Industrial Development 2014-- Tuck Inlet LNG Terminal Project

As the City prepares to offer up land for development to Exxon/Mobil for an LNG terminal across from Seal Cove, we will track any developments on the proposal from this archive page.

Imperial Oil LNG
Exxon/Mobil  LNG



2014

December 5-- Council asks Staff for report on cost of Lot 444 Overview NCR
December 5-- Lot 444 Rezoning proposal gets official nod from City Council NCR
December 3-- Lot 444 goes to Public Hearing and Special Council Rezoning Session tonight NCR
December 3-- Economic benefits, environmental challenges of LNG terminal in Prince Rupert boundaries outlined
December 2-- New Council comfortable with level of information on Lot 444 rezoning proposal  NCR

November 26-- City provides outline and environmental report regarding Lot 444 plans  NCR
November 25-- The LNG discussion heats up with public hearing on Lot 444 in Prince Rupert (audio)
November 20-- Exxon/Mobil join up with the BC LNG Alliance  NCR
November 19-- Exxon becomes seventh member of B. C. LNG Alliance
November 17-- Lot 444 Information session set for November 25th  NCR

September 1-- Council sends Lot 444 amendments back to staff for revision  NCR

July 29-- Exxon eyes cheaper, floating LNG option for BC project
July 28-- WCC LNG outlines plans for terminal near Prince Rupert
July 18-- Imperial Oil sets July 24th for Public Presentation on Tuck Island LNG proposal  NCR
July 10-- Imperial Oil delivers an introduction to Tuck Inlet LNG proposal for City Council  NCR
July 7-- LNG Terminals once again on the agenda for Prince Rupert Council  NCR
July 2-- City promises transparency in LNG dealings

June 26-- Lot 444 becomes a talking point at Council  NCR
June 4-- Was it ignorance or deception?
June 3-- WCC LNG committed to Prince Rupert terminal
June 2-- A share of the LNG rush?  City's newly expanded boundary to include proposed LNG site  NCR

May 26-- City of Prince Rupert discussing LNG terminal on lands across from Seal Cove

April 25-- Imperial Oil: Not Close to WCC LNG Project Decision
April 24-- Imperial OIl says decision on Canadian LNG project still distant
April 3-- B. C. LNG export plant decision still several years away: Imperial Oil

March 5-- 'Too early" to judge B. C.'s LNG tax plan, says Imperial Oil CEO

City Council has questions for NWCC over program plans

It came at the end of a mid summer City Council meeting, the Mayor offering up his surprise and disappointment to learn that Northwest Community College had recently relocated the popular Electrical program from the Prince Rupert campus, centralizing it at the main campus at Terrace.

The Mayor offers up his observations on the issue at the 37:45  mark of the July 30th streaming broadcast of the council proceedings, seeking  a motion from council to request a meeting with NWCC officials to discuss this and other education related concerns that council may have.

It took a couple of prompts from the Mayor, but in the end Councillor Garon seconded the motion, a  situation that provided for further discussion from Councillor Carlick-Pearson on the importance of NWCC in Prince Rupert.

Following those talking points around the table, city staff  was instructed  to seek information from the college as to the reasoning behind the electrical move and perhaps to determine if there are any other local programs at risk as the college continues with its budget cutting.

As has been reported through 2012, NWCC is currently trying to resolve a budget shortfall of up to two million dollars, and with requirements to make up  that shortfall now in place, there have been cutbacks made at many of the campuses across the Northwest.

Council may be a day or two late to try and reverse the electrical program decision by NWCC, but by seeking further information, they at least have the opportunity to send a shot across the bow of the college administrators that they will remain watchful for further reductions at the Prince Rupert campus.

Update:  The Northern View examined the issue on August 3rd with details as to the reason for centralizing the program from the college's perspective as well as further information on the Mayor's thoughts.

Northern View--  Electrical Apprenticeship program no longer offered at Prince Rupert NWCC campus

A taxation tipping point?

While locals probably won't be heading to Prince Rupert harbour to dump tea into the ocean, there is it seems a growing rumbling of discontent over the increasing tax load that local taxpayers are having to shoulder over municipal government.

The first stirrings came back in March when the topic of the Emergency Services Building first came up for public debate, a forum that provided for a fair bit of anger over City Spending and perhaps offered up the first warning that the taxpayers are weary of the increasing hit, all while the City doesn't look at cost cutting measures.

It's part of growing theme across the province as municipalities try to come to grips with escalating costs, while facing dwindling revenue streams.

The Northern View seemingly has picked up on that theme over the last few weeks with an article and editorial on the costs of labour and services in Prince Rupert compared to Terrace.

City of Prince Rupert payroll $5.6 million higher than neighbouring Terrace
Difference in Prince Rupert's payroll a bit high

The rebuttal if you will from the City outlined the cost of such services as the Airport Ferry, the Golf Course and a Professional salaried Fire Department (as opposed to the mixed, mainly volunteer based service in Terrace).

City payroll so high largely due to ferry service and fire department

That was followed up by an online poll from the paper to gauge further the state of discontent over the issue.

The online forum and letters to the editor pages, have been the fulcrum of some of that conversation, though to suggest there is an overwhelming surge of rebellion in the air would be a stretch.

Northern View On line poll on City Spending

Northern View Letters: Wages show its time for a taxpayer revolt in Prince Rupert
Northern View Letters: Prince Rupert Council needs to see fiscal reality

Still, there perhaps may be further outbursts from local residents over the tax rate and how the monies collected are spent, however, those same residents will eventually have to come to some kind of decision as to what they wish for services.

Giving some thought as to which ones they maybe able to do without, or which they may wish to have sold off, or contracted out to private concerns.

A bit of feedback that might be quite instructive to Council which will then have to make some tough decisions, balancing the level of service to provide, with that for which the taxpayers are willing to pay for.

Previous items on the North Coast Review on this topic.

Pay days are more rewarding in Prince Rupert