Media statement - January 23, 2022

TC Energy President & CEO, François Poirier, congratulates Blueberry River First Nations on historic agreement

Blueberry River First Nations Chief and Council joined with TC Energy leaders in celebrating the Blueberry River First Nations Implementation Agreement, signed with the Province of British Columbia on Jan. 18, 2023 in Prince George, B.C. From left to right: Councillors Wayne Yahey; Troy Wolf; Sherry Dominic; Shelley Gauthier; and Chief Judy Desjarlais of Blueberry River First Nations were joined by TC Energy’s Greg Grant, President, Canadian Natural Gas Pipelines; Lindsay Mackay, Vice-President, Canadian Natural Gas Pipelines Non-Regulated Commercial and Business Development; and Riley Baldwin, Director, Canadian Natural Gas Pipelines Business Development Non-Regulated. 

Personally, and on behalf of TC Energy, I want to congratulate the Blueberry River First Nations on their historic Implementation Agreement with the Province of British Columbia. We celebrate the benefits this agreement will bring to the community for generations to come, and the certainty and stability it will provide to industries like ours.

It is clear that responsible resource development in Canada must include the participation of Indigenous communities. I believe Indigenous reconciliation needs to be more than ceremonial — Indigenous participation in energy and infrastructure development can advance reconciliation. Our Coastal GasLink project has demonstrated the strength of working with Indigenous communities, with the unprecedented support we've received from all 20 elected Indigenous groups across our project route, including Blueberry River First Nations.

Together, we are delivering significant benefits to community members here at home, and meeting the global demand for sustainable Canadian LNG that will reduce emissions abroad. To stop using high-emitting coal in Asia, we need Canadian LNG. Working with Nations on thoughtful and sustainable growth, we can continue to provide responsibly produced and transported energy to the world. As Bevin Wirzba, President of Coastal GasLink, said recently, that's "a win for B.C., a win for Canada, and a win globally".

Members of our leadership and Coastal GasLink teams were honoured to cheer on Blueberry River First Nations at the signing event. We are fortunate to have journeyed alongside the community over the years, and have been warmly invited to join events to learn more about the community and culture. As we look into this new future, we are committed to continue listening and learning as we create enduring opportunities for Indigenous communities in northern B.C.