Wednesday, October 9, 2013 – 4:30 PM
By Jonathon Brown
Prince George, B.C.
Pictured above at a press conference: Aboriginal Relations & Reconciliation Minister John Rustad, Grand Chief Ed John of the Tl’azt’en Nation, Minister of Natural Resources Joe Oliver, Carrier Sekani Tribal Chief Terry Teegee, Japanese Ambassador Norihiro Okuda, and Jody Wilson-Raybould of the BC Assembly of First Nations.
The BC First Nations’ LNG Summit began in Prince George, on Wednesday.
Chiefs around northern BC have gathered to discuss the effects of the liquefied natural gas industry with delegates from the provincial and federal government.
Joe Oliver, Minister of Natural Resources says he feels confident aboriginal communities, government and industry can get on the same page with development, saying chiefs are prepared to discuss economic benefits and environmental concerns with liquefied natural gas.
“When you start with the going-in attitude going in that there is potential to developing resource responsibility for the benefit of communities, then you have the beginning of a a very meaningful dialogue,” he says.
Despite concern voiced by chiefs in attendance, Art Sterritt, Executive Director with Coastal First Nations says aboriginal communities are also confident that LNG can be a successful industry in northern BC, provided environmental concerns are met.
“We are, however, talking to the provincial government, and we are talking to industry, and if we can hold them accountable, I think people can make this industry work for the benefit of everybody,” he says
The summit continues until Thursday at the Civic Centre.
– See more at: http://hqprincegeorge.com/news/local/news/v/Local/276034/BC-First-Nations-liquefied-natural-gas-summit-underway#sthash.cDfsGzCH.dpuf
The BC First Nations’ LNG Summit began in Prince George, on Wednesday.