VICTORIA— Bruce Ralston, New Democrat spokesperson on natural gas, trade, and manufacturing, issued the following statement on the expansion of the Tilbury LNG facility that was announced on Thursday:

“Congratulations to Fortis BC and Hawaiian Electric for signing this agreement, the first of its kind in British Columbia to export LNG.

“If the project proceeds, the B.C. New Democrats hope to see a project development agreement ensuring that British Columbians are the first in line for jobs stemming from this agreement.

“To support the agreement, a further expansion at Fortis’s Tilbury facility in Delta would be required. That expansion is currently before the B.C. Environmental Assessment Office for review, and we will be watching this process closely. As the regulatory process unfolds, it is vital that proper consultation and input from First Nations, communities, and stakeholders in Delta are included.”