A coalition of doctors, nurses, and First Nations leaders is challenging both the B.C. and federal governments to provide evidence that the liquefied natural gas (LNG) industry is safe, especially in rural and First Nations communities. The group is pushing for an independent, comprehensive health impact assessment of LNG and fracking activities before more projects are approved.
They argue that living near LNG infrastructure, including fracking and flaring sites, poses significant health risks, including higher rates of asthma, cancers, heart disease, and birth complications. A growing body of peer-reviewed research supports these claims, with some areas, like Chetwynd, showing alarmingly high cancer rates.
The health protectors are also critical of the recent legislation that fast-tracks LNG projects, including the federal Bill C-5 and B.C.’s Bills 14 and 15. These laws allow LNG projects to move forward with fewer regulatory hurdles, despite the potential for significant health and environmental harm.
The group’s concerns are compounded by the fact that many rural and Indigenous communities face the worst impacts of LNG development, yet have little say in the decision-making process. The coalition is calling for a reassessment of the industry’s risks to public health and the environment.
