SEPT/OCT 2014
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business elite canada 17
In terms of the environmental sustainabil-
ity of LNG, Mr. Coleman asserted that B.C. is
known to have the cleanest in the world, and is
setting clean emission standards for the indus-
try. A recent airshed study, an independent as-
sessment of air quality in the region in Kitimat,
commissioned by the B.C. government veri-
fies the province’s clean air standard. (www.
bcairquality.ca/airsheds/kitimat-airshed-as-
sessment.html) Communities to be affected
and First Nations groups have also expressed
concern about environmental impact, as well
as development of new infrastructure and up-
grades due to the LNG proposals.
“We’ve already sat down with many of these
communities and we’re working with them to
look at what their strengths and weaknesses
are on infrastructure,” said Mr. Coleman. “Until
somebody makes a final investment decision in
a particular community, only then will we know
the impacts of the decision on infrastructure
for sure, and then at that point we’ll know what
investments we have to make in infrastructure
by community.”
Moving forward toward the first final invest-
ment decision, Mr. Coleman is optimistic about
the effects it will have on job creation and the
GDP, both provincially and nationally, with sup-
port.
“I think it’s one of those stories in Canada that
people are just starting to wake up to. This is a
significant opportunity for the country. What
it would do to the GDP of the country is dra-
matic. It would be beneficial for all Canadians,
if we’re successful at it. Obviously it’s a chal-
lenge because we’re in an international market
of competition,” Mr. Coleman said. “But we’re
determined to be a player in this if we can be.”
“Every single major company that’s involved in energy
in the world now has started to make significant
investments in Canada or British Columbia.”
