A notice posted to the Lax Kw'alaams Band's website has invited members to three different community meetings in Lax Kw'alaams, Prince Rupert and Vancouver in late January.The community engagement meetings are being held to determine the members' opinions on the potential move for the Pacific NorthWest LNG terminal on Lelu Island, to have its docking terminal now built on Ridley Island, away from Agnew Bank and waters near Flora Bank, a historically contentious location due to juvenile salmon habitats nearby.
In addition to the berthing docks potentially being moved, the membership is being asked to consider the finalization of agreements between the Lax Kw'alaams elected council and Pacific NorthWest LNG (PNW LNG), the Prince Rupert Gas Transmission project (the pipeline feeding the terminal from northeast B.C.) and the provincial and federal governments.
"The Lax Kw'alaams Band is holding a series of community engagement meetings to provide an update on the Pacific NorthWest LNG project, in particular: the potential relocation of the proposed PNW marine terminal to Ridley Island, and the progress with concluding agreements with PNW, PRGT, the Provincial and Federal Governments," read the message on the website.
The meetings are scheduled for Jan. 28 (Lax Kw'alaams), Jan. 29 (Prince Rupert) and Jan. 30 (Vancouver).
Last year, the membership voted in favour of council continuing talks with the proponent and governments and just last Wednesday, welcomed B.C.'s premier and deputy premier to the village for the first time since 1999.
At that meeting, Lax Kw'alaams Mayor John Helin emphasized the spirit of working together with the government and moving forward to make the members' successes greater, and to take advantage of opportunities when they're presented.
Pacific NorthWest LNG is currently conducting a "total review" of the project before handing a final investment decision over to investors. Reports indicate that the consortium is expected to make its final investment decision this summer.