With 20 proposals in a various stages of development, LNG is still a major focus for the Province of British Columbia, an industry that the Provincial Government has trumpeted for the last few years as one of the key elements for the province's economic future.
The Deputy Premier and LNG Minister Rich Coleman is the host of the three day gathering providing for both the opening remarks and the closing commentary on day three for this years event.
Opening day on Wednesday will also feature a keynote address from Premier Christy Clark.
Following that the work of the three day forum gets underway with a number of representatives of projects found in the Northwest among the participants.
Wednesday the theme of Global Opportunities in British Columbia will be explored, with the Presidents or Vice Presidents of LNG Canada, Pacific NorthWest LNG, Chevron Canada, ExxonMobil and AtlaGas all to give their thoughts on the prospects for LNG development, much of it in Northwest British Columbia.
The province's Minister of Finance Michael de Jong gives Wednesday's keynote address, while there are two more discussion panels on the day exploring financial strategies and the International Energy Landscape.
Thursday's discussion panels provide a full day of discussion on the development of the industry in the province, with sessions dedicated towards Marine Innovations, LNG Facilities, Technology and Innovation in Pipelines and upstream opportunity for BC's LNG industry.
Shirley Bond, the Minister of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training delivers Thursday's keynote address, followed by another panel discussion on issues related to skills and partnerships, as part of the Blueprint for jobs in the BC industry.
John Rustad, the Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation will be part of a conversation on that theme of LNG development, with Kevin McKay the Executive Chairperson for the Nisga'a Nation among those taking part.
How Post Secondary institutions are preparing for the prospect of LNG development will also be the focus of Day two with a number of representatives from post secondary education offer their overview.
Day Three on Friday features a look at partnerships with Youth and the opportunities that the LNG industry may offer students as they head into their post secondary years.
The theme of the LNG Buy BC program is next with a look at some of the successful engagement between small business and the LNG proponent companies. Among those taking part in that segment of the event is John Turpin, the President of Prince Rupert based Inlet Express
The environment will be the theme of a Conversation with Environment Minister Mary Polak, while Friday's keynote address is to be delivered by Christine Sinclair, the captain of Canada's National Soccer Team.
Rich Coleman, the Deputy Premier and Minister of Natural Gas Development puts the wrap on the event with his closing remarks on Friday afternoon.
In addition to all of the speeches and panel discussions, there is a trade show and special activities planned for youth to go along with the three days of overview on LNG.
The full agenda for the three day conference can be found here.
As we observed in this report today, some of that optimistic glow to the BC industry might be
finding a few shadows of late, as the international picture continues to change and the major investors, the large international oil companies that are behind the projects re-adjust their plans to ever changing shifts in the oil economy.
The key conversation for some this week might be the Bloomberg Business article which we highlighted here, one that suggests that the window is closing quickly and that could see that none of the Canadian proposals make it to a finish line.That is the kind of statement that could weigh heavy on the discussions for where the BC industry stands, though we suspect we won't be hearing much in the way of that particular theme coming out of Vancouver this week.
For more on the LNG files of the Northwest see our archive page here.
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