Chamber of Commerce welcomes Pacific NorthWest LNG announcement

The Prince Rupert Chamber of Commerce has offered its first comments following yesterdays announcement of Conditional Approval for the proposed LNG Terminal project at Lelu Island, highlighting the potential that the project offers for the entire region.

While acknowledging that there are still two main conditions attached to any Final Investment Decision by Pacific NorthWest, the Chamber, in a media release from President Rosa Miller today offered up a few initial thoughts related to the news out of Vancouver yesterday afternoon.

“The local business community will definitely benefit from the confidence shown by Pacific Northwest LNG in B.C.’s growing natural-gas economy ... Although there are two main conditions attached to the final investment decision, and still work to be done, the company has worked hard to ensure all stakeholders have been engaged through its engineering and consultation processes so far."

Ms. Miller further offered up some thoughts as to the what this weeks announcement might mean for the community and surrounding area should the conditional announcement evolve into a Final Investment.

"With the potential to create thousands of jobs over the next few years, all aspects of the local economy will be strengthened by this project,” she said. “This is a very good day for Prince Rupert.”

Today's announcement of Chamber of Commerce support for the latest developments on the LNG file follows a similar declaration of support which came last month, which came at the time of the announcement of the memorandum of understanding between the Provincial Government and Petronas/Pacific NorthWest LNG.

More local reaction was also received today from the Metlakatla Governing Council, which outlined for CFNR News, that the Metlakatla First Nation will be adopting a wait-and-see approach to this weeks developments.

Chief Harold Leighton noted for the radio station that the project would bring potential opportunity for the Metlakatla people, but that the First Nation is also waiting for more research and analysis before discussion any outstanding issues with the energy company and federal agencies.

Last December, Metlakatla and Pacific NorthWest LNG signed a Benefit agreement regarding the impact of LNG on the community.

As for the opinion of one Federal Agency, the Globe and Mail today is reporting that the Department of Fisheries and Oceans has provided an in-depth presentation towards the CEAA process, outlining what Globe reporter Brent Jang calls an environmental road map for Pacific Northwest LNG to follow when it comes to the environmental issues related to the Lelu Island site.

The Globe also reviewed how Natural Resources Canada submitted a report to the CEAA , one which shared many of the views from DFO when it comes to some of the conclusions that Pacific NorthWest LNG has provided to the federal environmental overview.

For more background on yesterday's announcement see our item from earlier today, further information related to the the Pacific NorthWest LNG proposal can be found on our archive page.