Monday, April 1, 2019

MLA Rice gets hall pass so far in Bill 10 debate on LNG

The NDP government introduced some new legislation last week to help move the LNG industry forward in the province, with Finance Minister Carole James bringing Bill 10 to the Chamber last Monday afternoon, setting in motion the process that will eventually lead to its adoption should the Opposition Liberals choose to vote with the NDP.

The Bill which will provide for tax credits for development of the LNG industry is of particular interest to LNG Canada in Kitimat, which is far and away the closest to tapping into the provinces natural gas resources to be shipped out of a terminal facility on the shores of Douglas Channel.

The NDP will require and most likely receive the help of the Liberals, as the Green Party led by Dr. Andrew Weaver has been steadfast in their opposition to any LNG development.

Something that the Green Leader made perfectly clear during his opportunity for debate last week.

Mr. Weaver was followed by the two other members of the Green party in Legislature, as all three elected MLA's shared their opposition to the Bill and LNG, with MLA's Sonia Furstenau and Adam Olsen both speaking on Tuesday afternoon.

Mr. Weaver and his entire caucus were not the only ones to take up the debate on the NDP bill in a busy week of debate through Tuesday and Wednesday.

As we outlined late last week, both MLA Todd Stone a former cabinet minister during the Christy Clark years and Ellis Ross the current MLA for Skeena spoke on issues of LNG.

With the pair making much of the content of their presentations about the opportunities for the industry for the North Coast.

One item of note on their contributions were the observations that both made about the now abandoned Pacific Northwest LNG project, a theme which was high among their thoughts.

Though to hear Mr. Stone talk, perhaps we shouldn't put that once promising LNG opportunity away just yet ...

Ghost of Pacific Northwest LNG project floated in Legislature debate this week

Missed opportunities of the past frame the Bill 10 discussion for Ellis Ross in the Legislature this week

Other Liberal members who participated in the debate over the course of the three days of discussion were: Mike Bernier, Dan Davies, Mike Morris, Peter Milobar, Rich Coleman and Mike de Jong

A trio of NDP government members also spoke in support of the Bill that Ms. James has brought forward for the Chamber to consider.

Taking to the Legislature floor through last week to praise the legislation crafted by the Finance Minister were three members of the governing party: Michelle Mungall, George Chow, and Bruce Ralston, 

One name however, that has not appeared on the speakers list to this point has been that of North Coast MLA Jennifer Rice, who had a fairly quiet week in the Chamber last week.

Considering the passion that she brought to the LNG files since arriving on the provincial political scene in 2013, it would be interesting to hear what she may have to say in the Legislature on the rather abrupt change in direction for the NDP on LNG issues.

More importantly for the residents of her home riding in Prince Rupert, will be what she may have to say towards a future for the industry in this community, some might even like to hear her thoughts on Mr. Stone's somewhat interesting view that the Pacific Northwest Project may yet see the light of day  ... one day in the future.

To review some of the lengthy discussion on the North Coast during the days of PNW LNG see our archive page here.

How Ms. Rice and the NDP might view a rebirth for the once proposed mega project for the region  would certainly be of some interest to the Prince Rupert area, which at the moment has gone from being the front runner for any development, to now standing on the sidelines when it comes to the LNG euphoria found around the Northwest.

As the Legislature Bill tracker indicates Bill 10  is now moving to the committee stage and then will receive a third reading at some point in the future prior to it receiving Royal Assent.

Hopefully before it moves that far, North Coast residents will hear some kind of commentary in the Legislature from their MLA as to whether Prince Rupert or Port Edward fits into the NDP's new found dedication towards becoming an energy exporter from the North Coast.

A wider overview of LNG issues can be explored here.

For more items of interest related to the Legislature see our archive pages below:

North Coast

Skeena


Cross posted from the North Coast Review.

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