Ottawa gives conditional approval to giant LNG project for B.C. coast
RICHMOND, B.C. — The federal government gave conditional approval Tuesday to the massive Pacific NorthWest LNG project planned for British Columbia’s northwest coast.
Environment Minister Catherine McKenna, Natural Resources Minister Jim Carr and Fisheries Minister Dominic LeBlanc travelled to Richmond, B.C., to announce their government’s acceptance of what is expected to be one of the largest infrastructure investments in Canadian history.
There are 190 legally binding conditions attached to the approval, including for the first time the imposition of a condition placing a maximum cap on greenhouse gas emissions, McKenna said.
“This project was subject to a rigorous environmental assessment and today’s announcement reflects this commitment,” she told a news conference, which was interrupted by three hecklers from the Lax Kw’alaams First Nations band as the ministers spoke outdoors on the waterfront near Vancouver’s airport.