LNG Canada go-ahead decision has practical workforce, apprenticeship and skills training benefits, says BCFED

October 2, 2018 | News Release

Vancouver - The BC Federation of Labour is responding positively to today’s final investment decision to build LNG Canada’s Kitimat LNG facility.

“While there are still climate change issues that the provincial government is working to address through its clean growth strategy, today’s go-ahead announcement will create concrete opportunities for good-paying jobs during construction and operation of the new LNG facility,” says BCFED President Irene Lanzinger.

The Federation and a number of other unions have been part of the LNG process since 2013.

“As a part of the former Premier’s LNG Working Group, and the new government’s Workforce Development Advisory Group with First Nations and LNG Canada, labour pushed for many of the work force provisions that are reflected in today’s final investment decision,” says Lanzinger.

“We were able to share our expertise to shape policies around local and Indigenous worker hiring, along with apprenticeships and skills training issues to ensure that BC workers are first in line for jobs to maximize the value of this major investment for BC communities, and build a workforce for the future.”