Saulteau First Nations and the B.C. government have reached a new agreement on the Coastal GasLink natural gas pipeline project to help ensure that the Saulteau community can participate in and benefit from B.C.’s LNG opportunity.
Pipeline benefits agreements with First Nations are part of the B.C. government’s plan to partner with First Nations on LNG opportunities, which also includes increasing First Nations’ access to skills training and environmental stewardship projects.
As part of the agreement, Saulteau First Nations will receive approximately C$3.9 million in funding as construction related milestones are reached. In addition, Saulteau and other First Nations along the natural gas pipeline route will share C$10 million per year in ongoing benefits once the pipeline is in service.
Partnering with Saulteau First Nations is part of the B.C. government’s efforts to build meaningful relationships and partnerships with First Nations.
In 2015, the government and Saulteau signed a New Relationship and Reconciliation Agreement which will help to protect areas of traditional importance and guide natural resource development in the province’s Northeast.
B.C. has so far reached 62 pipeline benefits agreements with 29 First Nations for four proposed natural gas pipelines, Prince Rupert Gas Transmission (PRGT), Coastal GasLink (CGL), Pacific Trail Pipeline (PTP) and the Westcoast Connector Gas Transmission (WCGT) natural gas pipeline project.