B.C. Election: NDP, Conservatives both take credit for growing LNG sector

B.C.’s two largest political parties are both trying to take credit for the province’s growing LNG sector, as a final investment decision on LNG Canada’s Phase 2 is expected as soon as Tuesday.

NDP Leader David Eby and B.C. Conservative Leader Lorne Doerkson both unveiled part of their economic plans Monday, with the NDP promising to double critical mineral production, while the Conservatives promised to double natural gas production by 2032 and triple it by 2035.

On Sunday, the Tories also promised to introduce no new taxes or increase existing ones.

The brainchild of then-B.C. Liberal Premier Christy Clark, the liquefied natural gas industry has been slow to get going in the province but now has five terminals either under construction or awaiting final investment decisions.

Last year, the $40 billion LNG Canada Phase 1 began shipping gas to Asia.

Asked whether his government can take credit for the development of the sector, Eby’s answer was a definitive yes.

“This final investment decision, which I am keen to see, is a product of work that’s taken place for years by, before me Premier Horgan, and under my administration, with the project proponents to ensure that we are bringing down emissions, that we’re delivering benefits for British Columbia, and that we are diversifying our trade relationships around the world,” Eby told reporters about LNG Canada Phase 2.

The comments represent a shift for Eby from 2022 when he replaced Horgan as NDP leader and stated that: “We cannot continue to expand fossil-fuel infrastructure and hit our climate goals.”

As for the promise to double critical mineral production, the B.C. NDP leader said it would brings billions of dollars in economic benefits to the province.

“Right now, we have almost 20 critical metals and minerals mines in the province that represent almost $40 billion in capital investment, almost $40 billion in GDP growth,” said Eby. “But for British Columbians, tens of thousands of jobs, almost $40 billion in provincial tax revenues, municipal tax revenues, federal tax revenues that we don’t have to come to you and your family for when you’re struggling with affordability.”

Doerkson, elected under the B.C. Liberal banner in 2020, said that if it wasn’t for the NDP, there would be more LNG projects already up and running. He said there were over 20 projects proposed under Clark’s government but only about a quarter of them have gone ahead.

“The B.C. government, previous to the NDP, projected three-to-five of those facilities would have been operating and producing LNG by 2020. More than 10 years later, the reality is there is one, only one single project,” said the Conservative leader.