Honourable Adrian Dix
Minister of Energy and Climate Solutions
ECS.Minister@gov.bc.ca
Honourable Tamara Davidson (Laanas)
Minister of Environment and Parks
ENV.Minister@gov.bc.ca
Honourable Randene Neill
Minister of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship
WLRS.Minister@gov.bc.ca
March 10, 2026
Dear Ministers,
I am writing regarding FortisBC’s wastewater discharge into Átl’ḵa7tsem / Howe Sound, and their application to amend Waste Discharge Permit PE-110163. I am concerned about this and ask that the Ministries reject it until the conditions of the permit have been met.
FortisBC is currently tunneling through 5.2 km of bedrock for its pipeline to Woodfibre LNG. The tunnel has created excessive water flows containing heavy metals, and FortisBC’s water treatment system appears to be inadequate to treat the wastewater. According to FortisBC and Woodfibre LNG’s weekly water testing results, FortisBC has been discharging double its permitted wastewater into Átl’ḵa7tsem / Howe Sound and exceeding water quality guidelines for over a year.
The lack of enforcement by the BC Energy Regulator is extremely concerning. I am also concerned that rather than addressing the issue, FortisBC has applied to amend its permit. FortisBC has applied to quadruple its discharge (from 1,500 m³/day to 6,815 m³/day), discharge copper and aluminum at levels exceeding BC Water Quality Guidelines, and replace enforceable guideline protections with weaker site-specific limits that won’t mitigate impacts on marine life.
Residents and advocates for Átl’ḵa7tsem / Howe Sound are extremely concerned about these violations, and the threat to the precious ecosystems and biodiversity of a UNESCO Biosphere Region recovering from decades of industrial pollution. I know your offices, as well as mine, have received many letters voicing opposition to the permit amendment, and FortisBC’s tunnel project.
The BC Government should reject FortisBC’s permit amendment. I urge you to hold both FortisBC and the BC Energy Regulator accountable for pollution violations.
FortisBC must stop work on the tunnel until the necessary upgrades to the water treatment system meet water quality guidelines.
Sincerely,
Jeremy Valeriote, MLA
West Vancouver – Sea to Sky