Gitxaala Nation Bringing Demonstrated Environmental Leadership to Petronas Review Process

PRINCE RUPERT, BC–(Marketwired – September 23, 2015) – The Gitxaala First Nation is demonstrating its environmental leadership in the fight against Enbridge’s Northern Gateway Pipeline and brings these same values to the table with regard to the Petronas LNG proposal.

“The Gitxaala First Nation continues to lead the Tsimshian people on Northern Gateway through continued legal action against the federal government’s approval of the Northern Gateway pipeline. We have led the fight on the coast against Northern Gateway,” said Gitxaala Chief Cliff White. “We have very clear views on the protection of our coastal environment and these are the same values Gitxaala carries in the Canadian Environment Assessment Agency’s (CEAA’s) review of Petronas’ LNG terminal at Lelu Island.

“Gitxaala is committed to ensuring these tenets are being honoured and that the environmental issues related to the Petronas project are fully considered and managed for. We will not move to final agreement with Petronas until all potential impacts on community health, LNG plant safety and the environment are addressed to our satisfaction,” said White.

“Our level of review for the Petronas project is no different than our review of the Northern Gateway Pipeline. Gitxaala Environmental Monitoring (GEM) is actively involved in the CEAA process to ensure proper due diligence for this project occurs. The potential economic benefits are second to the environment values. The environment has always been, and will always be our first priority.”

“Consistent with the Tsimshian tradition of Bak Laansk — pulling together, Gitxaala continues to work cooperatively with other Tsimshian nations as part of the Tsimshian Environmental Stewardship Authority.”

In response to a statement released by Lax Kw’alaams First Nation last week on its Facebook site, White responded:

“It is disappointing and irresponsible for Lax Kw’alaams to take an adversarial position with other Tsimshian nations on the Petronas project.”

“The Tsimshian communities need to work together to ensure projects in our shared territory are properly reviewed and delivered to the highest standards, now and into the future.”