Energy for a Secure Future was pleased to join Resource Works for its second Get It Done event this week, bringing together First Nations leaders, municipal officials, industry representatives and other British Columbians to discuss what it takes to turn major resource opportunities into lasting economic benefits.
For ESF, the event was an important opportunity to continue a conversation at the heart of our work: Canada has enormous energy resources and opportunities, but realizing their full potential requires us to build.
The event also provided an opportunity to share the findings of ESF’s latest report, When Our Nation Builds, with a B.C. audience that included many municipal leaders attending the Union of BC Municipalities conference.
The report examines the economic and community benefits generated by the development of LNG Canada Phase I and the Coastal GasLink pipeline, and what these projects can teach us about the opportunities that come when Canada chooses to move forward with major infrastructure.
The Power of Yes: Local Benefits and Community Voices
ESF Chair, Shannon Joseph was invited to host the panel, The Power of Yes: Local Benefits and Community Voices, which brought the conversation down to the community level, examining what major resource projects mean for the people and communities closest to them. The session combined data on local economic benefits, including jobs, revenues, community services and investment, with first-hand perspectives from leaders who have experienced the challenges and opportunities of resource development in their own communities.
The discussion highlighted what can be at stake when projects are delayed or cancelled, while showcasing how community leaders, First Nations and industry partners can work together to turn major projects into lasting local benefits.
As When Our Nation Builds demonstrates, these benefits can be significant: participating First Nations saw their own-source revenues increase by 159% between 2019 and 2023, providing greater capacity to invest in their communities and determine their own priorities. This is an important part of the broader economic story of resource development — done well, major projects can help create the economic foundation for communities to build and prosper for generations.
