Premier Eby and Minister Hodgson’s LNG announcement: Agreement with Shell and other LNG Canada joint venture partners could lead to another billion dollar giveaway to a foreign-owned LNG project

səl̓ílwətaʔɬ (Tsleil-Waututh), xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), and Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish) territories (VANCOUVER, B.C.)  – Responding to Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, Tim Hodgson’s announcement that further funding will be open for foreign owned LNG projects.

According to recent industry analysis, LNG’s viability in the global market going forward is on very uncertain ground as Canada’s biggest customers rapidly pivot to and scale up domestic renewable energy sources.

Stand.earth Oil and Gas Campaigns Director, Sven BIggs, said:

“Today’s announcement confirms that LNG Canada Phase Two will only be built unless taxpayers pick up a significant portion of the costs. The first phase of this project received almost a billion dollars in tax breaks and hand outs from the B.C. and Federal governments. As long as these projects transfer wealth from regular Canadian taxpayers to oil and gas giants like Shell, they are definitely not in the national interest.”

Stand.earth, Oceans Campaigner, Anna Barford, said:

“Pollution is not normal, and not something that communities in B.C. need to accept. Flaring from LNG Canada and discharges from Woodfibre LNG are reasons to put a halt to expansion. The future is renewable, not fracked.”

“Successive conflicts over fossil fuels is a wake up call that the best way out of this fossil fuel-driven crisis is the rapid deployment of peaceful, cheap, and abundant renewable energy – so why is Canada still lagging behind the rest of the G7 in renewable investment while pushing risky and slow oil and gas megaprojects?” continued Biggs.

Canada can be a clean energy superpower if we pivot to building the wind and solar projects we would be proud to have in our backyards, but unless Prime Minister Carney changes course quickly, we’re going to get left behind.”

Notes for editors:

LNG Canada is currently flaring in excess and breaking the permits given by regulators, as is the construction of Woodfibre LNG.

Contact

Sven Biggs, Canadian Oil and Gas Programs Director – Stand.earth +1 778-882-8354, sven@stand.earth (Pacific Time)

Arin de Hoog, Communications, Oil, Gas and Shipping – Stand.earth. +1 613-978-7329, arin.dehoog@stand.earth (Eastern Time)