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Lake Babine Nation’s chief points out benefits of LNG

$100 million over 40 year agreement is a long-term benefit for band.

In the story ‘Babine Lake hereditary chiefs disapprove LNG agreements’ published in the Lakes District News’ May 20, 2015, http://www.ldnews.net/news/304324001.html, some of the Babine Lake hereditary chiefs expressed their disapproval of the LNG agreements made by Lake Babine Nation’s chief and council.

On May 1, 2015, Lake Babine Nation’s chief and four councillors voted to proceed with two liquefied natural gas (LNG) agreements. One of these agreements was with TransCanada, and the other was with the province regarding the proposed Prince Rupert Gas Transmission project.

Some of the hereditary chiefs said they had not been consulted prior to a decision being made.

Chief Wilf Adam told Lakes District News that negotiations regarding these LNG deals started late 2013. Since that time, Lake Babine Nation held community meetings in Burns Lake, Topley Landing, Tachet, Fort Babine, Smithers, Prince George and Vancouver. During all those meetings, Chief Adam said no members or hereditary chiefs expressed any disapproval.

“At no time during this process people said ‘we should stop this’ or ‘we oppose this,’” said Chief Adam. “If fact, we’ve been getting a lot of

encouragement from [some] hereditary chiefs.”

“We heard from some hereditary chiefs that we have to start working with the government and finding areas where we can work together while protecting the environment and finding jobs,” said Chief Adam. “That’s the balance, and I applied these words to our negotiations.”

Chief Adam said that all the money Lake Babine Nation currently receives from the federal government is earmarked, and council members have no say where they can spend it.

“Many people live off the reserve and we can’t service them,” he said. “I’m tired of administering poverty.”

“It’s important to me and to the people of Lake Babine that we start making sure that we benefit from the resources that come from our territory,” he said. “Right now all the resources leave our territory and we have no say; with these LNG deals, it’s up to us to where we can spend this money, and how we are going to spend it.”

According to Chief Adam, the total amount that Lake Babine Nation will receive from both agreements adds up to $100 million over 40 years. However, some of the details of these agreements are confidential, and other details are still under negotiation.

Chief Adam said the money will be vital for economic development and the creation of businesses that would support Lake Babine Nation’s economy.

The construction of two buildings for administrative services has already been planned – one in Tachet and one in Fort Babine.

“The two buildings will support those two communities and also serve as a training centre for all the training that is going to happen within the area.”

Chief Adam explained that training will be provided by the province to Lake Babine Nation, and that its members will be a preferential hire throughout the construction of the pipeline.

“A lot of training will happen within our community,” he said. “That’s a huge plus for us.”

One of the concerns of people who are against LNG development is that the proponents might be building liquefied natural gas pipelines with the intention of converting them to oil further down the road.

Chief Adam said he kept that in mind, and that it’s included in the agreements with TransCanada and the province that the Prince Rupert Gas Transmission pipeline cannot be converted to oil in the future.

“Within our agreement, this pipeline will never be converted to oil,” said he said. “It’s clear in the agreement.”

Chief Adam said he hopes this partnership with the province will open doors to future opportunities.

“I know it’s a long-term benefit,” he said. “This $100 million is a substantial amount that will get our people off on the right foot.”

“We are doing things in a matter that will help our people,” he added.