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Hamilton Spectator
3 days ago
- Hamilton Spectator
In Sḵwx̱wú7mesh, legal challenge fails to stop contentious floatel — but affirms women's rights
When a federal judge ruled last month in favour of Woodfibre LNG's floating work camp to keep housing workers near Sḵwx̱wú7mesh, it seemed at first glance the legal challenge had failed. The judicial review case asked the court to overturn the federal government's approval of the 'floatel' — a former Estonian cruise liner converted into a massive worker accommodation vessel, stationed seven kilometres from Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) in Átl'ḵa7tsem (Howe Sound). 'I guess I was hoping that it would be a way for us to stop Woodfibre LNG,' Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Elder Tiaoutenaat (Jackie Williams) reflected, as she sat shaded from the sun at St'á7mes (Stawamus), one of the nation's six reserves. Tiaoutenaat was one of the applicants behind the judicial review case, alongside a 17-year-old Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Youth (whom IndigiNews is not identifying as she is a minor) and local environmental group My Sea to Sky. In the end, Justice Sébastien Grammond upheld the floatel's authorization. But according to the lawsuit's applicants, the case became about something bigger. And after the province launched public consultations on adding a second floating workforce housing vessel on July 8, the stakes for those concerned about gender-based violence are even higher. Although the judge didn't strike down the government's approval of the floatel, he acknowledged in a June 20 ruling that the presence of a largely male construction workforce could potentially increase the risk of gender-based violence in nearby communities. He also accepted that this violence risk — although 'open to debate' — touches on core guarantees to safety, equality, and protection from discrimination in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. 'I am prepared to assume, without deciding, that the presence of a largely male construction workforce gives rise to a heightened risk of gender-based violence in neighbouring communities,' Grammond wrote, noting gender-based violence impacts values enshrined in the Charter. 'These values translate into a duty of the state to take reasonable measures to prevent gender-based violence. There is a sufficient nexus between greenlighting the floatel proposal and a heightened risk of gender-based violence.' Sue Brown, the lawyer representing Tiaoutenaat and the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Youth through the advocacy group Justice for Girls , said this framing creates a legal pathway for future cases, even if the court didn't rule definitively on those rights here. 'We got a really, really strong statement from the court on the Charter and how it ought to apply in the context of decisions related to oil and gas projects,' she said. Brown says the court's decision creates a precedent — affirming authorities have a 'due diligence obligation' to consider and prevent gender-based violence when they review proposed extractive industry projects. 'The state now has an obligation to fulfill that duty,' Brown said. She added that this is the first time she's seen a 'Canadian' court articulate that obligation so clearly — a step she described as 'massive.' The Eagle Mountain-Woodfibre Gas Pipeline — operated by FortisBC to supply the liquefied natural gas (LNG) plant — spans roughly 47 kilometres, starting near the Coquitlam watershed and ending at the Woodfibre LNG terminal on the shores of Átl'ḵa7tsem. A short boat ride from Sḵwx̱wú7mesh, the plant is visible from Sp'akw'us (Feather Park), the town's new beachfront park, and the highway — particularly at night when intense floodlights cast a glow across the inlet, making it resemble a small industrial city. A nine kilometre tunnel will pass beneath the Skwelwil'em (Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Estuary) and connect to FortisBC's existing infrastructure, carrying fracked gas extracted in northeastern 'B.C.' and 'Alberta' through a network of pipelines across the province. When the gas reaches the Woodfibre plant, it'll be cooled into liquid using hydro-powered electric compressors and loaded onto tankers, which will voyage past 'Vancouver' and 'Victoria' before heading to markets in Asia. Companies including British-owned BP and Chinese-owned Guangzhou Gas are already contracted to receive exports. The province promotes LNG as part of a cleaner energy future . But some Sḵwx̱wú7mesh community members remain troubled about the long-term impacts of fracked gas and increased industrialization in their homelands and beyond. Recent federal moves in response to the trade war — such as the recently enacted One Canadian Economy Act (Bill C‑5), along with 'B.C.'s' new provincial legislation (Bills 14 and 15) — would fast-track similar industrial projects. The bills position major extractive projects such as oil and gas as matters of national and economic security. Back in 2015, Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Nation's elected government signed onto the Woodfibre and its associated pipeline projects, saying it 'conducted the first legally-binding Indigenous-led environmental assessments in Canada,' through 'extensive community engagement.' But as Tiaoutenaat alleged, 'They called a community meeting at the 13th hour,' arguing the meeting had low turnout with an estimated 30 people. She said a majority of participants opposed the proposed deals, requesting instead a community referendum. But the nation went ahead with the project, saying that it 'voiced the need for the nation's culture, values and priorities to be reflected when assessing such large projects,' Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw states on its website . 'Between 2013 and 2015 … extensive community engagement and technical review led to the nation ultimately approving both projects with conditions to ensure environmental, cultural, archaeological, and social priorities were addressed with nation oversight.' Meanwhile, many members of the newly elected council that followed, in 2017, ran under a campaign that opposed Woodfibre. 'I think that the last council was guided by a set of principles that they tried to bring forward and I think that the community didn't agree with those principles,' elected councillor Khelsilem told CBC at the time. 'I think the community spoke loudly and clearly that they do not support the development of Woodfibre LNG in our territory and they've elected people who are ready to stand up for our environment.' IndigiNews requested an interview with Sḵwx̱wú7mesh leadership but did not hear back before publication time. Community members like Tiaoutenaat still remember the harm caused by the old Britannia Mines (closed in 1974), the Woodfibre Pulp Mill (closed in 2006), and the FMC Canada/Canadian-Oxy mercury cell chlor-alkali plant (closed in 1991). With so much industry located on the waters of Átl'ḵa7tsem, there have been decades of pollution which drove marine life away, she reflected. 'We're only just seeing it come back to life,' said Tiaoutenaat, her voice breaking. Woodfibre LNG's floatel has been moored and occupied at the Woodfibre LNG site on Átl'ḵa7tsem since June 21 of last year — despite lacking a municipal permit from the District of Squamish. Days after the municipal council voted to reject its one-year temporary use permit, Woodfibre moved the floatel into place, citing a June 17 order from the B.C. Environmental Assessment Office to resolve its worker-housing plans. 'Woodfibre LNG is committed to avoiding impacts and maximizing local benefits for the community,' the company's website states, noting that non-local workers won't be allowed into nearby communities, but transported to 'Vancouver.' 'The floatel was specifically selected to promote a safe and culturally inclusive work environment … All workers on the floatel undergo mandatory, in-person cultural awareness and gender safety training delivered by Indigenous trainers.' But the decision to move workers onto the ship — and the speed at which it was deployed — raised concerns about the social impacts of industrial work camps, which led to the recent judicial review. Central to the case was the concern for an increased risk of violence toward Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQ+ people. Those concerns, Brown said, point to a deeper legal question — one that Justice Grammond appeared open to considering: whether governments have a positive obligation not only to avoid causing harm, but to actively prevent it. This evolving legal concept, especially relevant in cases of gender-based violence, is also gaining traction in climate and human rights litigation. To illustrate this shift, Grammond cited La Rose v. Canada , a Youth-led climate lawsuit challenging the federal government's responsibility to protect life and security for future generations. 'That's a win — a huge win — and probably a much bigger win than we would have won if we simply won the judicial review,' Brown said. What the decision didn't do, however, was halt the project — or require any changes to its existing authorizations. The court accepted the government's claim that there wasn't enough evidence on record to prove harm. But as Brown pointed out, that wasn't because harm isn't happening. 'He's just saying there's no evidence here on the record for me to make a determination,' said Brown, alleging an absence of monitoring programs or data transparency from Woodfibre LNG. 'It's a catch-22,' Brown said. 'But I think what his decision did was it affirmed the law as it applied — and that's super helpful. 'So if we're right on the law, now we just need the evidence.' During an interview with IndigiNews, Tiaoutenaat wore a shirt featuring an Indigenous design of a sloth hanging from a tree. It featured the words 'Sloth Life' — which is ironic, since Tiaoutenaat is anything but slow. She's deeply involved in Sḵwx̱wú7mesh education, the shaping of the nation's child welfare laws, and — though she'd rather not have to be — opposing the Eagle Mountain-Woodfibre gas pipeline project. She tries to fit all of this in amongst caring, and being present for her family, which often means juggling a whole load of priorities. 'I think some people see me as an Elder, but I'm going to keep staying busy doing what I do for as long as I can,' she said. Tiaoutenaat expressed the stress she was feeling about an upcoming Woodfibre meeting later that afternoon, which overlapped with her family circle. She and her husband planned to tag team the meeting so she could spend time with their kids and grandkids. 'They mean everything to me,' she said. Tiaoutenaat worries about their safety, as well as her own. She sees FortisBC workers in town — who are working on pipeline construction, and living among the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh community — and wonders if they know who she is. 'I've been a loud opponent to this,' she said. 'And I know they've taken my picture.' Tiaoutenaat isn't the only one. Tracey Saxby, executive director and co-founder of My Sea to Sky said she has also witnessed pipeline workers taking her picture. 'To be fair, I'm also taking photos of what is happening at the site,' said Saxby, 'although I'm not specifically trying to capture photos of the workers themselves.' Tiaoutenaat said she worries they might be sharing her photo around. 'What if somebody meant to do me harm?' she asked. In being a vocal opponent to the project, Tiaoutenaat says she feels 'very alone.' Tiaoutenaat declined self-defence classes offered by FortisBC for Sḵwx̱wú7mesh community members, explaining that accepting would feel too much like siding with the company. Even members of Tiaoutenaat' own family who oppose the pipeline often don't speak out — she believes because they're afraid of alienating friends or family employed by the project. 'This industry has divided our community,' she said, holding back tears. 'It's hard to stand up for what's right. I know in my heart, in my mind, what I'm doing is right.' The other Sḵwx̱wú7mesh applicant in the judicial review — the 17-year-old high school student — told the judge she feels unsafe living alongside workers from the project. She works part-time at a local business and worries about her safety both at work, and when spending time outdoors around Átl'ḵa7tsem. Unlike the 650 workers on the floatel — who work in two-week sprints and are barred from visiting the town — non-local FortisBC pipeline workers and other project sub-contractors will stay in hotels and short-term rentals in town. The National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls — which released its final report in 2019 — documented connections between industrial projects and increased violence against Indigenous women, girls, and Two-Spirit people. Knowledge keepers and other expert witnesses told the inquiry that 'resource extraction projects can drive violence against Indigenous women in several ways,' the report noted, for instance because of a transient workforce, substance use, economic insecurity, rotational shift work, and workplace harassment and assault. They argued that resource extraction projects 'can lead to increased violence against Indigenous women at the hands of non-Indigenous men, as well as increased violence within Indigenous communities.' Listed in the commission's calls for justice report are several recommendations specifically for extractive and development industries. Those recommendations included that all projects undergo gender-based impact assessments that consider Indigenous women and girls' safety. Woodfibre LNG says it did do such an assessment, with early input from Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Nation. Woodfibre website states that it set up a Gender Safety Advisory Committee in 2022 to recognize the 'central importance of inclusion, economic participation, and safety of Indigenous women and 2SLGBTQIA people.' The committee — co-chaired by Woodfibre LNG President Christine Kennedy and Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw Elder Gwen Harry — includes Indigenous and non-Indigenous women from Sḵwx̱wú7mesh, as well as representatives from Tsleil-Waututh Nation, local service providers, and regulatory bodies. For more than 40 years, PearlSpace has served as a frontline resource for women and gender-diverse people in Skwxwú7mesh, Lil'wat and Stl'átl'imx territories, offering emergency shelter, emotional support, sexual assault response, and drop-in services for as many as 60 people a day. But in recent years, the organization has also taken on a more complicated role — as a participant on Woodfibre LNG's Gender Safety Advisory Committee, and a recipient of donations from the company. Ashley Oakes, PearlSpace's executive director, said she didn't enter that relationship lightly. 'I felt like it was my responsibility to be there,' she told IndigiNews, describing the company's years of engagement as challenging. In those days, she recalled, advocates felt they had to push the company to even acknowledge gender-based violence was a risk related to their project. 'The focus was on broad community safety,' Oakes said, 'which is just not really narrowing in enough on the real worries of the populations we serve, Skwxwú7mesh Nation, and the impacts on Indigenous women and girls.' Oakes hopes her presence at the table allows her to push directly for more safety measures through a lens of gender-based violence — both in Skwxwú7mesh, and on board the floating work camp itself. 'If no one's at the table from this side of things,' she said, 'then I worry that accountability won't necessarily be the same.' Oakes said she supports efforts from Woodfibre's to recruit more women onto the site — currently about one-third of workers on board are women — but she noted that culture doesn't change automatically with representation. 'That's where code of conduct enforcement really comes into play,' she said. PearlSpace, which started receiving community grants from Woodfibre LNG and FortisBC 'well before' Oakes joined the Gender Safety Advisory Committee, she said, emphasized her role is unpaid. 'I did say, and they agreed, that at no point would I be softening my approach with the companies,' she added, 'even if they were giving us money.' But Brown questioned the effectiveness of a company-led committee. 'I don't feel comfortable candidly talking about women's safety in a room full of Woodfibre people,' she said. Since the floatel started taking on workers, Oakes's focus has broadened — to include their well-being as well. Because non-local workers can't come into town, many of them are cut off and isolated. She raised questions about how the company is handling workplace mental health, safety, and the enforcement of its code of conduct — especially when it comes to Indigenous women and gender-diverse people on staff. She's visited the floatel once, before it docked. And after she pointed out several safety suggestions, those were since implemented, she said. Asked about how many reports of bullying, harassment or violence the committee has received, Oakes replied by email that the committee does receive regular reports — but referred further questions to Woodfibre LNG, citing confidentiality. She added that, to her knowledge, no one accessing PearlSpace's services has yet disclosed a violent event related to the project. In an email, Woodfibre told IndigiNews there have been two incidents of harassment and bullying reported on the floatel. 'In both cases,' the company spokesperson wrote, 'the individuals involved were employees of project contractors and were immediately removed from site and have been permanently banned from working on the project.' Woodfibre LNG stated that more than 4,800 people have completed 'gender and cultural safety programs' as part of their mandatory site orientation. 'This training is a foundational element of our approach,' the company said, 'designed to ensure every person on site understands our shared values and behavioral expectations.' Brown believes that the low figure of harassment and violence documented so far could be due to underreporting, because women are often afraid to complain about bullying or harassment, for fear of repercussions. When complaints aren't surfacing, said Brown, that may not mean there's nothing to report. Instead, it could equally mean the reporting systems themselves aren't working. 'And if the public doesn't have access to reports or data, there's no accountability,' she said. For Brown, violence against women is a clear human rights issue — one that governments and regulators must take responsibility for addressing. 'Without accountability, those responsibilities are effectively meaningless,' Brown argued. 'They're not accountable to the community, to Skwxwú7mesh Nation, or to the government — they're accountable to their shareholders.' On May 1, Woodfibre announced it is seeking to place a second floatel at the worksite, accommodating 900 more tradespeople. Its proposal is currently under consideration by the District of Squamish for a temporary use permit, which is scheduled to be heard by municipal councillors on July 29. And the province opened public consultations on the proposal earlier this month, with public comment allowed until Aug. 2. 'I just feel helpless.' Tiaoutenaat sat, casting a troubled glance towards the Woodfibre plant, just across the water. 'They disregard human life, disregard the environment.' Woodfibre hopes that adding a second floatel will accelerate construction. 'If we can have more workers on site, working parallel on different levels of construction, we're going to be able to finish the project as quickly as we can,' said Woodfibre spokesperson Sean Beardow at a July 2 public hearing. As the District of Squamish prepares to make its decision, Tiaoutenaat and the group My Sea to Sky are raising concerns about the proposed location of a second floatel — directly below a dam — and what they allege are safety risks to workers housed there. In a letter obtained by IndigiNews, Graham Parkinson — a senior geoscientist at Klohn Crippen Berger engineering consulting firm — warned of the danger posed by a potential dam breach. The Henriette Lake Dam, owned by Woodfibre LNG, sits above the proposed floatel site, in a valley that channels water directly to where the vessel would be moored. Parkinson has responded to two dam-breach studies prepared by Northwest Hydraulic Consultants (NHC), a firm previously hired by Woodfibre LNG. However, only a one-page summary has been made public. According to Parkinson, the summary 'appears to underestimate the potential for ocean wave generation by a dam breach flood.' He said there are likely several reasons for this 'that could be confirmed if the full report was made available.' He also characterized the NHC summaries as 'overly dismissive of potential ocean wave amplitudes, given the large amount of energy that will be deposited during a dam breach/debris flow event.' Such a failure of the dam could, for instance, be triggered by an earthquake. According to an Oct. 12, 2023 letter released by My Sea to Sky, the province's Dam Safety Section wrote that Woodfibre LNG reevaluated the chances of the dam failing — with the likelihood deemed 'moderate,' but the consequence 'extreme.' Yet Woodfibre's summary of the NHC studies still state that 'a breach of Henriette Dam would not result in any significant wave activity within Howe Sound.' In Saxby's view, the company's response doesn't reflect the severity of the risk. 'While Woodfibre LNG has now been operating without a [municipal] permit for over a year with a clear disregard for the safety of its workers,' wrote Saxby in an email to the District of Squamish. 'the company is now planning to double the number of workers housed below Henriette Lake Dam from 650 to 1,300 workers.' Saxby cited a deadly landslide in Lions Bay that killed two people earlier this year; the incident is being investigated to determine whether a dam located above the debris flow could have caused the tragedy. Neighbours of the deceased sued the owner of that dam. As Tiaoutenaat sees it, the land and waters underneath the floatel, the LNG plant, and the gas pipeline belong first to the wildlife that have depended on them since time immemorial — despite decades of polluting industries. 'All the sea lions, the herring, the whales,' said Tiaoutenaat, 'they're only just starting to come back.' Tiaoutenaat wonders what Sḵwx̱wú7mesh will be like in 10 years. Fears about climate change — and how another fossil fuel project could accelerate it — weighs heavily on her. 'I'm angry because I feel like we're contributing to that,' she said. 'I feel responsible, and I shouldn't have to carry that.' But she says one thing she won't do is give up. Error! 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CTV News
21-07-2025
- Business
- CTV News
Here's how Canada's LNG exports could make your heating bill go up
The LNG Canada industrial energy project is seen under construction in Kitimat, B.C., on Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck Flames as high as a 30-storey building, ships nearly as long as the Eiffel Tower is tall, $40 billion dollars. Everything about LNG Canada is big — including its promises. Often referred to as the largest private investment in Canadian history, the megaproject connects B.C. shale gas reserves near the Alberta border to marine shipping routes on the northwest coast. More than a decade after the project was first approved, Canada's liquefied natural gas (LNG) sector is finally up and running: LNG Canada sent its first shipment to Asia on June 30. As exports start flowing overseas from the Kitimat, B.C., facility, two more liquefaction plants are under construction — Woodfibre LNG and Cedar LNG. Another, Ksi Lisims LNG, could be approved any day. The promise around all this industrial buildout has always been prosperity, but whether the industry can deliver, and for how long, is up for debate. 'An oversupply of LNG is widely expected, potentially starting as early as next year, with a massive wave of new projects coming online around the world, especially in the U.S. and Qatar,' Steven Haig, a policy advisor with the International Institute for Sustainable Development, told The Narwhal. 'When it comes to the economic benefits of LNG, Canada is really late to the party — and that party is almost over.' Haig and his colleagues recently penned a deep dive into the risks of locking in more LNG infrastructure, reporting that Canadian exports are unlikely to achieve 'energy security for importers or economic resilience for exporters.' 'What we explain in our analysis is that we are very likely moving into a period of oversupply with lower prices — and those lower prices may well be below what projects need to break even,' Haig told The Narwhal. 'If they run at a loss for too long, then they can become stranded assets, with economic implications for the people who work for these facilities or for communities that might become economically associated with them.' 'Higher domestic prices for Canadian consumers' are a possibility As Canadian LNG — the liquid form of natural gas, which is mostly composed of methane and in B.C. is extracted primarily through fracking — starts making its way into international markets, British Columbians and Albertans could also see a spike in their heating bills, according to Deloitte Canada. As the Financial Post recently reported, domestic natural gas prices could jump up by 60 per cent this year, and climb even higher next year. Haig said if the price a company can get from exporting LNG is higher than it can get selling natural gas domestically, prices in places like B.C. and Alberta will go up. This happened in Australia, where domestic prices tripled as Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine sent shockwaves through the supply chain. 'LNG links regional gas markets together in the global LNG market,' Haig explained. 'So a local supply disruption in one place can lead to skyrocketing LNG prices elsewhere.' 'When those high prices are in effect, then it can become more profitable for a gas producer in Canada, for example, to export that gas to the international LNG market than to use that gas in Canada's domestic gas market.' That, he said, can lead to higher domestic prices for Canadian consumers. LNG Canada is now operating its first phase, which will produce up to 14 million tonnes of supercooled gas per year. It's already approved and permitted to double production. Teresa Waddington, LNG Canada's vice-president of corporate relations, told The Narwhal earlier this month that talks are underway about whether or not to go ahead with the expansion. She said a final decision depends on a number of factors including 'overall competitiveness [and] affordability.' LNG Canada did not respond to new questions from The Narwhal by publication time. When the international consortium of oil and gas companies behind LNG Canada (Shell, Petronas, Korea Gas, PetroChina and Mitsubishi) first started courting Canada to develop an LNG export industry in B.C. in the early 2010s, they said it would boost the economy locally, provincially and federally. With recent trade threats from the U.S. government, that narrative is gaining traction again and politicians like B.C. Premier David Eby and Prime Minister Mark Carney are celebrating the sector as an economic saviour. Haig cautioned the narrative should be taken with a grain of salt. 'We're seeing this big push towards LNG expansion to diversify Canada's exports beyond the United States, but these are multi-billion dollar and multi-decade projects,' he explained. 'Their long-term viability is a serious concern as global markets shift towards cleaner and more reliable energy sources, like renewables. Investing in LNG as a supposed transition fuel in the meantime would be a long, costly detour.' 'It's not too late': Canada can reduce economic and climate risks by putting the brakes on LNG exports, expert says Alongside promises of prosperity, LNG Canada and other proponents of the sector maintain the gas is a so-called 'bridge' or transition fuel — a climate solution. The argument goes like this: burning gas to generate power is less harmful than burning coal, and B.C. exports will help countries like China substantially reduce their reliance on the 'dirtier' fossil fuel. The first part is the subject of much debate, especially when the entire lifecycle of LNG is taken into consideration. The second — that Canadian LNG will displace coal — Haig said simply isn't true. 'Coal is cheap, renewables are cheap and LNG is not,' he said. 'If we look at China's power sector, for example, it's renewables — not LNG imports — that are eating into coal's market share. This is mostly because renewables are cheaper than LNG and because LNG requires expensive new infrastructure, such as re-gasification plants and pipelines, to connect consumers with supply.' China, while still responsible for about one third of the world's greenhouse gas emissions, is outpacing the rest of the world by leaps and bounds in building renewables. In May this year, the country added the equivalent of 100 solar panels per second. As the Guardian reported in June, 'China's installed solar photovoltaic capacity has now surpassed 1,000 gigawatts for the first time, equivalent to half of the world's total installed solar capacity.' Haig said Canada is at a crossroads as it decides whether or not to approve more LNG projects, but added, 'it's not too late.' 'LNG exports can delay investments in renewables and generally increase global fossil fuel use, increasing global greenhouse gas emissions,' he said. 'Doubling down on LNG projects would likely expose Canadians to more risk and volatility, not less.' By Matt Simmons, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The Narwhal
Hamilton Spectator
08-07-2025
- Business
- Hamilton Spectator
Squamish business beat: First graduates emerge from Woodfibre LNG and Squamish Nation partnership
Emily Nahanee and John Williams are the inaugural graduates of a fully funded operator training program designed to support Indigenous participation in Canada's energy sector. The goal is to further long-term career pathways for local Indigenous youth. Woodfibre LNG (WLNG) is collaborating with Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation) on a fully funded program for eligible Indigenous students. Emily Nahanee and John Williams are the first students to graduate as certified (interprovincial) 4th-class power engineers from the company's new training program. Nahanee is a Squamish Nation member while Williams is Sq'éwlets First Nation. Both Nahanee and Williams completed an intensive year as part of WLNG's Operator Training Program on May 16. The program, which was launched last year, was developed by the Squamish Nation Training and Trades Centre, British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT) and Woodfibre LNG. Both Nahanee and Williams are currently continuing with their practical training at the Woodfibre LNG offices. WLNG spokesperson Sean Beardow, confirmed that Nahanee and Williams have to date completed the academic portion of the program, and they have been offered—and accepted—full-time roles as trainee operators. Beardow said that WLNG's Operator Training Program is delivered in three key phases over two years: A 13-week course is first hosted at the Squamish Nation Training and Trades Centre to develop students' foundational math and science skills, and from there, they study a 37-week academic and practical training program delivered by BCIT and the Squamish Nation Training and Trades Centre. Students receive their 4th Class Power Engineering Certificate once they pass exams from this 37-week phase, and are then officially hired as full-time trainee operators with WLNG. The final phase is the WLNG Specifics Phase, which offers another year of immersive, 'on-the-job' training, both at the Vancouver office and on-site. This phase focuses on real-time operations, equipment, and processes specific to areas within the plant, one area at a time. Nahanee said that she and Williams will be at the WLNG site during the commissioning process as more modules come in. Nahanee said she found the program via the Nation's newsletter; '[I was] already on a waitlist at BCIT for the Women's Trades Discovery Program because I was looking into entering the trades world in some degree, because I knew that I didn't want to sit at a desk, and I like to work with my hands. So it was an undeniable opportunity for me,' she said. 'It's a very technical program… especially in the safety [aspects] that can make it a little hard to absorb all at once. I find myself now not only thinking about the safety of the site, but everything else in my life as well,' Williams said. According to a blog post on WLNG's website, students are mentored by experienced power engineers as part of the final year of site-specific training. 'Just seeing [our mentors] talk about the industry and with passion… makes you excited to be able to be in this industry for years to come,' Nahanee said. 'The exciting part for me now is that rather than us gaining a broad general knowledge from the course… we get to have specific knowledge,' Williams added. WLNG fully funded 15 Indigenous students in the program, 11 of whom are from the Nation—including Nahanee and Williams. Currently there are five students who are continuing to work through the program, supported by WLNG. Students are provided with a training allowance that includes travel and child care for those eligible, as well as tuition, training, materials, and meals. 'I would love to see more companies taking initiatives like Woodfibre has for us, because, you've seen plenty of times before where a company will come in say they're going to do all these things and just never do it, or find a way around it, to get whatever's best for them, whereas I've always felt like Woodfibre is always [doing] what's best for us first,' Williams said. During training, students also have 'Cultural Fridays,' where they participate in traditional activities such as drum-making and discuss challenges as a group, with mentorship from senior Indigenous staff. 'Our people have always been known as stewards of the land; you give to the land, the land will give back to you,' Williams said. 'I've always been super happy to see all of the steps that have been taken to go along with that, not only within the project itself, but even just knowledge and reconciliation of what happened to us as a people. Everybody has to go through mandatory training for all sorts of our cultural background … One of the things they said after [was] 'We had no idea any of this was going on, or this happened in the past,' and then it's a huge wake up call for a lot of them. I think that's really important to acknowledge.' 'There are a lot of protocols when it comes to traditions and ceremonies,' Nahanee added. 'There is overlap in terms of having all of these people who've been in industry for years and years in the office with us, and the ability to go and ask them how I would talk to Elders. Being able to have access to that wealth, that is not in any books, ties into the whole cultural piece of oral knowledge and oral histories.' In a statement issued by WLNG, the program is described as 'a proud step forward for reconciliation and opportunity.' 'Emily and John are a testament to the program's vision and promise … As they step into their new roles, they carry the responsibility of helping to operate one of Canada's most advanced LNG facilities [and] to continue to act as stewards of the area.' The WLNG facility is expected to be substantially completed by 2027. •Please note that this story has been corrected and updated, including to say that Williams is from the Sq'éwlets First Nation, that trainees are at the Woodfibre offices only and no longer at the training centre. Ina Pace is The Squamish Chief's Local Journalism Initiative (LJI) reporter. This reporting was produced through the LJI, which supports original civic journalism across Canada. The Squamish Business Beat was developed in response to local demand for more business-focused news. To be considered, please reach out to news@ . Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Yahoo
08-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Canada's gas market 'about to turn the corner,' say analysts eyeing up to 7 years of excess demand
Canada's battered natural gas market is 'about to turn the corner' into a new era of higher prices, according to BMO Capital Markets veteran commodities analyst Randy Ollenberger. He and his peers see new LNG export projects spurring higher prices for Canadian producers for years to come as demand outstrips supply. The first delivery of liquefied natural gas (LNG) produced at the LNG Canada terminal near Kitimat, B.C. left port for a storage and regasification terminal in Incheon, South Korea last week. Prior to this, Canada's only export market has been the United States via pipeline. The Shell PLC-led (SHEL) joint venture provides long-awaited access to higher prices for Canadian gas in Asia. 'Long-suffering Canadian gas companies (and investors) are poised to benefit from several structural changes, including: the start-up of LNG Canada, declining production in several major U.S. basins, and growing demand from AI and data centres,' Ollenberger wrote in a recent note to clients. '[The] Canadian gas market [is] about to turn the corner.' The first phase of LNG Canada will export from two processing units with a total capacity of 14 million tonnes per annum (mtpa). A second phase under consideration would double that. Meanwhile, two additional projects in Canada have reached their final investment decision: Cedar LNG and Woodfibre LNG. A new analysis by Deloitte Canada published on Monday estimates Canada will not fill the demand created by current LNG export projects for four to seven years. 'This likely will mean the strengthening of the AECO benchmark, enabling Canadian producers to achieve more favourable value for their gas,' Deloitte Canada researchers led by energy, resources and industrials partner Andrew Botterill wrote in the report. 'In this period where production is growing to meet demand, natural gas prices should see a narrowing of the differential relative to Henry Hub that lasts for multiple years once exports ramp up from LNG Canada.' Canada is the world's fifth-largest producer of natural gas, and the fourth-largest global exporter. Producers faced tough times in 2024 as prices fell to their lowest levels in more than 40 years. According to Statistics Canada, higher production and storage, coupled with weaker-than-expected winter demand, caused prices to plummet in the second half of the year. Deloitte Canada sees AECO prices averaging $2.20 per million BTUs in 2025, up from $1.39 in 2024. In 2026, the firm says AECO prices are expected to average $3.45, before plateauing at $3.50 until 2032. 'We're bullish on natural gas,' Bay Street fund manager Eric Nuttall wrote in his firm's recently released 2025 mid-year outlook. The partner and senior portfolio manager at Toronto-based Nine Point Partners says 75 per cent of his firm's oil and gas fund has been allocated to natural gas investments since the end of May. 'We expect natural gas prices to strengthen to between $4 and $5 over the coming year, and as Canada increases its LNG capacity, we think the current discount on Canadian natural gas should fall from about $2 today to between $1.10 and $1.30,' Nuttall added. 'This poses a big opportunity for Canadian companies.' LNG has been touted as a 'bridge' or 'transition' fuel to replace coal power in emerging economies. With new export-focused capacity ramping up around the world from the United States to Qatar, observers including the International Energy Agency have raised concerns about a glut of supply hitting the market. While Deloitte Canada estimates four to seven years of excess demand when LNG Canada is fully operational, other analysts have floated shorter timeframes. 'We believe this will significantly impact the current Western Canadian gas balance, and estimate it will take around two years for supply to catch up with demand,' Ollenberger wrote. Last month, TD Cowen analyst Tristan Margot called for the global LNG market to flip to oversupplied conditions after winter 2026. 'Our analysts see the incremental demand for WCSB natural gas from LNG Canada Phase 1 to be largely filled in real time,' he wrote in a June 12 research report. 'This dynamic is likely to result in continued weakness in natural gas prices through year-end,' Margot added. 'This is likely to dampen the optimism that LNG Canada Phase 1 startup is the inflection point to historically weak WCSB gas pricing. However, with producer supply-restraint in 2026+, we see a path to continued basin growth and stronger WCSB natural gas pricing.' Jeff Lagerquist is a senior reporter at Yahoo Finance Canada. Follow him on X @jefflagerquist. Download the Yahoo Finance app, available for Apple and Android.
Vancouver Sun
08-07-2025
- Business
- Vancouver Sun
Canadian natural gas prices could climb 60% this year as LNG exports ramp up, Deloitte predicts
Canadian natural gas prices are poised to jump nearly 60 per cent this year — marking the end of years-long discounts — as a new export terminal begins shipping to global markets, a new forecast from Deloitte Canada predicts. A tanker carrying the first load of liquefied natural gas from LNG Canada Development Inc.'s terminal set sail last week from the northern coast of British Columbia, giving Canadian producers access to global markets. Two more projects — Cedar LNG and Woodfibre LNG — will add even more shipping capacity by 2028. Stay on top of the latest real estate news and home design trends. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Westcoast Homes will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. The report from Deloitte Canada says the LNG projects will not only create more demand for natural gas companies — they will also likely lead to much higher prices. That's because producers are not drilling fast enough. At the current pace of drilling and investment, the report says it could take four to seven years for Canadian producers to meet demand from LNG export projects already underway. It means natural gas prices in Alberta are likely to stay elevated for the next several years. According to Deloitte, the Alberta benchmark price, known as AECO, is expected to hit an average of $2.20 per million BTUs in the second half of the year, up by close to 62 per cent over 2024 levels. The report expects another big jump next year, with average prices rising to $3.50 per million BTUs. 'The commissioning of the long-awaited LNG Canada export facility has sparked optimism that the era of extremely low Canadian gas prices compared to Henry Hub, may finally end,' the report said, referring to a U.S. benchmark price. Canadian natural gas often trades at a sharp discount to U.S. fuels, given that the Canadian product must travel long distances to reach American markets. Access to LNG shipping terminals should narrow the discount. But the good times may not last. 'If similar levels of activity and associated production are maintained over the next five years, all added demand from LNG exports would be met and it could be argued prices could return to current levels,' the report said. In oil markets, Deloitte expects North American prices will improve in the final half of the year, averaging US$72 per barrel, before slipping to just over US$67 next year. The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and its allies — a group known as OPEC+ — have recently reversed a decision to cut production, adding 411,000 barrels to global supplies in each of May, June and July. Eight members of the alliance said over the weekend they expect to add another 548,000 barrels in August, a stunning increase as they seek to capture an even greater share of the market.
