Trudeau affirms commitment to help power BC LNG sector with 'clean electricity'

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced today that the federal government has signed a memorandum of understanding with the BC government which he said affirm the Liberals’ commitment to power BC’s natural gas production and liquefied natural gas (LNG) sectors with its clean electricity.

Speaking in Surrey at the BC Hydro Trades Training Centre, Trudeau said Canadians “know that economic growth and environmental protection go hand-in-hand.”

As such, he continued, “today we are committing to work with British Columbia to help power the natural gas sector with clean electricity.”

In a release, the government said the natural gas industry produces about 18% of the province’s greenhouse gas emissions: “By using clean power – a process referred to as electrification – we will avoid emissions and position Canada as a supplier of the world’s cleanest natural gas.”

Trudeau was joined Thursday morning by BC Premier John Horgan, who also spoke about the announcement.

“Our governments are working collaboratively to electrify industries and reduce emissions as we put BC on a path to a cleaner, better future,” he said. “With this Memorandum of Understanding, we are taking an important step forward to build a more sustainable economy and protect our environment, while creating opportunities for people.”