Indigenous Peoples and LNG

A sustainably developed LNG industry in B.C. represents new opportunities for Indigenous peoples to partner in economic development that brings skills training and jobs for people and increased revenue and growth for their communities.

The Province is committed to true, lasting reconciliation with Indigenous peoples in British Columbia through adopting and implementing the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and the Calls to Action of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. As part of those commitments, B.C. works in partnership with First Nations and the LNG industry on achieving agreements that ensure real benefits reach people in the province while also protecting our environment.

Benefit Agreements

To date, more than 90% of First Nations along B.C.’s proposed northern pipeline routes have signed agreements. That’s 63 agreements with 29 First Nations for four proposed natural gas pipeline projects:

• Prince Rupert Gas Transmission
• Coastal GasLink
• Pacific Trail Pipeline
• Westcoast Connector Gas Transmission project.

The Province has also completed a benefit agreement with Haisla Nation to construct an LNG facility and marine shipping terminal on their territory in Kitimat.

Discussions are underway with other First Nations related to additional proposed LNG projects.

In addition to benefits received from the provincial government, LNG proponents are also reaching their own agreements with First Nations that include contracting opportunities and employment commitments.

More details, including links to agreements, can be found here.

Skills Training

The B.C. government is committed to reducing the socio-economic gap that exists between Indigenous and non-Indigenous workers in the province and creating new approaches to increasing the Indigenous workforce. Access to education and skills training are essential factors for successful worker participation in the economy.

B.C. continues to invest in new Indigenous skills training projects and partnerships, providing $30 million through the Indigenous Skills Training Fund for training programs delivered to Indigenous communities, primarily in northern B.C. Since the fund was launched in 2015, more than 2,700 Indigenous people were trained between 2015 and 2017 and another 1,000 people were projected to access training in 2017/2018.