VICTORIA, B.C. – Statement from Jeremy Valeriote, MLA for West Vancouver-Sea to Sky, on the BC Energy Regulator’s decision to allow FortisBC to discharge four times the amount of wastewater and heavy metals into the Átl’ḵa7tsem/Howe Sound Biosphere Region:
“For a government that claims BC’s LNG industry is the cleanest in the world, its actions tell a very different story. The same week the Province tells British Columbians to conserve water, it allows FortisBC to pollute far beyond the limits originally set for a protected UNESCO biosphere region.
In March, I wrote to the ministers responsible for holding FortisBC accountable. The company exceeded its discharge limits by double the amount permitted. Instead of holding them accountable, the BC Energy Regulator changed FortisBC’s permit to make their pollution levels legal.
Imagine a driver going 100 kilometres an hour through a school zone, and instead of getting a ticket, the government simply raises the speed limit. That’s effectively what happened here. Laws should apply equally to everyone and British Columbians expect their government to hold companies accountable when they break the law—not change the rules.
The fact is, the BC NDP have repeatedly shown a soft spot for the LNG industry: they subsidized millions of taxpayer dollars for LNG projects; weakened policies requiring LNG plants to be net-zero by 2030; ignored regional councils’ request for studies into the potential health effects of LNG; allowed LNG companies to flare beyond their permit; and, granted the Prince Rupert Transmission Line a substantial start determination to bail out an expiring environmental approval.
Whether it’s flaring, or wastewater pollution, our regulator too often bends the rules for industry instead of enforcing them. British Columbians deserve better.”
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