BC Chiefs say approving Petronas gas project akin to declaring war

Indigenous leaders gather on Lelu island where the Lax Kw’alaams First Nation has set up camp to protest the construction of the Petronas LNG terminal. Photograph: SkeenaWatershed Coalition

by Mark Blackburn, APTN National News, April 19, 2016

OTTAWA — The fight over a mega gas pipeline project in British Columbia reached Ottawa Tuesday as chiefs and stakeholders opposed to the proposal shared a stage to get their message out.

“If they approve this project, I think (Prime Minister Justin Trudeau) declared war on the people who are concerned about this system,” said Gerald Amos, chair of the Friends of Wild Salmon on behalf of the chiefs assembled.

Lelu Island hereditary chiefs respond to Prince Rupert Port Authority

Indigenous leaders gather on Lelu island where the Lax Kw’alaams First Nation has set up camp to protest the construction of the Petronas LNG terminal. Photograph: SkeenaWatershed Coalition

by Gene Law, The Northern View, April 11, 2016

The hereditary chiefs of Lelu Island have responded to a Prince Rupert Port Authority demand they halt construction.

Simoyget Yahaan Donnie Wesley Gwishawaal Ken Lawson responded with an open letter to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

Port Authority orders construction on Lelu Island protest camp to stop

Cabin and tipi constructed on Lelu Island. Photo: Jeff Nicholls, Tsimshian.

by Shannon Lough, The Northern View, April 11, 2016

Protesters encamped on Lelu Island were asked to stop construction activities by the Port of Prince Rupert.

The site is where Pacific NorthWest has proposed a liquefied natural gas export terminal, which is still under review by the federal government. The protesters have occupied an area within the port’s administrative jurisdiction since the fall of 2015.

Save Lelu Island & Flora Banks Fund

by Stop Pacific NorthWest LNG/Petronas on Lelu Island, March 29, 2016

Since August 25, 2015, we have been occupying Lax U’u’la :”place where the seals are” (Lelu Island) & Flora Banks, territory of the Gitwilgyots Tribe, House of Gwishawaal, to practice our Aboriginal rights and title. By doing this we legally prevent and slow surveying, work, and construction of the Pacific Northwest LNG/liquified fracked methane project proposed near Port Edward, BC.

B.C.’s Pacific Northwest LNG project faces more delays

The site of the proposed Pacific Northwest LNG plant, Lelu Island, near Port Edward, Photograph by: http://www.lonniewishart.com , Vancouver Sun

By Gordon Hoekstra, Vancouver Sun, March 20, 2016

A federal review of the $12-billion Pacific Northwest LNG facility in northwest B.C. has been granted a three-month extension.

It further delays an already-lengthy decision on a major energy transportation project meant to open up new markets for natural gas in Asia.

Scientists want federal environment minister to reject ‘flawed’ B.C. LNG report on Lelu Island

By Gord Hoekstra, Vancouver Sun, March 9, 2016

More than 100 Canadian and U.S. scientists have concluded a federal environmental assessment of the $12-billion Pacific NorthWest LNG terminal is “scientifically flawed” and represents an “insufficient base for a decision.”

The scientists, in a letter dated March 9, are urging Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s Liberal government to reject a Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency draft report released last month that found the project would not adversely affect aquatic life, including salmon. The project has an estimated cost of $36 billion if development to extract gas in northeast B.C. and a pipeline to the coast are included.

Malaysia’s Petronas threatening to abandon B.C. LNG project over new climate change rules

The site of the proposed Pacific Northwest LNG plant, Lelu Island, near Port Edward, Photograph by: http://www.lonniewishart.com , Vancouver Sun

By Claudia Cattaneo, Financial Post, March 8, 2016

Malaysia’s Petronas is frustrated that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s climate-change priorities are introducing new uncertainty for its proposed $36 billion Pacific NorthWest LNG project in northern British Columbia and has threatened to walk away if it doesn’t get federal approval by March 31, according to a source close to the project.

The project, to be located on federal lands on Lelu Island near Prince Rupert, received a largely favourable assessment from the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency (CEAA) last month, was greenlighted by the British Columbia government in November, 2014, and received conditional corporate support — or a final investment decision — from Malaysia’s state-owned company and its partners in June of last year.

Update on Lelu Island, January 28, 2016

by Stop Pacific NorthWest LNG/Petronas on Lelu Island, Jan 28, 2016

On Thursday January 28 two of our boats went out to a hot spot for catching crabs near the Flora Bank. Unfortunately one of the drilling barges was right on top of the spot. Upon approaching the area, the Pacific Northwest LNG contractor boat “Glacial Mist”, owned by Brian Catherall, started in our direction to catch up with us. As we got close to the crabbing spot the “Glacial Mist” turned into our boat, ramming us at a high speed. The ridges on their hull got stuck on our bow. The skill of our vessel operator prevented our boat from capsizing.

Video: A Last Stand for Lelu – Official Trailer

Posted to Vimeo by VoVo Productions, Jan 18, 2016

Video: Lelu Island. Resistance on the water.

from BeyondBoarding, Vimeo.com, Nov 23, 2015