A general view of the future site of Cedar LNG in Kitimat, B.C., on Nov. 19, 2024. The project is one of 18 resource projects B.C. wants to expedite.Jennifer Gauthier/Reuters
The 18 resource projects the B.C. government wants to fast-track for approval have one thing in common: They are well on their way to completion.
In a bid to diversify the provincial economy in the face of threatened U.S. tariffs, Premier David Eby has promised to speed up approvals and permits to get $20-billion worth of projects finished, from critical-mineral mines to electricity transmission infrastructure.
President Donald Trump on Monday held off on his tariff threats against Canada and Mexico for 30 days after the two U.S. neighbors agreed to boost border security efforts.
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In a province where government approvals can take longer than the construction phase of major projects, and First Nations’ opposition can derail the largest investments, Mr. Eby is going to bat for those investments that are deemed the most likely to succeed.
Some of these projects have final investment decisions in hand, and First Nations communities have majority stakes in 12 of the 18 projects. Most are waiting on approval and a few remaining permits and licences, noted Jairo Yunis, director of policy for the Business Council of British Columbia.
Indigenous groups say they must be a part of Ottawa’s tariff response strategy
“So it makes sense to prioritize those that were already almost at the finish line,” he said, adding that the move sends a strong signal that the province understands the importance of energy security, trade and long-term prosperity. “Hopefully, we’ll see more projects added to that list.”
The projects include Cedar LNG, a project that is under construction in Kitimat, with the goal to export liquefied natural gas to Asia. It also includes the Eskay Creek gold and silver project; expansions at Highland Valley Copper and Red Chris; and the Mount Milligan mine for copper and gold.
Some of those projects may be close to the finish line, but there are no guarantees they will be completed. Some have First Nations stakeholders, but still face opposition from other Indigenous communities. Both Red Chris and Eskay Creek fall within B.C.’s so-called Golden Triangle in the north, where Alaskan tribal groups have taken court action to assert their right to oppose at least one B.C. mining project.
The Tahltan Nation, which was in talks with the province about both Red Chris and Eskay Creek, is now protesting the rushed pace. Those mines can only be built by properly assessing the economic, environmental, social and cultural dimensions in Tahltan territory, Beverly Slater, president of the Tahltan Central Government, said in a statement on Feb. 7.
She noted that there are formal joint decision-making agreements in place between B.C. and the Tahltan Central Government about how decisions will occur regarding these mines, but the province did not consult with the nation before announcing its list of priority projects.
Highland Valley Copper also faces opposition from some First Nations concerned about environmental degradation.
That’s a cautionary tale about rushing consultations with Indigenous communities, said Robert Phillips, a political executive for the First Nations Summit who sits on the Premier’s task force that is developing the response to the tariff threat.
“Immediately our back is to the wall when we hear ‘fast-track,’ and it certainly concerns us,” Mr. Phillips said.
He said that First Nations in B.C. are worried about the potential impact of threatened U.S. tariffs, and they want jobs and economic development as well. But he warned that government and industry must not take shortcuts with proper First Nations consultations.
“They could expedite projects if they do not have the consent, if they do not properly consult with First Nations, then that’s when the problems happen. That’s when we go to court, that’s when direct action, protests happen.”
B.C. Energy Minister Adrian Dix, speaking to reporters at a Feb. 6 news conference outlining plans to cut regulatory timelines for clean energy initiatives, said the projects on the government’s list are already well into First Nations engagement.
“I don’t think there’s a place in the world where you can name 18 major projects and you see that the majority of the capital investments and projects … are majority-owned by First Nations in those communities. I think that that’s something that British Columbians can be proud of.”