“Today FortisBC announced intentions to move forward with phase 1B of the Tilbury LNG project.

For months, I have listened to safety concerns from people in my community. I raised those issues with government at every opportunity. I am disappointed with FortisBC’s decision, as I know many of those I represent will be. My position on this project has remained unchanged since before being elected to the legislature.

Through the advocacy of my community, and the reviews done, there are safety plans in place including the ability to shut down automatically in the event of an emergency, on-site fire control and response systems independent of the fire department, and robust emergency planning.

Some of the safety issues from the community may be mitigated by these controls, yet this project raises concerns about a possible safety incident.

I will continue to advocate for the mitigation of any safety issues identified going forward. As the representative for Richmond-Steveston, I will never stop lifting the voices of my constituents and never stop fighting for a better future.”

Some information on the safety protocols in place:

• Tilbury is permitted and regulated by the BC Energy Regulator.

• B.C.’s Liquefied Natural Gas Facility Regulation requires LNG facility permit holders to maintain a Safety and Loss Management Program that identifies hazards, assesses risks, establishes operating and maintenance procedures, and sets out emergency response and incident management requirements.

• The Safety and Loss Management Program for Tilbury, like all other LNG facilities, must at a minimum meet the Canadian standard for the production, storage, and handling of liquefied natural gas.

  • The Safety and Loss Management Program must meet the satisfaction of the regulator before starting operations.

• Parts of Tilbury’s required Safety and Loss Management Program include:

  • 24/7 staffing by trained operators;

  • on-site fire control and response systems that operate independently of the local fire department; and

  • automatic shutdown systems in the event of an emergency.