VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA – TransCanada Corporation has officially announced that its Prince Rupert Gas Transmission project (PRGT) has signed project agreements with the Takla Lake First Nation and McLeod Lake Indian Band (MLIB), bringing the total number of project agreements signed on PRGT to 11.
The agreements outline benefits and commitments, including business opportunities, employment for community members that will be provided during construction as well as financial benefits now and for as long as the project is in service.
“These agreements are signed after a meaningful exchange of information and ideas that not only benefit First Nations communities, but also make PRGT a stronger project,” said Tony Palmer, president of PRGT. “That’s why successful engagement with First Nations is a key marker of success for this project. We look forward to an ongoing working relationship with the Takla and MLIB.”
“This agreement ensures our values will be respected and our Nation will benefit from this project,” says Chief John French of the Takla Lake First Nation.
Along the pipeline route, PRGT has also signed project agreements with Doig River, Halfway River and Yekooche First Nations, Gitanyow First Nation, Kitselas First Nation, Lake Babine Nation, Metlakatla First Nation, Blueberry River First Nation and Nisga’a Lisims Government.
PRGT continues to work closely with First Nations along its pipeline route. The project is committed to building and maintaining long-term positive relationships with Aboriginal groups.
Prince Rupert Gas Transmission is proposing to construct and operate a 900-kilometre natural gas pipeline to deliver natural gas from a point near Hudson’s Hope to the proposed Pacific NorthWest LNG facility at Lelu Island, off the coast of Port Edward, near Prince Rupert.
The $5 billion PRGT project will provide significant economic benefits for British Columbians, local and provincial governments, and Aboriginal communities as it supports the export of surplus natural gas to global markets, including:
- Thousands of short-term jobs directed at B.C. residents;
- Opportunities for local and Aboriginal businesses;
- Millions of dollars in annual taxes to help support local services such as schools, policing, fire protection and waste management;
- Billions of dollars in new investments for the province.