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Province stops museum plan, will consult public on museum’s future

June 22, 2022 12:45 PM
Royal BC Museum project is stopped
The Province is halting plans announced last month to rebuild the Royal British Columbia Museum.
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Vancouver named FIFA World Cup 2026 official host city

June 16, 2022 2:37 PM
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Expanded physical therapy program coming to Surrey

June 23, 2022 10:15 AM
Expanded physical therapy program coming to Surrey
More people in Surrey and the Fraser Valley will be able to pursue careers in physical therapy at a new training space coming to Surrey.
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Investing in biomedical engineering will bolster British Columbians’ health

June 13, 2022 11:15 AM
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B.C. ramps up support for agritech

June 24, 2022 8:30 AM
Two Vancouver-based agritech businesses are paving the way for stronger food security through B.C.’s Agritech Ramp-Up Pilot Program (Ramp-Up) with robotics and technology to support B.C.’s agriculture sector.
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Agriculture advisory group to help create more resilient food supply

June 14, 2022 8:30 AM
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Settlement reached with Purdue Pharma (Canada) for opioid damages

June 29, 2022 9:08 AM
Opioid manufacturer Purdue Pharma (Canada) (Purdue Canada) has agreed to a first of its kind settlement in Canada resulting from B.C.-led efforts to recover health-care costs related to the sale and marketing of opioid-based pain medicines.
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Province seeks people to join anti-racism committee, help dismantle systemic racism

June 24, 2022 10:00 AM
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Province seeks public input on supports for children, youth

April 20, 2022 11:15 AM
A survey about B.C’s new service approach for children and youth with support needs is now open to the public.
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Process begins to select family connections centres

May 10, 2022 4:08 PM
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More Cariboo communities connected to high-speed internet

June 23, 2022 9:00 AM
More than 1,200 households in 15 communities, including four First Nations communities, have access to high-speed internet services in the Cariboo, thanks to the installation of new fibre to the home.
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Province seeks people to join anti-racism committee, help dismantle systemic racism

June 24, 2022 10:00 AM
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Expansion of $10 a day child care to benefit thousands more B.C. families

June 20, 2022 12:02 PM
Expansion of $10 a day child care to benefit thousands more B.C. families
Applications are being accepted from child care providers to join the $10 a Day ChildCareBC program this year, which will enable them to offer low-cost child care, making life more affordable for thousands more families in B.C.
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Nisga’a students will benefit from new gymnasium

June 20, 2022 2:30 PM
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British Columbians can access more in EV charger rebates

May 18, 2022 10:05 AM
Better rebates for EV chargers
The Province and Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) are making it more affordable for people to install electric vehicle (EV) charging stations in their homes, businesses and communities.
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B.C. supports EV adoption from purchase through repair

June 1, 2022 12:55 PM
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B.C. strengthens actions to prepare for climate change with new strategy

June 20, 2022 1:15 PM
B.C. strengthens actions to prepare for climate change with new strategy
People in British Columbia will be better protected from the impacts of wildfires, flooding and extreme heat through the actions included in the new Climate Preparedness and Adaptation Strategy.
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Tahltan Central Government, B.C. make history under Declaration Act

June 6, 2022 10:38 AM
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Heat pump demand heats up in northern B.C.

June 20, 2022 11:52 AM
Heat pumps are more affordable than ever in B.C. with a provincial sales tax (PST) exemption and the launch of a new incentive to help people switch to the cleaner, energy-efficient technology that works in warm and cold climates.
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Rating agencies validate B.C.’s financial plan to support people, businesses

June 10, 2022 11:23 AM
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Historic investments help B.C. prepare for wildfire season

June 3, 2022 9:15 AM
Historic investments help B.C. prepare for wildfire season
British Columbians can expect cooler and wetter conditions in June, which means the fire hazard is anticipated to remain low through the early summer, as shown in the BC Wildfire Service’s latest seasonal outlook.
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Province launches public engagement on strengthening Great Bear Rainforest

June 9, 2022 9:00 AM
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Construction begins on redeveloped Burnaby Hospital

May 30, 2022 11:10 AM
Construction begins on redeveloped Burnaby Hospital
People in one of the fastest-growing communities in B.C. are one step closer to expanded patient care as construction begins on the redevelopment of Burnaby Hospital.
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BC Cancer launches lung-screening program

May 25, 2022 11:15 AM
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Tahltan Central Government, B.C. make history under Declaration Act

June 6, 2022 10:38 AM
Tahltan Central Government, B.C. make history under Declaration Act
Tahltan Central Government and the Province have entered into the first consent-based decision-making agreement under the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (Declaration Act).
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B.C. invests in First Nations language, arts, culture and heritage revitalization

June 14, 2022 1:15 PM
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Nominate an exceptional citizen for Province’s highest honour

January 20, 2022 8:00 AM
Nominate an exceptional citizen for Province’s highest honour
Nominations are being accepted for the Order of British Columbia, the Province’s highest honour.
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Outstanding people recognized for service during the pandemic

March 22, 2022 2:30 PM
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Significant partnership with Japan to better support transportation infrastructure

June 16, 2022 1:30 PM
Significant partnership with Japan to better support transportation infrastructure
A new agreement signed between the Province of B.C. and the group Japan Overseas Infrastructure Investment Corporation for Transport and Urban Development (JOIN) will help deliver innovative and clean solutions for future transportation projects and priorities.
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Tŝilhqot’in Nation will benefit from forest-to-frame project

June 22, 2022 10:46 AM
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close menu Labour

B.C. minimum wage increases June 1 for lowest paid workers

May 31, 2022 8:30 AM
B.C. minimum wage increases June 1 for lowest paid workers
As of June 1, 2022, B.C.’s lowest paid workers will get a pay boost as the minimum wage increases from $15.20 to $15.65 per hour, which is the highest of any province.
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B.C. expands cancer coverage for firefighters

April 22, 2022 12:30 PM
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Watershed restoration creates a healthier future for B.C.

April 21, 2022 11:15 AM
Watershed restoration creates a healthier future for B.C.
An ongoing effort to restore watersheds and wetlands in the province is creating a healthier future for British Columbians by mitigating the impacts of climate change on communities, strengthening ecosystems and securing quality drinking water.
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Minister’s and parliamentary secretary’s statement on federal decision about salmon farms

June 22, 2022 4:20 PM
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close menu Mental Health and Addictions

Settlement reached with Purdue Pharma (Canada) for opioid damages

June 29, 2022 9:08 AM
Opioid manufacturer Purdue Pharma (Canada) (Purdue Canada) has agreed to a first of its kind settlement in Canada resulting from B.C.-led efforts to recover health-care costs related to the sale and marketing of opioid-based pain medicines.
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New Foundry will provide services to youth in northeastern B.C.

June 14, 2022 12:30 PM
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close menu Municipal Affairs

B.C. provides financial assistance for displaced Ukrainians

June 29, 2022 10:15 AM
B.C. provides financial assistance for displaced Ukrainians
Ukrainian citizens arriving in B.C. under the federal Canada-Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel (CUAET) can now apply for hardship assistance from the B.C. government.
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Summer Reading Club will keep kids and families reading

June 27, 2022 12:15 PM
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Joint statement on the first anniversary of the Lytton wildfire

June 30, 2022 8:00 AM
First anniversary of the Lytton wildfire
Premier John Horgan and Mike Farnworth, Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General, have released the following statement marking one year since the Lytton wildfire:
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Toxic drug supply continues to devastate communities throughout B.C.

June 9, 2022 10:00 AM
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close menu Social Development and Poverty Reduction

B.C. provides financial assistance for displaced Ukrainians

June 29, 2022 10:15 AM
B.C. provides financial assistance for displaced Ukrainians
Ukrainian citizens arriving in B.C. under the federal Canada-Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel (CUAET) can now apply for hardship assistance from the B.C. government.
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Network helps people with disabilities focus on mental, physical wellness

June 3, 2022 8:30 AM
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Vancouver named FIFA World Cup 2026 official host city

June 16, 2022 2:37 PM
Vancouver named FIFA World Cup 2026 official host city
FIFA has confirmed that Vancouver has been chosen as an official host city for the FIFA World Cup 2026.
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Grants help youth in and from government care get in the game

May 30, 2022 12:30 PM
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Permanent repairs begin soon to Coquihalla and Highway 1

June 16, 2022 8:00 AM
Permanent repairs begin soon to Coquihalla and Highway 1
Permanent repairs to flood-damaged sections of the Coquihalla (Highway 5) and Highway 1 will soon be underway, protecting the safe movement of people and goods in British Columbia.
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Major progress on Kicking Horse Canyon Project in first year of construction

June 8, 2022 9:00 AM
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Environment and Climate Change Strategy

LNG Canada Export Terminal granted environmental assessment approval

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Honourable George Heyman

Honourable George Heyman

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close menu Environment and Climate Change Strategy

B.C. strengthens actions to prepare for climate change with new strategy

June 20, 2022 1:15 PM
B.C. strengthens actions to prepare for climate change with new strategy
People in British Columbia will be better protected from the impacts of wildfires, flooding and extreme heat through the actions included in the new Climate Preparedness and Adaptation Strategy.
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Tahltan Central Government, B.C. make history under Declaration Act

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Environment and Climate Change Strategy

British Columbia News

LNG Canada Export Terminal granted environmental assessment approval

https://news.gov.bc.ca/08667

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Wednesday, June 17, 2015 1:00 PM

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Wednesday, June 17, 2015 1:00 PM

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Environment Minister Mary Polak and Natural Gas Development Minister Rich Coleman have issued an Environmental Assessment Certificate to LNG Canada Development Inc. for the LNG Canada Export Terminal project, which will be located in northwest British Columbia in the District of Kitimat. 

The decision was made after considering a review led by British Columbia’s Environmental Assessment Office. The ministers have issued the certificate with legally enforceable conditions that have given them the confidence to conclude that the project will be constructed, operated and decommissioned in a way that ensures that no significant adverse effects are likely to occur, with the exception of adverse effects from greenhouse gas emissions. A record of the factors that the ministers considered in making their decision can be found in the Reasons for Ministers’ Decision at: http://tinyurl.com/q73pgwh

The LNG Canada Export Terminal is the first project to be granted a certificate following a substituted environmental assessment. Substitution means that the Environmental Assessment Office conducts a single process that meets all federal and provincial requirements. The federal minister and provincial ministers make separate decisions on whether to approve the project based on the environmental assessment report prepared by the Environmental Assessment Office.

A substituted environmental assessment reduces duplication and increases efficiencies for everyone involved - the province’s businesses, communities, First Nations and governments alike - while maintaining a rigorous and thorough review. Successive governments in British Columbia have actively pursued a “one project, one assessment” approach to environmental assessments in the province. To date, British Columbia is the only jurisdiction to receive substitution.

There are 24 conditions that are part of the Environmental Assessment Certificate. Design requirements are specified in the Certified Project Description. Each of the conditions and the Certified Project Description are legally-binding requirements that LNG Canada must meet to be in compliance with the certificate.

The certificate conditions were developed following consultation and input from Aboriginal groups, government agencies, communities and the public. Key conditions for the project require LNG Canada to:

  • Monitor impacts on air, soil, water, and/or vegetation from air emissions;
  • Develop a greenhouse gas emissions management plan;
  • Mitigate and monitor impacts to marine mammals during construction and shipping;
  • Manage and monitor marine water quality to protect marine life and human health;
  • Offset impacts to ecologically important wetlands;
  • Develop a socio-economic effects management plan to minimize impacts to community infrastructure and services;
  • Develop a traffic management plan to minimize disruptions during construction;
  • Develop a marine activities plan that monitors and mitigates impacts to marine users;
  • Monitor to verify the assessment of the wake effects from liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers; and
  • Continue consulting with the public and Aboriginal groups throughout all phases of the project.

In addition, LNG Canada proposed a number of significant design changes during the environmental assessment, based on feedback received during the process:

  • Reducing greenhouse gas emissions by using power from the BC Hydro grid for the auxiliary power requirements of the facility;
  • Reducing the impacts to fish habitat and identifying additional offsetting opportunities;
  • Moving the marine shipping route further away from Triple Island and proposing reduced speeds for LNG carriers; and
  • Refining the areas proposed for disposal at sea.

Many of the legally binding conditions were informed by consultation with Aboriginal groups, and include requirements for the continued engagement of Aboriginal groups, programs to support Aboriginal employment, contracting opportunities, skills training, and opportunities for Aboriginal groups to participate in monitoring activities. Many conditions also addressed issues of concern raised by Aboriginal groups, including air quality, marine mammals, fish and fish habitat, and wake effects. In addition to the conditions, some of the design aspects of the project addressed key issues raised by Aboriginal groups, including movement of the shipping route further away from Triple Island and a reduction in the proposed disposal at sea locations. 

The LNG Canada Export Terminal will require various federal, provincial and local government permits to proceed. The Environmental Assessment Office will co-ordinate compliance management efforts with other government agencies to ensure that the office is satisfied that certificate conditions are met.

The $23 billion-$36 billion LNG Canada Export Terminal project includes a facility with LNG storage, power generation, a marine terminal and LNG shipping by carriers. The project would produce 26 million tonnes of LNG per year at full build-out. The project will employ between 4,500 and 7,500 people during construction and between 450 and 800 people during operations.

British Columbia’s environmental assessments provide for significant opportunities for Aboriginal groups, government agencies and the public to provide input on the potential for environmental, economic, social, heritage and health effects from a proposed project. 

Media Contacts:

Communications
Ministry of Environment
250 953-3834

FACTSHEET

Substitution of Environmental Assessments in British Columbia

In 2013, the BC Environmental Assessment Office and the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency signed a memorandum of understanding that the two governments use to manage the substitution of environmental assessments in British Columbia.

Substitution is enabled by the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, 2012. Under substitution, where both federal and provincial environmental assessments are required, there can be a single review process (the provincial one) and two decisions (federal and provincial).

Successive governments in British Columbia have actively pursued a “one project, one assessment” approach to environmental assessments in the province. To date, British Columbia is the only jurisdiction to receive substitution - a testament to the rigour and the thoroughness of the Province’s environmental assessments.

The LNG Canada Export Terminal is the first project to be granted an environmental assessment certificate following a substituted environmental assessment. 

What is a Substituted Environmental Assessment?

Many proposed projects in B.C. require both a provincial environmental assessment and a federal one. 

Substitution means that instead of doing two separate assessments on the same project, the BC Environmental Assessment Office conducts a single assessment that meets both provincial and federal requirements. 

In addition to technical experts from the provincial government, municipalities and Aboriginal groups, experts from federal departments participate in the substituted assessment.

The federal minister and provincial ministers make separate decisions on whether to approve the project based on the environmental assessment report prepared by the Environmental Assessment Office.

Why does the Province request Substitution?

Using a single environmental assessment reduces duplication and increases efficiencies for everyone involved in the environmental assessment, while ensuring a rigorous and thorough review that assesses all the potential effects of a proposed project. 

Companies, communities, Aboriginal groups and governments alike save time, money and resources by only having to participate in one environmental assessment for a project.

What is the difference between Substitution and Equivalency?

Under equivalency, a designated project would be exempted from the application of the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, 2012. As such, only a single environmental assessment is conducted (B.C.’s) and a single decision made (B.C.’s) about whether the proposed project should be granted approval. No federal approval decision is made.

Who decides if a Substituted Assessment will be done?

In general, the Province requests substitution for most proposed projects that require an environmental assessment by both levels of government.

The Province must make the request in writing. The decision on whether to grant substitution is made by the federal Minister of the Environment.

Should the federal minister determine that it is in the public interest to have a review panel conduct the assessment for a project, it cannot be substituted. Other projects that may not be suitable for substitution involve those that are exclusively on federal lands or where significant trans-boundary impacts are anticipated.

As well, federal environmental assessments conducted by the National Energy Board and the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission cannot be substituted to a province.

Are other projects undergoing Substituted Environmental Assessments?

So far, the federal government has agreed to substituted environmental assessments for 13 proposed projects. 

A copy of the memorandum of understanding and the full list of substituted projects are available on the Environmental Assessment Office’s website at: www.eao.gov.bc.ca/substitution.html

Media Contacts:

Communications
Ministry of Environment
250 953-3834

https://news.gov.bc.ca/08667

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