FORT ST. JOHN, BC, May 25 2016 /CNW/ - In a bid to show the Justin Trudeau government there's wide-spread support for Canada's budding liquefied natural gas industry and other natural resource projects, a group of Northern BC residents are driving across the country to rally support from communities in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba.
"We want to show the federal Liberals that working class people support an LNG industry. We want the jobs these projects bring. Far too often it seems the government only listens to the voices who say No," said Alan Yu, founder of Fort St John –based FSJ for LNG, a pro-LNG advocacy group.
They're calling the trip "LNG or Bust," passing through Edmonton (May 24), Red Deer (May 25), Calgary (May 25), Medicine Hat (May 26), Regina (May 26) and Winnipeg (May 27 to coincide with the federal Liberal convention), before finishing off in Ottawa where they'll deliver a petition to the House of Commons with more than 1,500 signatures supporting LNG development.
Along the way, the FSJ for LNG members are meeting community groups that share their concerns: the need to build pipelines and energy infrastructure to create jobs and sustain Canada's economy.
While Alberta hopes for new pipelines to tidewater, northern BC communities are looking to LNG development which would take gas from the abundant gas fields in northeastern BC and Alberta, ship it to the west coast via pipeline where it would be cooled and liquefied, then exported via tanker to Asia.
However, LNG development is proceeding at a snail's pace. The Petronas-backed Pacific Northwest LNG project, a planned $36 billion export terminal planned near Prince Rupert, is snarled in regulatory red tape, awaiting an environmental certificate. Once the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency completes its review, expected in June, it will be up to the federal Liberal cabinet to give the project its final approval.
The FSJ for LNG group hopes its "LNG or Bust" road trip will draw attention to the PNW LNG project and encourage the feds to approve it.
"We're just a bunch of regular working people, living in the North and trying to raise our families. We're not asking for handouts, we want to work. All we ask is that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau listen to our side of the story before he makes his decision," said Kristi Leer, FSJ for LNG member.
Learn more about FSJ for LNG at www.FSJforLNG.ca
SOURCE Fort St John for LNG
Image with caption: "Fort St John for LNG (CNW Group/Fort St John for LNG)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20160525_C6292_PHOTO_EN_699627.jpg
For interviews with FSJ for LNG members, contact: Alan Yu, Cell: 250-271-7031, [email protected]; Chris Lafratta, Cell: 905-645-4405, [email protected]; Kristi Leer, 250-775-1849, [email protected]
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