Residents of Dodge Cove are making it clear: They do not want a liquefied natural gas export terminal on Digby Island.
Thirty-six residents of the small community across the harbour signed a petition directed to Peter Levy of Nexen Energy, the international energy firm exploring the feasibility of locating a four-train LNG terminal at the mouth of the harbour, expressing their concerns that such a project would "alter our lives and community irreparably".
Even before there are shovels in the ground, Dodge Cove representative Des Nobels said the project is interfering with residents' quality of life.
"Over the course of the summer our community has been inundated with helicopter traffic and people are not happy," he said at the Sept. 19 meeting of the Skeena - Queen Charlotte Regional District.
"They are not interested in this project to say the least. We do not want Nexen as our neighbour and we have made that clear."
Nobles said the company has acknowledged the concerns of Dodge Cove and is arranging a meeting with residents next month.
As well as going to Nexen, the petitions were also sent to North Coast MLA Jennifer Rice and Skeena - Bulkley Valley MP Nathan Cullen.
Nexen declined to comment on the proposal, citing the ongoing environmental assessment process.