Friday October 16 2015 - In the News

The Globe and Mail reports in its Friday edition that Pacific North-West LNG president Michael Culbert says the energy consortium, which includes Petronas and TransCanada, is poised to start construction next year, undaunted by a native group's legal challenge. The Globe's Brent Jang writes that Mr. Culbert says, "We're shovel ready, and ready to move ahead as soon as we've got the final federal government approvals and final permits." The Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency is expected to rule in early 2016 on Pacific North-West's proposal. Three weeks ago, the Allied Tribes of Lax Kw'alaams filed a court claim for title to Lelu Island and Flora Bank in the Port of Prince Rupert, arguing that LNG export plans interfere with aboriginal fishing rights. Mr. Culbert says the uncertainty surrounding ownership of the proposed site for an $11.4-billion export terminal on Lelu Island will not be a showstopper. Lelu Island and Flora Bank have been labelled as federal Crown properties by the administrator, the Prince Rupert Port Authority. Mr. Culbert says when he knows who the landlord will be "we will then take our agreement that we have and pay the landlord appropriately."