealthy supporters and donors last night for a “Rooftop Counsel” at the high-end Parker Hotel, their evening was disrupted by community members calling on the government and party to recommit to climate action. 

“How is the BC NDP able to find millions of dollars to hand out to fossil fuel projects and host lavish dinners while we are in a more than 9 billion dollar deficit, and there are striking public sector workers and climate supporters banging on their door?” said Sven Biggs, Oil and Gas Campaign Director for Stand.earth. “We are crying out for a renewed commitment to critically important climate policy and an end to handouts to dinosaur industries like fracking and LNG.”

Community members interrupted the opulent dinner chanting “A dollar for the NDP is a dollar for climate-destroying LNG”. Since being re-elected in November 2024, the BC NDP has doubled down on dangerous LNG, providing a new $200 million subsidy to Cedar LNG, approving the US-owned Ksi Lisims LNG, and granting unprecedented extensions to expired environmental assessment permits for the accompanying Prince Rupert Gas Transmission PIpeline. Several of these projects have since prompted lawsuits by Indigenous Nations along the route who did not provide their consent to the project under the BC Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act. 

The dinner–with ticket prices ranging from $150 to $1,484 per plate–was billed as an evening where “profession meets the public service” where donors could also get access to Energy and Climate Solutions Minister Adrian Dix. Outside the hotel, a 17 foot tall inflatable version of Premier David Eby embracing oil and gas smokestacks continued alongside striking BCGEU workers who were also onsite. 

The BC NDP have recently become champions for the LNG industry, largely ignoring the serious upstream impacts, including increased fracking and methane emissions and the drastic impacts on BC’s freshwater supply. A new report released last week showed a 50% increase in freshwater use and contamination by BC’s fracking industry–directly related to the increase in fracking due to the newly operational LNG Canada Phase 1 export terminal. 

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Read more about debunked climate myths about LNG here

Contact: Kiki Wood, Senior Oil and Gas Campaigner – Stand.earth, kiki@stand.earth (Pacific Time)