Stalled LNG Projects Leave Lasting Scars on Northern BC Communities

Chris Sankey, a former councillor for the Lax Kw'alaams Band and Senior Fellow at the Macdonald-Laurier Institute, has witnessed firsthand the devastating impact of stalled energy projects on Indigenous communities in Northern British Columbia.

The liquefied natural gas (LNG) boom that never materialized left a trail of economic devastation, with many communities facing a 'cliff' rather than an economic cycle.

Sankey noted that when industry leaves, it takes not only jobs but also the reason for a town to exist. The local ecosystem collapses, and small businesses struggle to survive without customers.

The loss of essential services is another critical consequence of industrial flight, as families with skills in healthcare, education, and other sectors leave the area with their spouses and children.

Sankey emphasized that economic development should be measured in terms of stability rather than just GDP or revenue. The true cost of delay lies not only in lost profits but also in the people who stay together or the local schools that remain open.

Economic reconciliation, according to Sankey, is the only path toward communal prosperity for Northern communities.