Nisgaa Citizens Sue Over LNG Pipeline Consultation

Two members of the Nisgaa Nation filed a lawsuit last week in British Columbia Supreme Court in Vancouver, alleging that their First Nation's government failed to properly consult citizens before entering a partnership with Western LNG for the Prince Rupert Gas Transmission Project.

Cecil Mercer and Stephen Nyce, both Nisgaa citizens, claim in the court filing that the pipeline initiative is linked to the Ksi Lisims floating natural gas facility and marine export terminal near Prince Rupert, British Columbia. The projects, which depend on liquefied natural gas exports, face risks from declining demand in key markets as global efforts accelerate toward low-carbon energy sources, according to the lawsuit. The plaintiffs argue that the supporting infrastructure could become obsolete in this transition, posing long-term challenges.

The lawsuit highlights the pipeline's escalating costs, initially estimated at $5 billion in 2014 but now projected between $10 billion and $12 billion. It further contends that the ownership structure exposes the Nisgaa Nation to significant financial risks and that the Nisgaa Lisims Government acted without sufficient financial prudence in the...