Steelhead LNG has ceased work on the Kwispaa LNG project in Huu‐ay‐aht First Nation territory on the west coast of Vancouver Island.
According to an open letter to Huu‐ay‐aht citizens on Friday, February 15, elected chief councillor Robert Dennis and head hereditary chief Derek Peters stated they were saddened and deeply disappointed by Steelhead’s decision.
“Over the coming weeks your government will evaluate the implications of this decision by Steelhead LNG, identify all go‐forward options, and assess how best to advance the interests of our citizens,” stated Dennis and Peters, adding that the nation will continue to pursue a vision of establishing a healthy, prosperous and self‐sustaining nation.
Huu‐ay‐aht entered into a co-management agreement with Steelhead for a LNG export facility in the nation’s territory at Sarita Bay at the southern end of Alberni Inlet, 42 kilometres southwest of Port Alberni.
Steelhead had also been engaging in discussions with first nations on a number of options for the separate part of the project, a proposed pipeline route to bring fracked natural gas in the Western Canadian Sedimentary Basin near Chetwyn in northeastern BC to Williams Lake, through the Coastal Mountains, southwest through Tla’amin Nation territory and 31 kilometres subsea across the Strait of Georgia to the Comox/Courtenay area and on to the export facility.
According to Tla’amin hegus Clint Williams, the nation has received nothing directly from Steelhead or Huu‐ay‐aht other than the letter from Dennis and Peters.
“Seeing that letter I think it looks pretty clear that they're hitting the brakes or pulling the plug on this,” said Williams. He added that there was no deal between Tla’amin and Steelhead and that there had been only information presented to the community.
“If they've shelved this project then they've shelved the project and that's the end of the discussion, so there's nothing gained or lost by the nation on this,” said Williams.
Representatives of Steelhead and Huu‐ay‐aht were at Tla’amin government house on Thursday, January 31, to present the pipeline proposal to the community. Powell River and Tla’amin environmental activists also attended the information meeting.
Steelhead did not reply to the Peak's request for comment.
