The first LNG carrier has arrived in Kitimat and the Haisla Nation, which is only the first step of a large scale project to export liquified natural gas to foreign markets.
“I first heard about LNG back in 2004, and I started researching it for not only LNG Canada, but for the original LNG project which was Chevron,” said Ellis Ross, who is running for Conservative party in the federal election. “There’s been a lot of heartache, a lot of triumphs and a lot of celebrations. But today there’s Haisla members and local members, and they’re out there and it just means so much. Not only for Haisla and Kitimat, but for British Columbia and Canada, especially given what’s happening with tariffs from the United States.”
Once the product has been offloaded, testing will officially be underway at the facility so that they can export the product to other countries around the world.
As for the United States, it doesn’t seem that the product will be exported down south anytime soon, with President Donald Trump officially implementing tariffs on “Liberation Day”.
“We’ve been heavily reliant on the American markets, and in the face of an unpredictable and chaotic United States President,” said Taylor Bachrach, who will running for the New Democratic Party for the federal election.
Bachrach hopes that this project can be another addition to stabilize the local economy.
“We need to do everything we can do to protect Canadian jobs and Canadian families. It’s certainly something new for the area and it’s part of a project that has been a huge part of Kitimat and Terrace over the past number of years. I know that the tugboat crew with HaiSea have a lot of pride in their jobs, and I know that they’re going to do a great job bringing it safely to birth. ”
Today, Inderpal Dhillon has also been named as the representative for the Liberal party in this upcoming election for the Skeena-Bulkley Valley.
A spokesperson from the Liberal Party told CFTK-TV that the party believes international partners are looking for a reliable supplier of low-carbon energy sources, and that Canada should be willing to step up.
Additionally, the arrival of the LNG tanker in Kitimat today “brings us one step closer to being that stable provider”.