Coastal GasLink Pipeline Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of TransCanada PipeLines Limited, is proposing to develop a natural gas pipeline from northeast B.C., near Dawson Creek, to the west coast of B.C., near Kitimat, passing south of Burns Lake.
In December 2014, Coastal GasLink signed agreements with Skin Tyee First Nation, Nee Tahi Buhn Band and Wet’suwet’en First Nation. Combined, the three bands will receive approximately $8.1 million out of the agreement.
According to Jaime Croft, Spokesperson for TransCanada, Coastal GasLink will ensure that prime contractors are hiring locally.
During construction, Coastal GasLink will oversee the prime contractors to ensure all objectives are met, including that every prime contractor has a local and Aboriginal participation plan that covers both contracting and employment.
“We will monitor the implementation of these plans and require regular reports on implementation,” said Croft.
Coastal GasLink plans to select as many as three prime contractors. These will be large companies with international experience in pipeline construction.
Prime contractors will be selected by the fall of 2015. Once the prime contractors have been awarded and the appropriate final investment decisions and regulatory permits are in place, Coastal GasLink will take steps to introduce the prime contractors and engage the local workforce.
The communications plan for advertising local contracting opportunities during construction has yet to be developed. However, Croft said local contracting opportunities will be advertised consistently through a number of channels.
“Coastal GasLink representatives will continue to engage with Northern B.C. communities throughout construction to discuss the implementation of local and Aboriginal participation plans,” said Croft.
As a way to ensure Aboriginal participation in the project, Aboriginal business entities will hold a minimum 51 per cent share of the contracting companies.
According to Croft, “clearing, camp management, security and medical” have been designated as Aboriginal contracting opportunities.
“We expect that they [Aboriginal business entities] will often partner with other entities that have experience in these services,” he said.
The Coastal GasLink Pipeline project was first announced in June 2012; initial public engagement with municipalities and First Nations took place in the fall of 2012; in January 2014, TransCanada applied for an Environment Assessment (EA) certificate; the EA certificate was issued in October 2014 with 32 conditions.
To proceed to construction, Coastal GasLink will also require a construction permit from the B.C. Oil and Gas Commission and a final investment decision from their customer, LNG Canada.
“We hope to begin construction in 2016,” said Croft. “The construction period of the pipeline is expected to take three and four years.”
