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Letter to the Editor: Metlakatla has not yet signed an Impact Benefits Agreement

Letter to the Editor regarding the Lelu Island tree spikers editorial.

Re: Tree-spikers cling to Lelu Island

One of the benefits to publishing on the Internet is the ability to make changes in an expedient manner should the need arise, as illustrated by Tom Fletcher’s BC Views column posted online on the morning of Tuesday, July 19.

After it was pointed out that the Metlakatla First Nation does not have a benefit agreement signed with Pacific NorthWest LNG for the proposed Lelu Island project, the piece was updated on thenorthernview.com to read: “The Metlakatla, Kitselas, Kitsumkalum and Gitxaala bands have benefit agreements for the project signed or in progress”.

Unfortunately, factually incorrect information was published in several Black Press newspapers across the province, stating that “The Metlakatla, Kitselas, Kitsumkalum and Gitxaala bands have benefit agreements for the project”.

I feel it is important that all readers have access to the truth.

For those who read the Mr. Fletcher’s opinion piece here in the pages of the Northern View, it needs to be clearly stated that the Metlakatla First Nation does not have a benefit agreement signed for the proposed Pacific NorthWest LNG project on Lelu Island. There is a term sheet signed that could lead to an Impact Benefit Agreement in the future, but to state that a Benefits Agreement has been signed is simply not true.

While I appreciate the effort made to correct this error online, I hope Mr. Fletcher is more diligent in ensuring his opinions report only established facts in the future.

 

Shaun Thomas

Communications Manager

Metlakatla First Nation