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Volume 62 No. 02
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Sentinel
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Northern
www.northernsentinel.com
LNG Canada gets permit Cameron Orr LNG Canada is celebrating a notable milestone in their efforts to bring their liquefied natural gas project to fruition in Kitimat. The company announced last Tuesday that the B.C. Oil and Gas Commission has granted them a facility permit which gives the company the go-ahead on construction and operation based on their technical plans. This is separate from the provincial government’s environmental review which granted them an environmental certificate last year. This also does not mean the company has made a final investment decision to actually build the project, merely that it has a key permit in place should they move ahead. Receiving this permit is notable as well because the company says they are the first LNG project in B.C. which has received such a permit. “We have made excellent progress in the past two years, achieving a number of critical milestones,” said Andy Calitz, CEO of LNG Canada. “Receiving our LNG Facility Permit could not have been achieved without the important input we received from the Haisla Nation and the local community of Kitimat. We continue to progress our project and appreciate the ongoing support from First Nations, the local community and other stakeholders.” The permit does include a number of conditions. “We have reviewed these conditions and are confident that we will meet these conditions as they are aligned with LNG Canada’s core safety values and commitment to protect the environment, the community and our workers.” Continued on page 2
A call to arms against dog poop.
/page 3 Kitimat is home to a top Canadian breeder. /page 12 PM477761
Wednesday, January 13, 2016
1.30 INCLUDES TAX
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We need 3 CCs of Hot Chocolate, stat! Volunteers in Kitamaat Village have continued the Polar Bear Swim tradition with a chilly dip in the Douglas Channel from the Village’s boat launch January 1. The dip took place at 1 p.m. to allow time for the tide to rise. Trained water rescuers were, thankfully, on hand if needed. Trevor Amos
Haisla, DOK invite PM for visit Cameron Orr The Haisla Nation Council and the District of Kitimat have locked arms as they call for a visit by the Prime Minister of Canada. A letter, publicly released January 8 but dated December 22, signed by both Haisla Chief Councillor Ellis Ross and Mayor Phil Germuth, asks Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to consider a visit to the area in early 2016 “to see firsthand how we are working together with industry to build a liquefied natural gas export industry that will benefit all Canadians.” The letter continues that “both our communities strongly support LNG. We are comfortable with the industry’s safety record and its plans to minimuze environmental impacts in our valley and on our waters. Our people have already started benefitting from the employment, training, and entrepreneurial opportunities that have appeared in the last few years as these developments have progressed.” The authors of the letter express
Now-Prime Minister Justin Trudeau speaking to then-Kitimat Mayor Joanne Monaghan in August 2014. He’s been encouraged to return. their belief that once the Prime Minister experiences firsthand the positive changes happening to Kitimat and Kitamaat Village from LNG that he’ll “recognize the Canada-wide economic benefits that would come about if Canada is able to build a clean and stable LNG industry. We would then ask that the federal government take on a stronger voice in favour of LNG exports and use its good
offices to promote the opportunity to our global trading partners.” A call to the Prime Minister’s Office for a response by the Sentinel was not returned by press deadline. While Trudeau has issued the mandate letters to his ministers, there was no specific direction made in relation to natural gas or LNG to the environment minister.