Annual LNG conference features many speakers on NW projects

What has become an annual gathering of the state of the LNG Industry in British Columbia will be taking place this week in Vancouver, with the launch of the LNG in BC conference on Wednesday at Vancouver's Convention Centre.

With 20 proposals in a various stages of development, LNG is still a major focus for the Province of British Columbia, an industry that the Provincial Government has trumpeted for the last few years as one of the key elements for the province's economic future.

The Deputy Premier and LNG Minister Rich Coleman is the host of the three day gathering providing for both the opening remarks and the closing commentary on day three for this years event.

Opening day on Wednesday will also feature a keynote address from Premier Christy Clark.

Following that the work of the three day forum gets underway with a number of representatives of projects found in the Northwest among the participants.

Wednesday the theme of Global Opportunities in British Columbia will be explored, with the Presidents or Vice Presidents of LNG Canada, Pacific NorthWest LNG, Chevron Canada, ExxonMobil and AtlaGas all to give their thoughts on the prospects for LNG development, much of it in Northwest British Columbia.

The province's Minister of Finance Michael de Jong gives Wednesday's keynote address, while there are two more discussion panels on the day exploring financial strategies and the International Energy Landscape.

Thursday's discussion panels provide a full day of discussion on the development of the industry in the province, with sessions dedicated towards Marine Innovations, LNG Facilities, Technology and Innovation in Pipelines and upstream opportunity for BC's LNG industry.

Shirley Bond, the Minister of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training delivers Thursday's keynote address, followed by another panel discussion on issues related to skills and partnerships, as part of the Blueprint for jobs in the BC industry.

John Rustad, the Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation will be part of a conversation on that theme of LNG development, with Kevin McKay the Executive Chairperson for the Nisga'a Nation among those taking part.

How Post Secondary institutions are preparing for the prospect of LNG development will also be the focus of Day two with  a number of representatives from post secondary education offer their overview.

Day Three on Friday features a look at partnerships with Youth and the opportunities that the LNG industry may offer students as they head into their post secondary years.

The theme of the LNG Buy BC program is next with a look at some of the successful engagement between small business and the LNG proponent companies. Among those taking part in that segment of the event is John Turpin, the President of Prince Rupert based Inlet Express

The environment will be the theme of a Conversation with Environment Minister Mary Polak, while Friday's keynote address is to be delivered by Christine Sinclair, the captain of Canada's National Soccer Team.

Rich Coleman, the Deputy Premier and Minister of Natural Gas Development puts the wrap on the event with his closing remarks on Friday afternoon.

In addition to all of the speeches and panel discussions, there is a trade show and special activities planned for youth to go along with the three days of overview on LNG.

The full agenda for the three day conference can be found here.

As we observed in this report today, some of that optimistic glow to the BC industry might be
finding a few shadows of late, as the international picture continues to change and the major investors, the large international oil companies that are behind the projects re-adjust their plans to ever changing shifts in the oil economy.

The key conversation for some this week might be the Bloomberg Business article which we highlighted here, one that suggests that the window is closing quickly and that could see that none of the Canadian proposals make it to a finish line.

That is the kind of statement that could weigh heavy on the discussions for where the BC industry stands, though we suspect we won't be hearing much in the way of that particular theme coming out of Vancouver this week.

For more on the LNG files of the Northwest see our archive page here.

Cross posted from the North Coast Review

Elections BC delivers Prince Rupert's Financial Review for Municipal election 2014

The financial review is in from last years Prince Rupert Municipal Election campaign, as Elections BC has released its financial overview from the candidates of the 2014 election period.

The number crunching provides us with not only an account of both the financial contributions to the candidates efforts and their expenses from it, but also a glimpse into how the candidates campaigns seemed to resonate with city residents through the election period.

Considering the scope of his eventual victory, it's probably not much of a surprise to learn that Mayor Lee Brain, led the list of those with the most contributions.

His efforts during the 2014 campaign delivered  $23,719.16 in campaign contributions.  With a similar amount spent on expenses during the course of his successful election campaign.

The next nearest competitor in both the donations and expenses categories was Mayoralty Challenger Sheila Gordon-Payne, who collected $14,600.23 in donations and spent the same amount during the election campaign period.

An indication as to the shift in direction for the city from the last campaign, is the number of familiar individuals and corporate names that lent their assistance to the campaigns of the three challengers for the Mayoralty.

All of whom featured a list of donors and supporters that provided both large and small donations directed to the financial resources of the candidates, as well as offering up their declarations of support through the campaign.

One takeaway from the financial review is that for then Mayor Jack Mussallem, the election trail of 2014 was very much a self financing project.

With only one donation to the then Mayor's list of support found on his disclosure sheet, that of a corporate donation from Pinnacle Renewable Energy Inc.

On the Council side of the election period, it was the campaign of Blair Mirau which attracted the most donations last year. The newcomer to the municipal government scene collected $5,735.63 in donations, and spent the same in his successful quest for a council seat.

Nelson Kinney receives the best cost vs result award for his efforts last fall, the returning Councillor declared no campaign contributions and apparently spent no money during his re-election campaign.

Councillor Kinney had much company in the parade of the self supporting, as candidates Ashley, Garon, Niesh, Thorkelson and Pedersen all listed their efforts as self financed campaigns last fall.

A breakdown for each of the candidates financial listings can be found below:

2015 Mayoralty Race

Lee Brain (elected Mayor)
Contributions 23,719.16   Expenses 23,719. 16
($19,190.98 in individual donations over 100 dollars, $4,300 in corporate donations, $168.18 misc, $60 anonymous donations)
($3,142 of the donations were in amounts less than 100 dollars)

Sheila Gordon-Payne (Challenger)
Contributions 14,600.23   Expenses 14,600.23
($7,850.23  in individual donations over 100 dollars, $6,750 in corporate donations)

Tony Briglio (Challenger)
Contributions  7,717.03   Expenses  7,717.03
($1,617.03 in individual donations over 100 dollars, $6100 in corporate donations)
($117.03 of the donations were in amounts of less than 100 dollars)

Jack Mussallem (Then incumbent)
Contributions $1549.52   Expenses  $2,817.67
($1000 in self financed campaign, $500 dollar corporate donation,  $46 in individual donations $3.52 misc)
($46 of the donations were in amounts less than 100 dollars)


2015 Council Race (Candidates elected)

Barry Cunningham
Contributions $3750   Expenses $5,328.30
($3,000 in individual donations, $350 from commercial organizations, $400 from trade unions)

Nelson Kinney
Contributions $0   Expenses  $0

Blair Mirau
Contributions  $5,735.63   Expenses $5,735.63
($4,235 in individual donations over 100 dollars, $1,500.63 in corporate donations)
($640.63 of the donations were in amounts less than 100 dollars)

Wade Niesh
Contributions $84   Expenses  $84
(Self financed campaign)

Gurvinder, Randhawa
Contributions  $2,150.00   Expenses  $3,224.87
($150 dollars in individual donations over 100 dollars, $1,650 dollars in corporate donations, $300 in donations from commercial organizations)

Joy Thorkelson
Contributions $3,110.87   Expenses  $3,110.87
(Self financed campaign)


Candidates that were not elected

Anna Ashley (then incumbent)
Contributions $500   Expenses  $463.34
(Self financed campaign)

Gina Garon (then incumbent)
Contributions $0   Expenses  $0

Ray Pedersen (Challenger)
Contributions $4283.92   Expenses 4,283.92
(Self financed campaign)

You can review the full disclosures from the 2014 campaign here.

The files that have been made available include a listing of those individuals and corporations that contributed to the candidates campaigns. As well as a break down as to how they spent their money during the election period.

For more items related to developments at Prince Rupert City Council see our archive page here.

Cross posted from the North Coast Review