CONVERSATIONS THAT MATTER
The District of Squamish denied Woodfibre LNG'S application for a temporary use permit for its Bridgemans “floatel” citing concerns over safety, environmental and community impacts. Council also cited a lack of information from the company as its reasons for saying no to the refurbished cruise ship that is intended to act as a floating workforce accommodation.
“Hard to comprehend,” says Christine Kennedy, president of Woodfibre LNG. “The district has asked repeatedly since 2019 — to the company and to regulators — that the project workforce be housed outside of Squamish, which is exactly what the floatel delivers.”
“A councillor suggested that there are better solutions than a floatel,” she says. “Housing options were considered and discussed with the district over a five-year engagement process, during which the district repeatedly asked the company and regulators to house non-local workers outside the community due to low vacancy rates in Squamish. Woodfibre LNG responded with the floatel. If council had better ideas, they had five years to bring those forward.”
On May 21, Squamish council decided to reconsider its decision and plans a final vote in June.
Kennedy joined a Conversation That Matters about the process the company followed in the development of the floatel and what this potential rejection means to the project and to B.C.'S investment reputation.
Learn More about our guest's career at careersthatmatter.ca.
See the video at vancouversun. com/tag/conversations-that-matter.
Join us s June 18 for Conversations Live — food security at conversationslive.ca