We are writing because we take issue when people seeking office provide the public with serious misinformation. Together, we have nearly 20 years of experience as elected officials, including Michelle’s tenure as B.C.’s Minister of Energy from 2017 to 2020. We know what it is to run for and hold public office. It is a tremendous responsibility and requires a personal sense of accountability to ensure that you are well-informed and honest to the people.
In the June 7 issue of Pique Newsmagazine, Green candidate Jeremy Valeriote made false statements when suggesting Woodfibre LNG is “not a done deal.” His lack of knowledge about government processes, approvals and legal agreements is disturbing. He suggests that despite the project being approved by federal, provincial and the Squamish Nation governments, there are no ramifications to the public should all governments one day agree to rescind their approvals at the behest of a third-party MLA. Mr. Valeriote is either neglecting to do his homework or wilfully misleading the public for election purposes.
Any project proponent requiring government approvals has legal rights. Governments can’t just do away with past approvals without considerable cost to the public. What would he plan to cut so that he could pay the legal costs of shutting down a multi-billion dollar project? The affordable housing Squamish and Whistler desperately need, or health-care access for seniors in Pemberton and Bowen Island? Maybe child-care is so far down his priority list, that he never intended to support the development of a universal $10/day plan.
For the past year, we have been working together as members of the Gender Safety Advisory Committee for Woodfibre LNG. We bring our lifelong experience as advocates for women, girls and 2SLGBTQ+ people’s safety to reviewing and advising the WLNG project’s Gender and Cultural Safety Plan—the first of its kind in Canada. We are proud of this trailblazing work and the leadership Woodfibre LNG is taking as the first net-zero LNG facility in the world by 2027. We would welcome the opportunity to better inform Mr. Valeriote about our work and government processes should he wish.
Kalkalilh Deanne Lewis—Squamish Nation Councillor, 2017-2021; Squamish Mayoral Candidate, 2022.
Michelle Mungall—NDP MLA Nelson-Creston 2009-2020; Minister of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources, 2017-2020; Nelson City Councillor, 2003-2005.
