For immediate release
May 9, 2023
VICTORIA, B.C. – Sonia Furstenau, Leader of the B.C. Greens and MLA for Cowichan Valley is calling on the BC NDP to revoke Coastal GasLink’s permit.
“CGL claims that they are pausing this project due to the challenging terrain and the effect of climate change on watersheds. Those are the very reasons we have been opposed to the project, and why it should never have been built.
“This company should never have been issued a permit to put its pipeline through this territory, and in particular, through Wedzin Kwa (Morice River). This should be a permanent stop work because neither the terrain nor the impacts of climate change are going to improve – in large part due to ongoing fossil fuel extraction. The responsibility is on the provincial government for having issued this permit in the first place because they disregarded the challenging terrain and impacts of climate change.
“The company claims they are exercising ‘an abundance of caution’ but CGL’s track record demonstrates a disregard for caution, and a lack of respect for the land, water and fish. They have failed repeatedly to follow the conditions of their permits.
“How many restaurants would be allowed to continue if they had this many compliance issues for health and safety? How many small businesses would be allowed to continue operating?
“CGL has been fined numerous times and has proven that it is unable to complete this work in a way that protects the public and the environment. This is why today, I am calling on the BC NDP to revoke this permit.”
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Media contact
JoJo Beattie
Press Secretary
B.C. Green Caucus
+1 250-882-6187 | jojo.beattie@leg.bc.ca