Premier targets so-called ‘forces of No’ against government initiatives

VICTORIA, B.C. — Premier Christy Clark is targeting what she calls the ‘forces of No’ in British Columbia who mount resistance efforts to government initiatives purely out of a fear of change.

She made the statements during a news conference in Victoria this week where she fielded questions on a number of issues, including environmental concerns over liquefied natural gas development.

She said negotiating trade pacts and resource developments involves tough, but potentially rewarding benefits and she would rather be known as an achiever than a quitter.

She criticized the members of a coalition of First Nations, environmentalists and Opposition New Democrats who have signed a declaration demanding a protection zone near a proposed multi-billion-dollar LNG project near Prince Rupert saying, “I’m not sure what science the forces of No bring together up there,” and adding…

First Nations leaders — who labelled the Premier’s comments ‘paternalistic and mindless’ — continue to argue Pacific Northwest LNG, backed by the Malaysian State energy giant Petronas, has proposed to build an LNG export terminal in the Lelu Island and Flora Bank region, at the mouth of the Skeena River — considered vital to the ecosystem of B.C.’s second-largest salmon-bearing waterway.

The proposed project is billed as the largest private-sector investment in B.C.’s history, valued at $36-billion and estimated to create 4,500 construction jobs.

The coalition signed the declaration to protect the area at the end of a weekend summit in Prince Rupert, attended by more than 300 hereditary and elected First Nations leaders, scientists, politicians, fishermen and others.