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Elnur, Rawie. Dovgal, Margareta. 2025. Shaping the Peace: Balancing Energy, Environment, and Reconciliation in Northeast BC’s Peace River Region. Vancouver, BC: Resource Works Society.
Rawie Elnur (Lead Author) is the Research Manager at Resource Works. He holds a Master of Science (MSc) in Forestry from the University of British Columbia, supported by the Canada Graduate Scholarship (CGS-M), as well as a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Economics.
At Resource Works, he translates complex carbon policies, regulatory hurdles, and shifting energy markets into clear insights that guide decision-makers and the public through meaningful discussions on Indigenous reconciliation and the energy trilemma of security, affordability, and sustainability. His goal is simple: keep the conversation honest, data-driven, and focused on workable solutions.
Margareta Dovgal (Editor and Contributing Author) is the Managing Director of Resource Works. She is a natural resource policy advocate with a passion for technology, innovation and Indigenous economic development. Margareta has organized the Indigenous Partnerships Success Showcase, a historic movement bringing together Indigenous and corporate Canada to celebrate and develop improved partnerships, since 2022.
She completed, with Distinction, a Master of Public Administration in Energy, Technology and Climate Policy at University College London. A lifelong Vancouverite, she also holds a Bachelor of Arts in Asian Area Studies from the University of British Columbia.
We are grateful to the contributions of a geographically and demographically diverse group that lent their subject matter expertise to this work.
Julie Rogers coordinated and conducted interviews across Northeast BC, distilling perspectives into clear, compelling stories that ground our report in lived experience.
She is an award-winning communications strategist, speaker, and trainer, with 20 years’ experience in municipal government communications. Having lived and worked in communities across Northeast BC, she understands the people and projects that fuel Canada’s resource economy. As principal of Julie Rogers Consulting, she helps organizations craft plain-language communications strategies, design inclusive engagement plans and turn complex issues into stories that build trust.
Resource Works is grateful to the Fort St. John & District Chamber of Commerce for their partnership and support.
“As someone who lives and works in Northeast BC, I see every day how deeply our communities contribute to this province — through our energy, our agriculture, and our people. Shaping the Peace reflects the lived experiences of our region and offers real, practical solutions. We support its call for policies that respect our realities, invest in our future, and ensure local voices are part of the path forward. This report gives us hope that balance is possible — between growth, environment, and reconciliation.”
— Tiffany Hetenyi, Executive Director, Fort St. John & District Chamber of Commerce
Dear Reader,
In discussions of economic prosperity, metropolitan regions frequently take centre stage. Yet, in British Columbia, it remains undeniable that primary natural resource industries are fundamental drivers of economic growth, supporting communities province-wide and financing the lifestyles enjoyed in urban centres. Nowhere is this economic reality clearer or more critical than in the Peace Region of the Northeast.
We are often told that innovation is urban, that growth is driven by consumption, and that economic dynamism resides primarily in cities. Yet the data — and the lived realities of rural and Indigenous communities — paint a different picture. The Peace Region, alongside other non-metropolitan areas, continues to generate a disproportionate share of British Columbia’s export earnings, tax revenues, and national energy supply. These are the producer regions where steel meets ground, where major projects are built, where global markets are served, and where reconciliation with Indigenous peoples takes on its most practical, complex, and transformative dimensions.
The Peace Region exemplifies the convergence of energy production, environmental stewardship, and social progress. This region is pivotal as Canada, under the leadership of Prime Minister Mark Carney, seeks to position itself as an energy superpower in both conventional and renewable resources. The Peace Region’s natural gas resources, developed responsibly and in collaboration with local First Nations, represent a significant opportunity to achieve multiple objectives simultaneously.
British Columbia’s economy is no longer the same as it was a generation ago. Climate commitments, permitting delays, inflationary shocks, and rising global instability — from the South China Sea to Eastern Europe — have changed the stakes. But one thing remains constant: the Peace Region and its people are providers. They generate a substantial share of the wealth that pays for public services across the province, even as they bear the heaviest burdens of industrial development, regulatory uncertainty, and infrastructure gaps.
This report does not idealize the status quo. It recognizes that in the Peace, resource development has been accompanied by both environmental impacts and social strains.
Listening to Indigenous voices, ones rooted in the ancient wisdom and living traditions of Treaty 8 peoples, has shown us there is a path to continuity and partnerships between land, culture, and community. Without the Peace, there is no energy superpower future for British Columbia — no credible climate transition, no serious reconciliation with Indigenous nations as economic partners, and no meaningful path to national prosperity.
Moving forward requires candid acknowledgment of resource industries as foundational to prosperity. Policies should encourage new opportunities in all forms of energy – geothermal, wind, hydro and natural gas, as well as additional critical minerals projects, sustainable forestry practices and growth in agricultural exports, while keeping the benefits of further LNG development in Canada as much as possible.
This first report in the Shared Prosperity series has been developed in collaboration with many people local to the Peace region. We are proud of our local partnerships to aid in the work’s recognition. And we hope this serves as a positive addition to the policy discussions ahead.
Sincerely,
Stewart Muir
President and CEO
Resource Works Society
Northeast British Columbia (NEBC), encompassing the Peace River Regional District (PRRD) and the Northern Rockies Regional Municipality (NRRM), is an economic engine for the province, contributing substantially to British Columbia’s prosperity while representing just over 1% of its population. Dominated by resource industries (natural gas, hydroelectric power, forestry, mining, and agriculture) the region generates significant GDP, exports, and employment.
Supplying nearly all of British Columbia’s natural gas (about one-third of Canada’s total) and more than 30 percent of its hydroelectric power, Northeast BC is the foundation of the province’s energy security.
In short, while small in population (~70,000 residents), Northeast BC punches far above its weight by powering homes, fueling industries, and anchoring the provincial economy in ways that ripple far beyond its borders. The region’s continued prosperity is essential to the well-being of communities across all of British Columbia.
However, the region faces a critical juncture, as global markets shift, geopolitical positions alter, decarbonization objectives advance while global energy use grows at an even faster pace, and reconciliation with Indigenous peoples is finally given the attention it deserves.
The 2023 Blueberry River First Nations accord has ushered in a new era of joint resource management and benefit-sharing, acknowledging cumulative impacts of resource development and laying the foundation for shared prosperity.
The report aims to provide a compelling narrative for citizens and policymakers, highlighting the unique identity, challenges, and needs of NEBC communities. The focus is on ensuring the region’s continued prosperity and resilience through strategic policy actions centered on fair climate policy, community well-being, and economic diversification.
Beyond local benefits, BC as a whole benefits when the true potential of the Northeast is realized.
Recommendations
As a result of our research and analysis, we have come forward with the following six recommendations.
Imagine a region that quietly powers the heart of British Columbia: an area often overlooked but essential to the province’s prosperity. Northeast BC (NEBC) isn’t just a distant resource hub; it’s a backbone supporting billions of dollars of our provincial economy and proving that economy and environment can truly go hand-in-hand.
Resource revenues are key to both public and private financial stability. And the reality of climate change is certainly not far from the minds of the voting public, nor elected decision-makers, nor the innovation leaders driving NEBC and the province as a whole forward on R&D and the commercialization of promising new technologies to mitigate climate impact while delivering commodities that the world needs.
LNG export, and the difficult but necessary discussions it provokes, has emerged as a key driver of future economic growth, with provincial and federal leaders positioned to support it – although the extent and nature of this support varies. Realizing this vision requires an end-to-end understanding of the communities involved in its production, starting in Northeast BC, home to virtually all of the province’s natural gas output.
In 2024, energy products brought in an estimated $16.29 billion, accounting for nearly a third of BC’s $54.5 billion in total exports.1 These aren’t just economic figures in isolation; they represent schools, hospitals, roads, and jobs, the vital elements of daily life funded by this wealth. Yet, LNG-sourced abundance comes with a compelling challenge: with ambitious emission reduction goals at the forefront of provincial policy, how do we responsibly steward our resource-based economy?
Here, Northeast BC offers our provincial discourse on public policy something very valuable: proof that an innovative and pragmatic path forward on economy and environment is possible. Not only does the region drive economic well-being, but it also contributes to energy security. Indeed, an astounding 38% of BC’s hydroelectric power originates from the Peace Region.2 Home to over 93% of BC’s natural gas, the region also hosts novel approaches to community benefit-sharing and among the most regulated and environmentally responsible innovations in natural gas production. This goes far beyond energy, with vital contributions from local forestry, mining, and agriculture also meriting celebration.
Fully leveraging this region’s integrated approach to resource and environmental management, and relating its lessons to the existing provincial policy landscape on emissions and economy demands a thoughtful, balanced approach. We believe that provincial leaders can, and indeed must, reconcile strong climate action with economic vitality.
In practice, this requires that provincial climate policies acknowledge the unavoidable realities of energy-intensive industries, reconciling those with domestic emissions reduction targets, supporting innovation in the oil and gas sector, and investing in carbon capture and the electrification of gas operations.
Provincial policies must recognize NEBC’s unique contributions and challenges, ensuring that climate goals like the CleanBC Roadmap are pursued in a way that supports, rather than undermines, regional economic stability and the livelihoods of its residents.
In a changing world that faces unprecedented costs related to climate mitigation and adaptation, economic security is more than a nice-to-have – it is a need to have, and our natural resources are our greatest asset. Investment in sustainable practices, technological innovation, and meaningful Indigenous partnerships is essential for that resource development to be done responsibly.
Strengthening benefit-sharing with mechanisms like the Peace River Agreement ensures communities receive a fair share of the wealth generated on their lands, enabling crucial local investments. Furthermore, proactive investment in economic diversification, exploring critical minerals, geothermal, alternative fuels, value-added processing, and the restoration economy, coupled with relevant skills training, will build long-term resilience beyond traditional resource cycles.
Ultimately, the future prosperity of Northeast BC, and by extension the province, depends on collaboration, mutual understanding, and policies that thoughtfully integrate economic needs, environmental stewardship, and social equity.
The report that follows is an attempt to synthesize the findings of an intensive multi-month research project, carried out by a Metro Vancouver-based team working closely with local subject matter experts and organizations, as well as experts from across the country with deep knowledge of the specific challenges and opportunities, technologies, and industries unique to the region. It also weaves through six stories of people who proudly call this region home.
We sincerely hope that these learnings equip those about talking about, reporting on, or making policy that affects this region to do so in a way that is grounded in the realities of why this region’s success matters to BC as a whole.
Northeast British Columbia (NEBC) spans approximately 200,000 km², making up about 22% of the province’s total land area.3 For context, NEBC is big enough to fit Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island combined, with room to spare. The region lies east of the Rocky Mountains and is characterized by boreal forests, grasslands, foothills, and river valleys. The Peace River, which flows eastward into Alberta, is the defining waterway of the region.
Other key features include the Alaska Highway (Highway 97), Williston Lake (created by the WAC Bennett Dam), and the Muskwa-Kechika Management Area, which is one of North America’s largest intact wilderness areas.
Boundaries and Governance
NEBC is divided into two provincial ridings: Peace River North and Peace River South. These ridings have smaller populations compared to the provincial average but span vast geographic areas, with Peace River North alone covering over 175,000 km². Federally, the region is part of the Prince George–Peace River–Northern Rockies riding.4 These large, spread-out geographies pose real challenges for equitable representation and public service delivery across remote communities.
The region includes two major administrative bodies: the Peace River Regional District (PRRD) and the Northern Rockies Regional Municipality (NRRM). The NRRM’s jurisdiction includes Fort Nelson, and unincorporated settlements like Toad River and Muncho Lake.5
The PRRD governs a larger population and geographic area than most BC regional districts. It includes the communities of Fort St. John, Dawson Creek, Chetwynd, Hudson’s Hope, Pouce Coupe, and Tumbler Ridge.6
Both districts work closely with First Nations governments including Blueberry River, Doig River, Halfway River, Saulteau, Prophet River, Fort Nelson, and West Moberly, whose members belong predominantly to the Dane-zaa (Beaver) and Cree cultural and linguistic groups.
Communities belonging to the Dene, Métis, and other Indigenous peoples also have diverse histories, identities, and cultural contributions that further enrich the region. These relationships extend beyond administrative interactions, involving collaborative planning and shared stewardship informed by traditional knowledge, culture, and governance practices.
Both NRRM and PRRD support planning, utilities, emergency services, and land-use coordination across diverse and resource-dependent territories.
Northeast British Columbia’s modern identity is shaped by a layered and often contested history that integrates thousands of years of Indigenous presence and stewardship with subsequent colonial expansion, resource exploration, and industrial growth.
The Treaty 8 First Nations of the region possess a rich and diverse history, with distinct cultural heritages that predate the Treaty 8 in 1899.7 Their experiences with the treaty process, marked by oral promises and differing understandings of the written terms, have shaped their interactions with industries and government in the region.
Over the past century, these First Nations have navigated significant social, economic, and environmental changes brought about by resource development and government policies. Despite these challenges, they have demonstrated remarkable resilience in their efforts to preserve their cultures, revitalize their languages, and assert their treaty rights. Contemporary issues such as self-governance, land claims, resource revenue sharing, and the ongoing impacts of projects like the Site C dam remain central to their concerns.
The arrival of fur traders like Alexander Mackenzie in 1793 marked the beginning of sustained non-Indigenous presence in the region, culminating in the establishment of Fort St. John, the province’s oldest continuously inhabited European settlement. Yet, this history often disrupted the lives, territories, and cultures of Indigenous peoples who have inhabited this land since time immemorial.
Nearby Tse’K’wa (Charlie Lake Cave) has yielded artifacts dating back about 12,500 years, making the Fort St. John area one of the longest-inhabited places in Canada. The cave stands at the northern gateway of the post-glacial ice-free corridor, so archaeologists view it as a waypoint on early northward migration routes; DNA from bison in its deepest layers shows herds from opposite sides of the former ice sheets converging here.54 For the Dane-zaa First Nations, who steward Tse’K’wa today, it remains a sacred place that anchors their enduring connection to the Peace River valley.
The relationship between these First Nations and non-Indigenous entities in the Northeast is characterized by both increasing collaboration, acknowledgement and respect as well as persistent conflicts over land rights and resource management. Eight Treaty 8 First Nations have traditional territories and current communities located within the Peace region.7 They are:
Treaty 8 provides a legal and historical foundation that shapes current policy, economic partnerships, and land management practices, as well as community relationships and Indigenous rights recognition in the region. It is important to acknowledge that while other Indigenous communities such as Kwadacha Nation and Tsay Key Dene Band have traditional territories overlapping this region, they are not signatories to Treaty 8 and thus have distinct governance arrangements, relationships, and histories which are beyond the detailed scope of this analysis.
Furthermore, six of these eight nations (Doig River, Fort Nelson, Halfway River, Prophet River, Saulteau, and West Moberly) are members of the Treaty 8 Tribal Association (T8TA), which serves as a key service delivery and advocacy organization for its member nations.3
Partnerships and Resource Collaboration: Timeline and Developments
Treaty 8 was signed in 1899, enshrining commitments to peaceful coexistence and economic sharing. However, for much of the 20th century, communities were largely excluded from the decision-making behind and benefits of expanding resource development, from hydroelectric projects to oil and gas extraction, on their lands. It wasn’t until legal reforms in the 1980s and early 2000s that governments began to recognize treaty rights and the obligation to consult First Nations, marking the beginning of a shift from exclusion to collaboration.
Early Partnership Agreements (2000s)
The early 2000s laid the groundwork for formal cooperation. Following the Supreme Court’s Mikisew Cree decision in 2005, BC and several Treaty 8 Nations signed Economic Benefit Agreements and long-term oil and gas deals.8 These included annual payments, revenue-sharing frameworks, and structured consultation processes. For the first time, First Nations like Doig River, Prophet River, and West Moberly secured tangible economic and decision-making roles in projects on their territories.8
Growing Collaboration in the 2010s
By the 2010s, benefit-sharing became common practice. Treaty 8 Nations signed agreements for timber royalties and resource planning, while direct partnerships with companies in mining and LNG projects brought jobs, training, and environmental protections. The 2015 Reconciliation Agreement with Saulteau First Nations, and pipeline benefit deals tied to LNG developments, represented major steps forward.9,15
Projects like Site C further illustrated this shift, with some nations securing community benefits and others engaging in legal opposition before reaching settlements.10 First Nations-owned companies also emerged as active players, notably Fort Nelson’s leadership in launching BC’s first geothermal power initiative.11
Recent Developments: Co-Management and Revenue Sharing (2020s)
A major turning point came with the 2021 Yahey v. BC ruling, which halted new industrial permits in Blueberry River First Nations (BRFN) territory due to cumulative impacts. Instead of appealing, the province negotiated transformative agreements: $265 million in restoration funds specifically for BRFN, robust co-management frameworks, and over $200 million in royalties directed to Treaty 8 Nations in 2023 alone.12,13 These new deals introduced joint land-use planning, environmental stewardship roles, and long-term fiscal guarantees, solidifying Indigenous authority in the resource sector.
Equitable Revenue Sharing in Practice Today
Today’s revenue-sharing landscape includes royalty allocations, timber harvesting licenses, and impact benefit agreements with equity stakes or per-unit payments. First Nations are partnering in joint ventures, offering services from construction to environmental monitoring. Conuma Resources, which operates south of Tumbler Ridge and is one of major local players, for instance, spent over $110 million in 2023 on contracts with Indigenous-owned businesses.14 These arrangements ensure First Nations are co-beneficiaries of resource extraction, building financial independence and local capacity.
Benefits for First Nations Communities and Sustainable Development
These partnerships are reshaping communities. With new revenues, First Nations are investing in housing, education, and business development, while youth gain training and employment in sustainable industries. Cultural revitalization is supported through funding for language programs, land protection, and stewardship efforts.13 For BC, these agreements align with climate goals, advancing Indigenous-led conservation, biodiversity protection, and sustainable land use. Inclusive governance isn’t just the new norm, it’s proving to be the most effective path forward for economic development and environmental resilience in Northeast BC.
Moving forward, continued reconciliation, mutual respect, and shared economic opportunities will be essential to building a thriving, sustainable, and equitable future for all who call Northeast British Columbia home.
Lingering Impacts of the Blueberry River Ruling
The Yahey v. BC ruling has also triggered profound political and regulatory shifts. Rather than appeal, the provincial government entered into negotiations with BRFN, culminating in a 2023 implementation agreement that transforms how decisions are made on the land. In the years since the court ruling in 2021, British Columbia’s mining, oil and gas, and forestry sectors have been roiled by delays and uncertainty. The co-governance approach is now being expanded regionally: within days of the deal with BRFN, BC struck similar accords with several neighboring Treaty 8 First Nations, embedding shared decision-making and cumulative-effects assessment into permitting processes across the northeast.
The permitting freeze sent shock waves through every corner of the resource patch. A one-off agreement let 195 approved oil and logging projects inch forward, but 20 earmarked for culturally sensitive areas hit a hard stop. Capital dried up fast; by 2022 about $2.5 billion in planned oil and gas spending either evaporated or migrated east to Alberta.55 Rigs rolled out mid-program, and even routine tasks, such as a farmer selling water to drillers, got tangled in months of paperwork while the new consultation process found its footing.
Nationally, the Yahey decision and the resulting cumulative impacts framework have become a watershed precedent, emboldening other First Nations (such as Alberta’s Beaver Lake Cree) to pursue cumulative-impact claims and prompting policymakers across Canada to re-examine how treaty rights are upheld in resource development.
In many ways, the outcomes of the BRFN ruling have seriously challenged prior assumptions about how reconciliation and shared decision-making can be advanced in service of illuminating a path to balance economic development with the affirmation of Indigenous rights.
RECOMMENDATION: Implement urban-focused public outreach initiatives to build province-wide awareness of Northeast BC’s vital contributions to energy security, export-driven industries, and agricultural prosperity.
Why This Matters
Understanding Northeast BC’s outsized contributions to provincial prosperity matters profoundly, not just for the region itself, but also for all British Columbians.
Although home to only a small fraction of BC’s population, the Northeast is pivotal to the province’s economic and energy security, producing nearly all of BC’s natural gas and a substantial portion of its electricity. Its forestry and agriculture sectors are integral to the livelihoods of communities far beyond its borders, providing essential employment and goods that underpin provincial stability.
Yet, this economic powerhouse faces unique pressures from shifting global markets, evolving climate policies, and land-use decisions that directly impact regional industries and communities.
Recognizing and valuing these contributions is critical. Without informed appreciation and thoughtful public attention, there’s a real risk that political decision-making, largely driven by the priorities and biases of a predominantly urban electorate, could inadvertently undermine regional resilience, endangering the very benefits Northeast BC provides to the entire province. By clearly understanding the region’s role, policymakers and citizens alike can foster policies that ensure equitable outcomes, sustainable growth, and long-term stability for all of British Columbia.
Economic Insights
Addressing the Perception Gap
Recent public opinion research underscores a persistent divide in British Columbia, driven primarily by differing lived experiences between urban and rural residents. Urban voters, who constitute the majority voter base shaping provincial policies, often lack direct daily interaction with resource industries like natural gas, forestry, and agriculture. As a result, they can be more susceptible to holding unrealistic or incomplete perspectives about the economic realities and environmental practices of regions such as Northeast BC.
This disconnect, demonstrated in a 2023 analysis of urban–rural voter preferences across Canada, reveals significant differences in policy priorities, with urban voters often advocating strongly for environmental measures without fully accounting for economic impacts on resource-dependent regions.39 At the same time, rural residents with boots on the ground knowledge frequently see this as problematic because they are intimately aware of actual industry practices and may see things differently. Cross-regional awareness is therefore essential to ensure more informed and equitable policy-making that genuinely reflects and respects the contributions and needs of all regions.
An Economic Anchor
Northeast BC remains a cornerstone of the province’s economic prosperity, with key advantages like affordable energy and a highly skilled workforce. The significant economic benefits from these resources, such as high incomes, stable employment, and government revenues, underscore the importance of protecting and supporting this regional economy.
These strengths position the region to attract emerging industries such as petrochemicals and hydrogen, which can capitalize on existing infrastructure and expertise.
While global market volatility and the shift toward cleaner energy present real challenges, the priority must be on navigating this transition with foresight and strategy. That means investing in workforce support, fostering innovation in low-emission technologies, and reinforcing the long-term strength of the resource sector. By taking a proactive approach, we can secure Northeast BC’s economic future and ensure it continues to drive growth and opportunity across British Columbia.
Northeast British Columbia holds a unique and immense significance in British Columbia’s economic landscape. This resource focus starkly contrasts with the province’s more urbanized regions, like the Lower Mainland, where diversified service-based economies dominate rather than direct resource extraction – despite much of the products exported through cities like Vancouver themselves being overwhelmingly natural resource commodities, creating a foundation of prosperity for urban centres as export hubs.
Understanding the Northeast’s contribution is key to understanding BC’s overall economic health and prosperity.
Northeast BC’s export activity is supported by a workforce heavily concentrated in goods-producing industries. About 34% of the region’s workers are employed in resource extraction, construction, or manufacturing. Province-wide, that number is only 20%.19 This concentration not only fuels the regional economy, but also exposes it to the volatility inherent in resource markets. Supplier activity is heavily concentrated in Northeast BC. A 2023 community-investment study by iTOTEM Analytics for the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers found that about 65 percent of the province’s oil-and-gas suppliers operate there, including 870 firms in Fort St. John, 440 in Dawson Creek, and 110 in Charlie Lake. 61
Energy stands as the dominant sector and the primary engine of British Columbia’s overall economy. The Northeast is responsible for virtually all of BC’s natural gas production. The period from 2018 to 2023 witnessed transformative developments, including a dramatic surge in natural gas output and the completion of the massive Site C hydroelectric dam.
As Figures 3 and 4 demonstrate, Northeast BC is the keystone holding up the province’s gas supply. This is largely due to the Montney Formation, which is one of North America’s richest sources of unconventional gas.
Over the past five years, BC’s gas production surged by nearly 40 percent, reaching 6.7 billion cubic feet per day in 2023.17 That represents over a third of Canada’s total gas output, with most of it coming directly from the Montney. In 2022, only one out of 374 wells was drilled outside of this area.18 The data supports this trend: Montney contained about 94 percent of BC’s remaining gas reserves and contributed 91 percent of the province’s annual gas production in 2023.18
This rapid growth is driven primarily by anticipated global LNG demand. The LNG Canada terminal in Kitimat will be directly supplied by the Coastal GasLink pipeline linking the Montney region to the coast. Meanwhile, the stalled Prince Rupert Gas Transmission (PRGT) pipeline, paused since 2017, illustrates lingering uncertainties in regional pipeline infrastructure.
Beyond traditional dry gas, Montney wells produce valuable natural-gas liquids such as propane, butane, and condensate, which are increasingly exported from Prince Rupert directly to Asia’s thriving petrochemical markets. In 2024, exports from AltaGas’s Ridley Island and Pembina’s Watson Island terminals averaged about 115,000 barrels per day, marking an approximate 10 percent increase over the previous year.60 AltaGas plans to expand its Ridley facility, boosting capacity by an additional 55,000 barrels per day by 2026.60 With rising Asian demand for petrochemical feedstocks and Canada’s strategic west-coast ports significantly shortening transit times, these natural-gas liquids have emerged as a crucial secondary revenue stream, substantially enhancing Northeast BC’s economic influence. Together, these projects highlight Northeast BC’s pivotal role in the province’s export ambitions.
Energy in Northeast BC isn’t just about pipelines and gas fields. The region is also home to some of British Columbia’s most significant renewable energy infrastructure, upon which BC’s ambitious electrification journey rests.
Northeast BC is a powerhouse for hydroelectric generation. The Peace River region is home to the WAC Bennett Dam (2,730 MW) and Peace Canyon Dam (694 MW), which together produce roughly 30% of BC’s electricity.20 These legacy facilities are critical pieces of provincial infrastructure, supplying power across BC for decades. The town of Hudson’s Hope, located near the dams, has an economy closely tied to their operation.
Prior to its construction commencing in 2015, some Site C critics insisted that BC already had all the clean electricity it would ever need. That proved to be remarkably inaccurate. Even with Site C now coming onstream, BC Hydro is having to import electricity from neighbouring jurisdictions due to surging demand driven by increased electrification efforts, and the dam’s entire output has already been fully allocated.
The new Site C dam, now partly operational, will add another 1,100 MW, boosting BC’s total capacity by around 8% when fully online in 2025.20 This project has brought jobs, investment, and long-term energy security to the region, reinforcing Northeast BC’s vital role in powering the province.
Responding to both market demand and regulations, Northeast BC is already playing a role in that transition through its growing wind and hydroelectric capacity. The region is home to several of British Columbia’s largest wind farms, including Meikle (184 MW), Dokie Ridge (144 MW), and Bear Mountain (102 MW), which together generate over 400 megawatts of clean electricity. Two forthcoming projects, the Stewart Creek and Taylor Wind projects, are expected to add another 400 megawatts.21
Northeast British Columbia is the province’s second metallurgical-coal stronghold. Conuma Resources’ mines at Brule, Willow Creek, Wolverine and Quintette yielded about five million tonnes in 2023, roughly 17 percent of all metallurgical coal dug in BC.62 Those cargos move by rail to Prince Rupert and Greater Vancouver ports, then on to Asian steelmakers, giving the Peace River coalfield a steady role in sustaining BC’s export earnings and diversifying supply beyond the dominant Elk Valley.
With over 800 megawatts of expected total capacity, the Peace Region continues to contribute to British Columbia’s clean energy future. These investments diversify the province’s electricity supply and help improve long-term energy security.
Forestry, historically a pillar of British Columbia’s economy, continues to be vital for many communities but has faced profound challenges across the province in recent years. These difficulties, including widespread mill closures and job losses, have been acutely felt in the Northeast.
According to the BC Council of Forest Industries’ 2024 Economic Impact Report, British Columbia’s forest industry contributed approximately $17.4 billion to the province’s GDP and supported nearly 100,000 jobs in 2022.16 However, BC’s forestry sector is facing a downturn driven by a shrinking timber supply due to the mountain pine beetle outbreak, ongoing wildfire damage, and reductions in allowable harvest levels.
Along with industry consolidation and weaker market conditions, these factors continue to force mill closures. The downturn has particularly impacted the interior regions of BC.16 The reduction in the Allowable Annual Cut (sustainable harvest levels) has been a major constraint. Reductions in the Allowable Annual Cut have constrained timber supply to local mills, contributing to job losses and economic uncertainty in forestry-dependent communities. While intended to align with sustainability and ecological goals, the lack of coordinated support for economic transition risks amplifying the region’s vulnerability.
What Northeast BC Contributes
In 2022, Northeast BC’s forestry sector contributed $515 million to the provincial economy.16 The sector supported 4,143 jobs in the region in 2019, around 8% of BC’s total forestry employment.16 While smaller compared to BC’s forestry hubs like Vancouver Island or the Lower Mainland, this industry remains crucial for local employment and economic resilience.
Threats to Northeast BC’s Forestry Sector
Harvest levels are falling. Since 2019, BC has seen a notable drop in forestry production, impacting jobs and local revenues in the Northeast. Policy shifts are tightening access. Protected area expansions like Klinse-za Park and old-growth deferrals are reducing timber supply.
Climate change and wildfires are creating new uncertainties, affecting reforestation, harvesting windows, and land-use planning
The decline in employment for Northeast BC displayed in Figure 7 takes into account the direct, indirect, and induced employment data provided by BC’s Council of Forest Industries technical study on forestry’s economic impact by region. The data is consistent with the broader provincial trend of declining production, and this has had significant socio-economic impacts on communities in Northeast BC.
The provincial government has implemented various support programs to assist affected workers and communities. These include the Forest Employment Program, which creates short-term employment opportunities, and the Community Workforce Response Grant, which provides skills training for new careers.22 These initiatives acknowledge the challenges faced by forestry-dependent areas and aim to facilitate a transition for workers and communities. The continued decline in production and employment in BC’s forest industries necessitates measures to maintain a viable and sustainable sector for the communities that depend on it, and ideally a willingness to consider carefully the impacts of reduced harvest levels and deferrals on communities overall.
What Northeast BC Contributes
The Peace River region accounts for 31% of all farmland in British Columbia, making it one of the province’s largest agricultural zones.24 The extensive land base supports a diverse range of crops and livestock, reinforcing the region’s vital role in BC’s food production and economic stability.
In 2016, Northeast BC farms produced 75% of BC’s grains and a staggering 95–98% of its canola. The region leads the province in forage seed production.24 Farms across the Peace region brought in roughly $195 million in gross farm receipts (i.e. sale of agriculture products) in 2016.25
What It Faces
The region’s farms struggle to find enough workers, leading to unfilled positions and lost sales. Climate variability is affecting yields, with farmers increasingly needing to adapt to droughts, pests, and shifting growing seasons. Projects like the Site C Dam have resulted in the flooding of fertile farmland, reducing the area available for cultivation.
The forestry and agriculture sectors are vital to the economy of Northeast BC. Forestry, while experiencing declines in production and employment in recent years due to policy changes and natural disturbances, remains a significant employer in the region and contributes substantially to its GDP. Agriculture, though a smaller direct employer, is crucial for the production of grains and oilseeds, holding provincial significance. Provincial policies, particularly those related to old-growth protection and land use, have impacted timber harvesting volumes in Northeast BC.
Despite the larger footprint of the energy and mining sectors, forestry and agriculture are integral to the socio-economic well-being of many communities in the region, and their continued sustainability is crucial for the broader BC economy. Therefore, if provincial policies continue to constrain timber harvesting in Northeast BC, the region faces a growing risk of economic vulnerability.
With limited pathways for diversification, due primarily to geographic remoteness, infrastructure gaps, and reliance on specialized resource industries, it becomes increasingly important to develop targeted strategies that support new economic opportunities. This also calls for a careful re-evaluation of industry emissions caps and carbon mechanisms to ensure they reflect the specific socio-economic conditions of resource-dependent regions like Northeast BC.
Despite the larger footprint of the energy and mining sectors, forestry and agriculture are integral to the socio-economic well-being of many communities in the region, and their continued sustainability is crucial for the broader BC economy. Therefore, if provincial policies continue to constrain timber harvesting in Northeast BC, the region faces a growing risk of economic vulnerability.
With limited pathways for diversification, due primarily to geographic remoteness, infrastructure gaps, and reliance on specialized resource industries, it becomes increasingly important to develop targeted strategies that support new economic opportunities. This also calls for a careful re-evaluation of industry emissions caps and carbon mechanisms to ensure they reflect the specific socio-economic conditions of resource-dependent regions like Northeast BC.
RECOMMENDATION: Assess feasibility of CleanBC targets against provincial economic realities, regional capacity, and reconciliation commitments, while unifying Indigenous and government permitting into a transparent, predictable framework that unlocks responsible investment in Northeast BC.
Why This Matters
The CleanBC Roadmap to 2030 targets, including industrial emissions pricing mechanisms and emissions caps, must reflect both the economic realities of resource-dependent regions and the province’s broader commitments to Indigenous reconciliation, energy security, and equitable development.
At present, they fall short in this regard, largely because provincial policy objectives often operate at cross-purposes, reflecting deeper societal disagreements and an ongoing inability of political leadership to build meaningful consensus. This lack of alignment leads to contradictions in policy execution, resulting in costly delays to critical priorities, including economic development, reconciliation, and effective climate action.
Where Ambition Meets Capacity
Ambitious Targets, Significant Challenges
The CleanBC Roadmap mandates steep emissions cuts for the oil and gas sector (33-38% below 2007 levels by 2030) and methane reductions (75% below 2014 levels).27
Balancing Act Needed
Whether current targets can realistically align with NEBC’s economic reliance on resources, the global demand for BC’s LNG, and the practicalities of technological transition remains uncertain. There’s a call for a pragmatic approach that balances environmental goals with economic stability, energy security, and the socio-economic well-being of resource communities.
Economic & Infrastructure Hurdles
Achieving these targets, especially widespread electrification, requires massive investment and new power generation capacity potentially exceeding current plans (e.g., needing 2.5x Site C’s output just for initial LNG projects).27 Aggressive timelines and the high costs associated with deploying new or even as of yet undeveloped technologies threatens the business case for investment.
Alternative Path
Strategically leveraging LNG revenues to support a regionally appropriate transition by investing in low-emissions technologies, emissions reduction strategies, and economic diversification can enhance resilience and ensure long-term alignment with provincial climate goals.
A key question for BC’s economic future is how LNG and upstream gas fit into a broader strategy for economic growth.
On one hand, LNG development marks the birth of a new industry for the province – one that is diversifying BC’s economy beyond its traditional stalwarts of forestry, mining, and tourism. Government leaders at all senior levels have pointed to plans to grow Canada’s LNG export. In essence, it is a crucial part of their answer to how Canada can reduce resilience on a Southern trading partner that has become unpredictable.
On the other hand, reaching its potential means NEBC must push harder to tell its story effectively. Competing narratives may sway public opinion if efforts are unsuccessful to ensure policymakers are considering all relevant information.
Tapping into global markets can generate revenue that can be used for other federal and provincial priorities. At present, natural gas royalties are a core revenue source for the provincial government, providing a stable baseline for BC’s fiscal health. A successful and growing LNG export sector will strengthen Canada’s trade balance and create valuable spin-off industries in manufacturing, technology transfer, and environmental services.
Developing a successful LNG export industry will further bolster Canada’s trade balance, while sparking new opportunities in manufacturing, technological innovation, and environmental services. Current LNG terminal projects on Canada’s West Coast are strategically aimed at tapping into markets beyond the traditional US sphere. For instance, the LNG Canada terminal in Kitimat, which entered its commissioning phase on May 15, 2025, will soon be exporting around 14 million tonnes per year, primarily to major Asian economies like Japan, China, and South Korea. Additional facilities, such as Cedar LNG and Woodfibre LNG, are projected to contribute another 5.4 million tonnes annually by 2030, further strengthening Canada’s export capabilities.56
A particularly ambitious project, Ksi Lisims LNG, is planned as a floating facility on Nisga’a Nation treaty lands at Wil Milit on Pearse Island. Scheduled to launch between 2028 and 2029, this 12-million-tonne-per-year operation is a collaboration among the Nisga’a Nation, Rockies LNG, and Western LNG.56 Notably, Ksi Lisims is engineered to be net-zero ready by 2030, employing renewable hydropower and advanced electric-drive technology to set a new standard for low-carbon LNG production globally.
Together, these projects capitalize on Canada’s geographic advantage, providing shorter, cost-effective shipping routes to Asia and bypassing congested routes like the Panama Canal, significantly reducing transportation risks and enhancing competitiveness.57
Northeast British Columbia, the heartland of the province’s natural gas sector, stands at a critical juncture shaped by ambitious provincial climate policies outlined in the CleanBC plan. While the intent behind CleanBC – reducing greenhouse gas emissions significantly by 2030 – is acknowledged, the specific mechanisms, particularly the stringent oil and gas emissions cap and escalating carbon pricing reaching $170/tonne, raise profound questions about the region’s socio-economic future and BC’s overall economic health.26
For the communities, workers, and industries reliant on this sector, the path forward involves navigating a complex interplay between environmental goals and pressing economic realities.
Current policies demand a rapid transformation, pushing for a 33-38% cut in sector emissions and a 75% reduction in methane by 2030.26 The primary path envisioned is widespread electrification of operations. However, the sheer scale of this transition, as highlighted in reports like “Squaring the Circle” by the Pembina Institute, presents formidable challenges. Electrifying just two initial LNG projects (LNG Canada Phase 1 and Woodfibre) and associated upstream activities could require 2.5 times the power generated by the Site C dam.27 While full electrification of LNG operations may exceed current capacity, alternative solutions are being explored. These include phased electrification, the use of local renewables, small modular reactors (SMRs), and efficiency improvements. Each option, however, comes with its own technical, regulatory, and timeline challenges.
A 2023 Carbon Tracker analysis noted that if the global energy transition continues rapidly, there may be an oversupply of LNG from all the projects being built worldwide, meaning BC’s LNG projects “will face stiff competition from cheaper sources” and could struggle to be profitable.30 However, the private ownership of these projects suggests that if industry is prepared to take the risk, their baseline assumptions must indicate that the investment decisions are justified.
Ongoing private investment indicates corporate confidence in their projections for market profitability. Companies like Shell remain optimistic, citing robust economic growth in Asia, accelerated industrial decarbonization, and growing electricity demands from data centers and AI technologies as key drivers of LNG demand.58
S&P Global forecasts significant growth as well, projecting US LNG export capacity to double by 2029.59 Enbridge, actively investing in clean-energy initiatives such as its Aspen Point program for its Northeast BC transmission network, anticipates North American natural gas demand to rise by approximately 23 billion cubic feet per day by 2040, driven by LNG exports, coal-to-gas transitions, and energy-intensive data infrastructure.
Given the volatility of global energy markets and the long timelines involved in infrastructure development, investment decisions reflect careful analysis of both current constraints and future demand signals. Amid these complexities, one constant persists: global energy demand is rising, and British Columbia has the natural resources and strategic positioning to help meet that demand, provided development is balanced with climate objectives, regulatory clarity, and long-term competitiveness.
Figure 9 illustrates a significant disconnect between projected LNG export growth under current and evolving policies and the reality of production trends. This aggressive timeline and the immense infrastructure investment required clash with immediate economic pressures and trade uncertainties imposed by years of stalled legislation and accentuated by the more recent tariffs imposed by the US.
Under evolving policies, LNG exports are expected to rise sharply beginning in the early 2030s, yet production levels plateau and even decline by 2045, signaling a potential supply shortfall that could jeopardize economic returns.27 This misalignment suggests that policy ambitions are outpacing both project approvals and infrastructure readiness, posing risks to Northeast BC’s economic stability and its role in supporting provincial prosperity.
The requirement for new LNG facilities to achieve net-zero by 2030, for instance, adds another layer of complexity and cost. While well-intentioned, setting targets perceived as unfeasible could stifle the very industry BC relies on for significant economic contributions, hindering rather than helping the province’s ability to navigate challenging economic times.
An alternative perspective suggests a more pragmatic, balanced approach. Could BC leverage its valuable natural resources, particularly LNG sought by international markets, to strengthen its economy now? This approach would involve closer collaboration with industry, recognizing it as an economic lifeline. The revenues generated from fulfilling global energy needs could then be strategically reinvested into research, development, and the gradual implementation of made-in-BC clean technologies and carbon reduction strategies.
By prioritizing economic resilience today, BC might build a stronger foundation to fund and successfully implement more ambitious, large-scale climate action in the near future, ensuring the transition is both environmentally effective and socio-economically sustainable for regions like the Northeast. This path seeks to reconcile immediate needs with long-term goals, ensuring that climate action doesn’t inadvertently undermine the province’s ability to prosper and ultimately fund the full suite of climate mitigation and adaptation investments required in the near future.
Getting it right can lead to a practical, policy-aligned approach to take advantage of Canada’s leadership as a global energy superpower. Resource Works has analyzed the scale of the opportunity resulting in this depiction.
Northeast BC is where the province’s energy ambitions meet its permitting reality. Gas wells are drilled, wind turbines surveyed, critical-mineral prospects mapped – and then many of them wait, sometimes for years, inside overlapping federal, provincial, and Indigenous approval queues. As Denise Mullen of the Business Council of BC (BCBC) has catalogued over the last decade, and most forcefully in a series of submissions made since 2023, permitting has become less a pipeline and more a labyrinth, with real consequences for communities, investors, and the climate.
What the Maze Looks Like
Eight-Year Reviews, Shifting Goal-Posts
Mullen’s analysis of projects captured under the Environmental Assessment Act shows an average eight-year journey from “pre-application” to certificate for a typical wind-energy or resource project – double the target set when the Act was modernised in 2019.50 Those timelines lengthen further when federal Impact Assessment Act duties or species-at-risk consultations layer on top.
From One-Window to Twelve Passwords
Proponents must still navigate separate portals for water licences, land tenure, heritage permits, road use, and now, under the Public Interest Bonding Strategy (PIBS), financial-security approvals. BCBC’s June 2024 PIBS submission warns the new framework “changes the rules of development for companies already operating in BC” and risks retroactively attaching multi-million-dollar bonds to active sites without clear transition provisions.50
Policy Churn
In just three years, industry in Northeast BC has had to absorb CleanBC’s methane reduction requirements, prepare for a proposed federal oil-and-gas emissions cap, react to a draft Biodiversity & Ecosystem Health Framework, and adapt to cumulative-effects rules across Treaty 8 lands. Adding to the uncertainty, federal agencies have signalled that the new emissions cap could dramatically slow or halt projects if it isn’t harmonized with provincial guidance. BCBC’s submissions argue this approach risks undermining one of Canada’s key export-oriented industries and runs counter to Canada’s economic-reconciliation goals.
Capacity Crunch Inside Agencies
Staff turnover at the BC Energy Regulator and Environmental Assessment Office, combined with a surge of LNG-linked applications, leaves fewer technical reviewers shouldering more complex files. Proponents report multiple iterations of information requests – often over details previously accepted on similar projects – fuelled by junior staff rotations and siloed subject-matter reviews.
Why It Matters in the Northeast
Time Really Is Money, and Emissions
Each year a Montney gas well or renewable-power interconnection sits in regulatory limbo erodes project Net Present Value by 8-10 percent, according to internal pro-forma estimates shared with BCBC.50 The delay also has climate implications: electrification projects expected to tap into Site C’s clean power can’t deliver their planned CO₂ reductions if they’re stuck waiting on approval.
Community Fatigue
Communities such as Fort St. John, Dawson Creek, and Treaty 8 Nations have witnessed numerous consultations that never lead to actual construction. This creates a cycle of frustration: residents see few concrete benefits, Nations must repeatedly re-staff consultation teams for projects that might never happen, and municipal planners are left guessing when or if infrastructure upgrades will be needed.
Investment Flight
Capital is mobile. Mullen’s 2024 “Industry Concerns on Clean Electricity Regulations” paper cautions that investors already view BC as a high-risk jurisdiction compared with Alberta and selected US states because of “regulatory timelines measured in years, not months”.51
Principles and Practical Fixes
Drawing on Mullen’s recommendations across her 2023-25 submissions, and the lived experience of Northeast regulators and rights-holders, six reforms stand out.
The Pay-Off
Getting permitting right is not simply an investor-relations exercise: it is climate action, reconciliation, and affordability policy rolled into one. Faster, clearer pathways mean:
BC must move “from good intentions to disciplined execution” if it hopes to retain talent, capital, and credibility in a decarbonising world.50 For Northeast BC, where global energy demand and local prosperity converge, clearing the permitting maze is not optional; it is the key that unlocks the region’s next chapter of balanced growth.
RECOMMENDATION: British Columbia should expand revenue-sharing agreements to ensure communities in Northeast BC receive fair, sustainable, and predictable funding directly aligned with the region’s significant contributions to the provincial economy. This enhanced funding must support essential local infrastructure, healthcare, education services, and targeted investments in energy security and infrastructure, particularly for remote and Indigenous communities dependent on diesel power.
Why This Matters
A well-designed revenue-sharing framework does more than hand out dollars, it helps build the foundation for long-term prosperity. By aligning industry incentives with community needs, it transforms resource wealth into lasting local benefits. When municipalities and First Nations receive a predictable and transparent stream of funding, they gain the stability to plan ahead. This enables long-term investments in infrastructure, workforce training, and small business development, helping communities build resilience and shape a more secure, self-reliant future.
The Path from Policy to People
These benefits aren’t abstract, they translate into real gains for communities when mechanisms are thoughtfully designed and equitably applied. This is how the path can be taken to make policy work better for people.
The Peace River Agreement (PRA) is a landmark revenue-sharing partnership between the Province of British Columbia and eight local governments in Northeast BC. First established in 2015, building on the earlier Fair Share agreement, it was designed to address a long-standing imbalance.35 While oil, gas, forestry, and mining operations generate billions in provincial revenues, much of this activity occurs just outside municipal boundaries. As a result, local governments are left covering the costs of roads, utilities, policing, and services that support both residents and industry, without the ability to collect taxes from the very operations driving these needs.
The PRA helps correct this imbalance by delivering over $50 million annually to eight municipalities in Northeast BC, among them Fort St. John, Dawson Creek, Chetwynd, Hudson’s Hope, Pouce Coupe, Taylor, Tumbler Ridge, and the District of Mackenzie, with allocations based on population and proximity to industrial operations.36 This funding gives municipalities the stability to plan ahead and invest in infrastructure, public services, and community facilities that improve everyday life.
As a regional municipality, the Northern Rockies has the rare ability to directly tax industrial operations, unlike most rural municipalities. When the PRA was established in 2015, this was seen as a form of self-sufficiency that made provincial revenue-sharing unnecessary for the NRRM.
The impact of the PRA is clear. In 2022, the PRA covered nearly 89% of Fort St. John’s capital projects.37 In Dawson Creek, it is expected to fund over $16 million worth of capital investments in 2024, including civic buildings, protective services, and infrastructure upgrades.38 These investments improve quality of life, support industry operations, and ease the financial pressure on local taxpayers.
At its core, the PRA reflects a simple principle. When resource wealth is shared fairly, communities can grow in step with development and remain strong, vibrant places to live and work.
While the Peace River Agreement has delivered vital funding to Northeast BC, it is not a catch-all solution. Even with this support, some communities still face shortfalls that limit their ability to plan sustainably or keep pace with development.
Fort St. John is one of the fastest-growing communities in Northeast BC and a key municipal signatory to the Peace River Agreement (PRA). Despite this central role, the city continues to face complex pressures: housing shortages, healthcare system strain, infrastructure upgrades, and increasing demands for social services and workforce development.31
Community Voice and Strategic Direction
These themes surface repeatedly in public consultations and local planning documents. Residents voice concerns that extend beyond infrastructure to the social and economic impacts of rapid growth. The ‘Your Voice Fort St. John’ survey highlights residents’ priorities for improved access to health care, affordability of housing, and long-term economic diversification.32 Similarly, the Social and Economic Development Framework developed in partnership with UNBC emphasizes that residents and civic leaders are calling for a stronger provincial commitment to ensure industrial development does not continue to outpace local capacity.
Key Impacts
Scaling What Works Across the Northeast
Fort St. John’s experience shows both the value and the limitations of current revenue-sharing models. The city’s experience is not an outlier; it illustrates the structural pressures many communities across Northeast BC face when development outpaces local capacity. By improving the PRA and creating similar agreements for other growing communities in Northeast BC, the province can make sure development actually supports long-term livability, not just short-term growth. Let’s ensure these mechanisms respond directly to the needs of each community, matching local growth patterns and service demands with lasting support.
RECOMMENDATION: Expand support for affordable energy solutions and infrastructure in Northeast BC’s remote communities to ensure reliable power for Indigenous and rural residents.
On a cold winter night in the Northern Rockies, a remote community like Prophet River or Toad River waits anxiously for the weekly fuel truck. Geographic isolation means that a single road closure or storm could sever the lifeline that keeps the lights on.42 Many remote settlements in Northeast BC are not connected to the main grid, they rely almost entirely on diesel generators for electricity. The diesel dependency creates a fragile and costly energy system, since fuel must be hauled hundreds of kilometers which often drives up prices.
It is an unsettling irony that a region which produces an astounding 38% of BC’s hydroelectric power and vast natural gas wealth still has elders and children living in energy insecurity. Ensuring these remote communities have access to safe, affordable energy is more than a matter of basic equity – it is essential for their socio-economic well-being and aligns with broader commitments to reconciliation and climate justice
The Opportunity
Despite the challenges, Northeast BC is on the cusp of an energy transformation driven by local leadership and innovation. The provincial government’s CleanBC Remote Community Energy Strategy has set an ambitious goal to reduce diesel use in remote communities by 80% by 2030.43 This is fostering a wave of projects and investments to fundamentally change how remote communities get their energy.
Case Study: Tu Deh-Kah Geothermal Project
Nestled in the Northern Rockies, southwest of Fort Nelson, the Tu Deh-Kah Geothermal Project symbolizes an inspiring shift toward sustainability and Indigenous self-determination. Named after the Dene words meaning “water” and “steam,” this groundbreaking initiative harnesses the Earth’s natural heat to provide clean, reliable energy to remote Indigenous communities.
Located at the site of the former Clarke Lake gas field, Tu Deh-Kah stands poised to become British Columbia’s very first geothermal electricity facility, and among the pioneering few across Canada. What sets this project apart is not just its innovative approach to renewable energy, but also its deep roots in community leadership: the Fort Nelson First Nation (FNFN), through their development company Deh Tai LP, fully owns and operates the facility.
For the FNFN, Tu Deh-Kah represents more than just energy production. It is central to their vision of economic diversification and self-reliance, particularly vital as traditional industries like gas extraction and forestry have declined sharply in recent years. This project promises not only energy security but also economic revitalization for the nearly 900 members of FNFN and approximately 5,000 residents in the broader Fort Nelson community.44
Decades of oil and gas activity had provided data on this geothermal resource, enabling FNFN to repurpose a depleted gas reservoir into a renewable energy source. After years of groundwork (initial drilling in 2020–21 and a successful 30-day flow test in 2022), Tu Deh-Kah confirmed a sustainable production rate of 70–80 liters/sec of hot fluid, proving its commercial viability.46
Using advanced binary Organic Rankine Cycle technology, the plant taps into a reservoir of hot brine (~120°C) beneath the surface, converting natural geothermal heat into 7 megawatts (MW) of sustainable electricity, with potential expansion up to 15 MW.45 Remarkably, the project’s capacity will surpass local energy needs, opening doors to export surplus power or attract new industries to the region.
Tu Deh-Kah exemplifies how innovative energy solutions can drive economic recovery, empower Indigenous communities, and set a precedent for sustainable development in remote regions.
Benefits in Remote and Indigenous Contexts
For remote First Nations, having local power generation improves energy security. Instead of depending on trucking in diesel or long-distance transmission prone to outages, a geothermal plant provides on-site, reliable power year-round. Those being:
Challenges and Barriers
Despite its promise, the Tu Deh-Kah project has faced significant hurdles that highlight why more geothermal initiatives haven’t yet taken off in BC.
High Upfront Costs and Funding Limitations
The first major barrier is the substantial upfront costs and limited funding options. The Tu Deh-Kah geothermal plant, led by the Fort Nelson First Nation (FNFN), exemplifies this challenge, costing approximately $100 million and becoming viable only with considerable external funding: $40 million federally and $1 million provincially. Despite these contributions, communities often grapple with securing the remaining necessary funds, highlighting that large initial investments remain the primary obstacle to geothermal energy expansion.
Regulatory and Market Barriers (EPAs)
Second, regulatory and market constraints present significant challenges. Securing Electricity Purchase Agreements (EPAs), critical for selling generated power, often proves difficult within the utility-controlled energy market. The Tu Deh-Kah project experienced delays, unable to proceed with drilling until BC Hydro agreed to purchase the generated electricity. Broader issues also include outdated policies and regulatory frameworks that fail to prioritize Indigenous-led and diesel-reducing initiatives, leaving remote communities disadvantaged and unable to access fair market opportunities
Infrastructure and Technical Challenges
Third, remote areas face infrastructure and technical barriers, complicating the integration of clean energy. Fort Nelson, for example, operates on a small, isolated grid reliant on local gas generation and an intertie connection to Alberta, lacking direct linkage to BC’s main power grid. Successfully integrating a geothermal plant such as Tu Deh-Kah requires meticulous resource testing, extensive coordination, and significant upgrades to local infrastructure to ensure reliable, renewable energy can replace existing diesel-based sources.
What Can Be Done?
Integrate Remote Projects into Energy Planning
Energy planning at the provincial level needs to meaningfully incorporate remote communities and their innovative renewable projects. Encouragingly, BC Hydro’s 2024 plan for Fort Nelson highlights the local Tu Deh-Kah project.47 Such deliberate inclusion in official plans not only recognizes the unique challenges faced by these communities. but also provides essential clarity, boosting confidence among investors and enabling steady progress in clean energy initiatives.
Adjusted Evaluation Criteria for Remote Clean Energy Initiatives
Secondly, adjusting evaluation criteria for remote clean energy projects can significantly enhance their feasibility. Typically, projects are judged narrowly on immediate financial returns, overlooking significant community benefits, such as reduced diesel reliance, enhanced energy security, and Indigenous economic participation. Recent policy shifts by BC Hydro, including more favorable rates (approximately $378 per megawatt-hour) for solar energy initiatives in remote locations and adjustments allowing greater emphasis on renewable solutions, demonstrate a necessary evolution.49 By capturing these broader impacts, evaluations become more equitable, improving project viability and ensuring long-term, sustainable growth.
Infrastructure and Grid Innovations
Finally, strategic investments in infrastructure and transmission systems are vital. Advanced solar-powered microgrids paired with battery storage have already shown great promise in decreasing diesel dependency. Initiatives like BC Hydro’s rebates, offering up to $75,000 per community for battery installations, directly encourage such sustainable solutions.48 Moreover, larger-scale infrastructure developments, such as proposed transmission line expansions connecting remote areas like Fort Nelson to BC’s main electricity grid, could dramatically enhance electricity reliability, boost regional economic opportunities, and accelerate the transition to a cleaner energy future.
From Vulnerability to Resilience
Northeast BC’s remote communities have demonstrated that Indigenous-led clean energy projects aren’t distant aspirations, they’re tangible solutions already delivering results. Fort Nelson First Nations’ Tu Deh-Kah geothermal initiative proves that with the right mix of political will, fair pricing, and strategic grid upgrades, diesel can be displaced and local economies revitalized.
What remains is the urgency of policy follow-through: provincial planners must lock remote renewables into long-term resource plans, regulators must reward the full social value these projects deliver, and infrastructure dollars must flow where vulnerability is highest. With these steps, the next winter storm in Prophet River or Toad River will test the strength of community microgrids rather than the reliability of diesel deliveries, setting a national standard for reconciliation-led climate action.
RECOMMENDATION: Commit long-term provincial support to diversification and skills training so Northeast BC can (a) grow new sectors such as land-restoration services and critical-mineral mining, and (b) equip the local workforce, through colleges, First-Nations training centres, and municipal partnerships, to move smoothly between traditional resource jobs and emerging low-carbon opportunities.
Northeast BC’s economy currently depends heavily on oil and gas. While these industries are important, overreliance on a single sector makes the region vulnerable to price shocks and long-term market shifts, especially with the growing shift toward cleaner energy. Economic diversification is essential to building a stronger, more resilient future for local communities.
Diversification requires focused investment in skills training and development programs tailored to the local workforce, equipping residents with the expertise needed for these emerging sectors like environmental restoration, value-added agriculture, and critical mineral exploration. Proactively developing these skills within the community is essential to address potential labour shortages and ensure local workers can transition into and capitalize on the new opportunities created by a more varied economy.
The Opportunity
The region already has strong foundations to support new industries. With the right investments, Northeast BC can grow its economy in new directions that complement existing strengths and create long-term jobs.
1. Critical Minerals
Northeast BC contains untapped potential for critical minerals such as lithium, niobium, and rare earth elements. These resources are in high demand for lower-emission technologies including batteries and electric vehicles. Further exploring the technical and economic feasibility of developing these materials locally could connect the region to growing global supply chains. For many in the region, it’s an open question whether developing these minerals can happen quickly enough to fill the gap as oil and gas activity declines.
2. Restoration and Environmental Services
New regulations and agreements requiring land restoration are creating jobs in reclamation, environmental monitoring, and natural resource management. Companies such as Geoterra are already active in this space. With training and targeted support, this could grow into a strong new pillar of the regional economy.
3. Local Workforce Capacity & Training Gaps
Despite Northeast BC’s central role in Canada’s ambitions to supply lower-carbon LNG globally, persistent local workforce and training gaps limit the region’s ability to fully benefit from responsible resource development. For local workers, this raises a worrisome question: will the training and support they need arrive in time to keep them from being left behind?
To address this, stable funding for regional institutions like Northern Lights College and the University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC) is critical, as is supporting Indigenous-led workforce initiatives that build essential skills, promote environmental stewardship, and foster sustainable economic growth rooted firmly within local communities.
What We Need to Make It Happen
Skilled Workforce: Programs at schools like NLC and UNBC should be equipped to meet the full demand for emerging sectors such as low-emission energy, environmental restoration, and critical minerals, and through targeted capital and operational investments in the BC government.
Upgraded Infrastructure: Investments in electricity, water, and transportation infrastructure will be necessary to support new industries and business models.
Strategic Public Investment: Continued support through revenue-sharing mechanisms like the Peace River Agreement and funding from organizations such as the Northern Development Initiative Trust will allow communities to prepare for and guide future growth.
Collaborative Local Leadership: Municipal governments, Indigenous leadership, and businesses must work together to shape growth that supports long-term community well-being and prosperity.
The Bottom Line
Diversifying Northeast BC’s economy is not just about reducing risk. It is a chance to create new opportunities for local residents, attract long-term investment, and ensure the region remains a key contributor to British Columbia’s economic and energy future. With the right strategy and support, communities in the Northeast can lead the way in building a more balanced and sustainable regional economy.
Developing New Opportunities in Critical Minerals
What’s the Opportunity?
Northeast BC is well known for oil, gas, and forestry. But there’s a growing global demand for something else, critical minerals like lithium, rare earth elements (REEs), niobium, and tantalum. These are key ingredients in electric vehicles, batteries, wind turbines, smartphones, and many clean energy technologies. The shift to a low-carbon economy means demand for these minerals is expected to grow significantly in the years ahead.
This offers Northeast BC a chance to diversify its economy and enter a rapidly expanding global market.
Why Northeast BC?
The region’s geology is promising, yet remains untapped. Northeast BC sits on the edge of the Western Canada Sedimentary Basin and near zones where carbonatite rocks, known to host critical minerals, are found.52 Lithium has been detected in water found deep underground in natural gas wells. Research by Geoscience BC highlight the complexities and potential for existing infrastructure to be repurposed for extracting it economically.53 Nearby critical-mineral projects, including Wicheeda (rare earths), Aley (niobium) and Blue River (tantalum), suggest that the same mineral systems extend into Northeast BC.52
Though no large-scale critical mineral mines currently exist in Northeast BC, these early indicators suggest that further exploration could unlock significant opportunities.
What’s Being Done?
The federal government has launched a Critical Minerals Strategy, supported by exploration tax credits and infrastructure funding to develop clean mineral supply chains across Canada. The BC government is working to align with this strategy and is using a “mineral systems” approach to assess where these resources might be found. First Nations, like the McLeod Lake Indian Band, are already involved in partnerships for critical mineral projects and are shaping the emerging First Nations Critical Minerals Strategy.
In 2023, exploration spending in Northeast BC was still focused on coal and industrial minerals, but industry interest in critical minerals is growing fast.
Why This Matters
Developing minerals in Northeast BC can: 1) Create new, long-term jobs in exploration, mining, and processing, 2) Attract investment to local communities, 3) Support the low-emission energy transition by helping build electric vehicles and renewable energy systems, 4) Diversify the economy, reducing dependency on oil and gas, and 5) Leverage existing infrastructure and workforce experience from the energy sector.
With growing demand, supportive government policies, and strong geological signs, Northeast BC has a real chance to become part of Canada’s low-emission energy future.
The Restoration Market
Northeast BC is home to a growing restoration and reclamation economy. For decades, industries such as oil, gas, forestry, and mining operated with limited environmental requirements, leaving thousands of hectares of land damaged or disturbed. Today, new agreements and funding commitments are turning this challenge into an opportunity, restoring ecosystems, supporting Indigenous rights, and creating jobs.
What’s Driving the Opportunity
The 2021 Blueberry River court ruling confirmed that cumulative industrial impacts violated Treaty 8 rights. In response, the Province of BC and Blueberry River First Nations signed a $200 million agreement to restore lands. Similar partnerships are expanding across Treaty 8 territory. These funds are co-managed with First Nations, ensuring projects reflect both ecological goals and cultural priorities. Figure 10 further illustrates the economic opportunities present.
Almost $20 billion of restoration work is already required in Northeast BC over the next 30 years.40 Activities mainly require cleaning up old wells, pipelines, and seismic lines, plus replanting after forestry. That averages out to roughly $600 million per year of guaranteed contracts.
Governments and First Nations have already set aside hundreds of millions more for cultural and wildfire recovery projects, so the pot of available funds is only growing.
Why It Matters
It represents a compact “rebuild” economy, where restoration projects become stable, year-round jobs for local crews.
Types of Restoration Activities
Restoration includes activities like replanting forests, repairing waterways, restoring dormant wells, removing invasive species, and monitoring wildlife. Figure 11 further demonstrates the breakdown of these activities.
These projects require both skilled and entry-level workers and are already creating demand for roles such as: Ecological monitors and technicians, Reforestation and vegetation crews, Environmental planners and GIS analysts, Heavy equipment operators for land shaping, and Indigenous knowledge holders and cultural advisors.40
Local and Indigenous-Led Businesses
Several businesses are leading the way in restoration services. Geoterra Integrated Resource Systems offers environmental consulting and reclamation services. Aski Reclamation, owned by Saulteau First Nations, provides land revegetation and ecological monitoring while advancing economic reconciliation. Companies like Brinkman & Associates bring decades of reforestation experience across Canada.
Challenges and What’s Needed
Scaling up restoration faces key barriers: a shortage of skilled labour, limited access to equipment in remote areas, and coordination gaps. Without targeted training and planning, costs can rise quickly and projects may stall. To succeed, we should prioritize:
Data Gaps: Reports could not quantify miles of roads or trails needing repair because data is not tracked.40 Without a clear list of what needs fixing, it is impossible to plan crews, seedlings, or heavy equipment accurately.
-> Establish a three-year regional platform to catalogue local restoration firms, material vendors, and machinery assets. 40
Disconnected Planning: Every restoration project uses its own structure, terminology, and sequencing, so teams must reinvent the plan format each time. That inconsistency slows coordination, makes it hard to compare results across sites and creates inefficiencies.
-> A potential solution is co-designing a standard restoration-plan template that uses shared language, clear activity sequencing and links to economic and cultural objectives.40 Pilot the template in one watershed to work out issues before rolling it out region-wide.
Workforce Shortages: Interviews flagged a gap in qualified restoration technicians, especially local and Indigenous practitioners, so when demand spikes there are not enough hands on deck.40
-> Partner with colleges and First Nations to build “restoration boot camps,” guaranteeing a pipeline of skilled workers.
A Win-Win Business Case
Industry meets its legal clean-up obligations and avoids costly fines or shutdown delays.
Government leverages existing budgets to create local employment, diversify the economy, and hit ecological targets.
Communities get new training programs, better infrastructure (roads, river crossings), and a voice in project design.
Restoration is more than environmental clean-up. It offers a new economic path that supports jobs, Indigenous rights, and ecological health. With funding now in place and strong community leadership, Northeast BC has the opportunity to become a national leader in land restoration. Supporting this sector will deliver long-term benefits to people, ecosystems, and the broader regional economy. Crucially, every kilometre of legacy seismic line replanted today shrinks the cumulative-effects debt flagged by the 2021 Yahey ruling, turning Indigenous-led restoration into both a jobs program and an up-front payment against future ecosystem losses.
Local Workforce Capacity & Training Gaps
A renewed federal and provincial push to supply liquefied natural gas (LNG) globally has thrust Northeast British Columbia into the spotlight as a key source of natural gas feedstock. Yet this opportunity faces a critical challenge: labour and skills shortages in the very communities intended to drive responsible resource development.
Strong local workforces with modern technical and environmental skills are essential for meeting Canada’s climate and reconciliation goals—because if these skills aren’t built at home, they’ll have to be imported, undercutting the region’s long-term benefits.
Over the last decade, governments have poured funding into trades training to spur local talent. In 2015, for instance, the BC government committed over $13 million for 3,000 new training seats tied to the first LNG boom. Nonetheless, many Northeast communities still report significant gaps in key occupations such as emissions monitoring, seismic safety, and sustainable extraction practices.
Why This Matters
Canada cannot meet its promise to supply lower-carbon LNG to global markets without workers who can design, operate, and monitor cleaner gas projects in the very region that feeds them: Northeast BC. Yet the talent pipeline is thin. Critical jobs in emissions tracking, methane-leak detection, seismic safety, and land restoration already sit vacant, and the gap will widen as export terminals ramp up.
When local graduates step into roles that reduce emissions, restore habitats, or monitor seismic activity, they safeguard both economic and ecological stability. As industries evolve, skilled local workers can adapt without relying on transient fly-in labour. This also creates a pathway for immigration and population growth in northern communities.
What Is Missing
Regional Institutions Under Strain
Institutions like Northern Lights College (NLC) and the University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC) sit at the heart of local workforce development. NLC, in particular, has offered Oil & Gas Field Operations certificates for many years. Its simulated wellsite training facility sets it apart and effectively makes the college the go-to provider of entry-level technicians for upstream gas, including vital roles in methane-leak detection.
Northern Lights College and UNBC anchor post-secondary education but lack stable capital to modernize labs, keep simulators running, or expand field programs that teach today’s low-carbon skills. Provincial and federal workforce grants arrive piecemeal, making long-term planning almost impossible.
Indigenous-Led Workforce Innovations
Between 2019 and 2024, Treaty 8 First Nations across the North ignited a workforce renaissance that wove economic growth together with community values and environmental stewardship. Fort Nelson and Prophet River’s “Powering Up for Opportunities” program trained 40 local residents in welding, millwrighting, electrical work, and piping, helping them secure new opportunities without losing their cultural ties.
Other Nations took a similar approach by linking skill-building to conservation. Blueberry River First Nations established a restoration department and led a caribou habitat project at Pink Mountain, where participants gained hands-on experience in seed collection, habitat rehabilitation, and applied earth sciences.
Further south, Saulteau and West Moberly First Nations launched the Twin Sisters Native Plants Nursery, employing up to two dozen local citizens while growing native species vital for land reclamation. These initiatives highlight how First Nations-led programs can foster workforce development, protect traditional lands, and nurture sustainable prosperity.
The Path Forward
In short, meeting Canada’s global LNG commitments requires more than just pipelines and export terminals; it demands robust investment in the region’s people and institutions. From ensuring adequate funding for regional colleges to scaling Indigenous-led initiatives, the path to a thriving, sustainable Northern economy hinges on cultivating a skilled workforce that can not only build the infrastructure of tomorrow but also protect the land beneath it.
If governments and industry step up to fill the training gap by investing in modern facilities, accessible programs, and ongoing support, Northeast BC can lead in supplying cleaner LNG, advancing reconciliation, and pioneering the next chapter in sustainable resource development. The payoff will be a diversified Northern economy powered by local talent, where Indigenous youth and longtime residents alike build lasting careers at home and where prosperity is grown rather than imported.
RECOMMENDATION: Establish a multi-year Provincial Geoscience and Impact Assessment Fund that delivers predictable core funding to independent organizations conducting baseline research, environmental monitoring, and public outreach. Geoscience BC, which recently signalled the need for a four-year, twenty-million-dollar provincial commitment, serves as the model case: its groundwater mapping, seismic monitoring, and emissions studies show how stable support converts data gaps into actionable knowledge while attracting matching dollars from federal, industry, and philanthropic partners.63
Northeast British Columbia, home to the resource-rich Montney Formation, powers both local livelihoods and global energy demand. Beneath the surface, a story of balance is unfolding, one that brings together innovation, environmental stewardship, and collaboration. Provincial policymakers must amplify this narrative not only to hold operators accountable, but also to recognize the technical advances ensuring resource development supports British Columbia’s climate goals.
When the public gains a deeper understanding of geoscience research in BC’s natural resource sector and learns about the measures implemented to curb emissions and sustain development, it builds stakeholder trust, attracts investment in cleaner technologies, and accelerates progress toward the province’s climate goals.
Equally importantly, these independent organizations can help define the future scope of environmental and climate oversight. They provide the technical expertise needed to identify new risks, improve existing standards, and ensure that regulatory frameworks evolve in step with industry practices and emerging science.
How Stable Funding Helps
Long-horizon science: Groundwater systems, induced seismicity, and methane trends evolve over decades. Intermittent grants interrupt data collection and limit the ability to spot emerging risks or confirm improvements.
Public trust: Communities and Indigenous governments need clear, continuous evidence that resource projects are meeting rising environmental standards. A predictable fund ties money to open dashboards, school resources, and community briefings that translate complex science into plain language.
Leverage: When provincial dollars arrive on a fixed schedule, research groups can secure co-funding and graduate-student talent, multiplying every public dollar and accelerating innovation. Geoscience BC estimates it has historically attracted more than one dollar of outside investment for every dollar of core support, but notes that year-to-year budget uncertainty hinders partnership planning.
How We’ll Make It Work
Picture this: instead of scientists scrambling for funding every year, wondering if they’ll be able to finish their research, we give them the breathing room they actually need. Here’s how we make that happen.
We work in four-year chunks. Why four years? Because that’s how long it takes to do this work properly. You can’t map underground water systems or track earthquake patterns in six months. Scientists need time to get their equipment, head out into the field, collect data season after season, and make sense of what they find. Four years also lines up nicely with how the province plans its budget, and we’ll check in halfway through to see how things are going.
Money comes when results do. This isn’t about throwing cash at promises. When research teams publish their groundwater maps, earthquake data, or emissions reports and make them available for everyone to use, the next chunk of funding is released. This keeps everyone focused on actually delivering the goods.
Indigenous communities have a real voice. We’re not just talking about consultation here. Indigenous representatives sit at the table where decisions get made about which projects happen, who owns the data that comes out of them, and how that knowledge gets shared. Their expertise and connection to the land guides the whole process.
What Changes When We Get This Right
Imagine having a complete picture of where British Columbia’s groundwater flows, updated in real-time. Think about earthquake monitoring systems that give communities the early warning they need. Picture having precise data on methane emissions from every major facility in the province, updated regularly and available for anyone to see.
We start with organizations that already work, like Geoscience BC, and use them as the template. Then we scale up the approach to other groups doing similar work. Instead of lurching from one short-term project grant to another, we build a steady, long-term approach that keeps environmental protection moving at the same pace as resource development.
From the Ground Up: How Science is Reducing the Environmental Footprint
One of the most pressing concerns around natural gas extraction is water use and protection. Hydraulic fracturing requires significant water, raising concerns about groundwater depletion and wastewater contamination. But recent work by Geoscience BC offers a compelling counterpoint. Their Peace Project mapped the underground water systems across Northeast BC using advanced imaging technologies and drilling. These maps guide sustainable water withdrawals, ensuring critical surface ecosystems like rivers and wetlands aren’t inadvertently drained.
Equally important, wastewater from fracking is now more commonly recycled or safely injected into deep, geologically isolated rock layers, far from any drinking water sources. This practice isn’t just theory; it’s actively monitored and regulated, with operators adjusting activity in real time based on seismic risk or disposal capacity.
Managing Earthquakes: Technology and Teamwork
The possibility of human-induced seismicity, earthquakes linked to industrial activity, often fuels public concern. That concern deserves the full picture. Northeast BC is equipped with a comprehensive seismic monitoring network, collecting real-time data 24/7. Research conducted by Geoscience BC in 2022 shows how local geology, fluid injection pressure, and fault lines interact to influence seismic risk. This science underpins the “Traffic Light Protocol” used across the industry: if seismic activity crosses a certain threshold, operations are paused or scaled back immediately.
Reducing Emissions Intensity: More Than Just Promises
Let’s be clear: natural gas production and LNG exports are carbon-intensive. From extraction to liquefaction, the process generates significant CO₂ and methane emissions
But this is also where BC leads. LNG Canada, the flagship export project in Kitimat, is on track to be one of the lowest-emission LNG facilities in the world. Why?
Instead of burning fossil fuels to power the cooling process, the facility is exploring renewable hydroelectric energy from BC’s grid, much of which originates from the Peace Region itself. Additionally, stringent methane regulations and improved leak detection technology are driving down one of the most potent greenhouse gases across the upstream sector.
A Path to Informed Discussions
Meeting BC’s climate goals still requires bold political will, tough conversations, and a tightening of emissions standards. But what we must avoid is a policy vacuum where progress goes unrecognized and polarization replaces dialogue. That’s why we recommend the following.
1. Support Public Outreach on Geoscience Research and Mitigation
Launch a coordinated provincial communications initiative that showcases advancements in water stewardship, seismic monitoring, and emissions mitigation. This not only educates the public but also builds trust in science-led sustainability measures.
Sustained, long-term investment is essential to ensure this research remains actionable and accessible to the public. It helps people understand not only the environmental risks, but also the innovations and individuals working to uphold high environmental standards within the resource sector.
2. Enhance Funding for Regional Research and Monitoring
Expand funding to institutions like Geoscience BC and university partners to continue baseline data collection, seismic risk analysis, and emissions tracking. Strong science builds strong policy. BC has supported valuable geoscience work, like Geoscience BC’s Peace Project and recent studies on seismicity and wastewater, but funding remains project-based and inconsistent. Many key reports (e.g., 2018, 2021, 2022) highlight that groundwater maps are still incomplete, seismic monitoring is regionally limited, and data gaps persist.
A stable fund could support independent research, including partnerships with universities and First Nations. This increases transparency and allows residents, Indigenous communities, and industry to operate from the same set of trusted data, reducing conflict and improving decision-making on industrial operations.
Shared Responsibility, Shared Success
The path to sustainable resource development is not about absolutes. It’s about balance: finding the middle ground between environmental protection and economic resilience, and between regulatory oversight and scientific innovation. Natural gas extraction in Northeast BC relies on a quartet of proven water‑management measures. First, produced water is captured and recycled. Next, sites are picked only after in‑depth geological mapping. Then, injection pressures are tightly controlled, and regulators oversee every step. Together, with these practices under strict regulatory scrutiny, companies not only safeguard local aquifers but also ensure energy keeps flowing to markets.
Let’s ensure Northeast BC remains clearly visible in our collective vision of British Columbia, recognizing its cultural richness, meaningful partnerships, and balanced stewardship of vital resources. This ensures that the region can be characterized by communities thriving with new life, supported by stable infrastructure and robust local services.
Achieving this vibrant future requires celebrating and strategically leveraging Northeast BC’s unparalleled contributions to provincial prosperity while equally prioritizing community well-being, cultural revitalization, and environmental integrity.
Expanding and refining revenue-sharing frameworks like the Peace River Agreement will anchor this vision, converting regional resource wealth into tangible local benefits. This would empower communities across Northeast BC to confidently plan for a resilient future, proactively investing in health care, education, affordable housing, cultural initiatives, and essential infrastructure.
Simultaneously, promoting economic diversification through targeted skills training and support for emerging sectors such as critical minerals and ecological restoration strengthens local resilience, protecting communities from market volatility and ensuring sustainable, meaningful employment. Equally vital is fostering social cohesion, enhancing community engagement, and safeguarding cultural heritage, ensuring that economic gains translate into improved quality of life for all residents.
Ultimately, success means building a future where robust economic performance is harmoniously integrated with meaningful environmental stewardship and strengthened community resilience. Indigenous partnerships flourish through genuine collaboration, sharing prosperity derived from thoughtfully and sustainably developed resources.
By fostering public trust through transparent environmental practices and innovations, we ensure a collective understanding of progress and accountability. This holistic approach is not merely beneficial, it is essential. Northeast BC’s success underpins a prosperous, sustainable, and equitable future for the entire province.
As a result of our research and analysis, we have come forward with the following six recommendations.
1. Celebrating Regional Contributions
Implement urban-focused public outreach initiatives to build province-wide awareness of Northeast BC’s vital contributions to energy security, export-driven industries, and agricultural prosperity
2. Enhancing Funding for Regional Research and Monitoring
Assess feasibility of CleanBC targets against provincial economic realities, regional capacity, and reconciliation commitments, while unifying Indigenous and government permitting into a transparent, predictable framework that unlocks responsible investment in Northeast BC.
3. Strengthening Community Benefits from Development
British Columbia should expand revenue-sharing agreements to ensure communities in Northeast BC receive fair, sustainable, and predictable funding directly aligned with the region’s significant contributions to the provincial economy. This enhanced funding must support essential local infrastructure,
4. Enhancing Energy Security
Expand support for affordable energy solutions and infrastructure in Northeast BC’s remote communities to ensure reliable power for Indigenous and rural residents.
5. Investing in Diversification
Commit long-term provincial support to diversification and skills training so Northeast BC can (a) grow new sectors such as land-restoration services and critical-mineral mining, and (b) equip the local workforce, through colleges, First-Nations training centres, and municipal partnerships, to move smoothly between traditional resource jobs and emerging low-carbon opportunities.
6. Bolstering Public Confidence in Environmental Performance
Create a long-term Geoscience Outreach & Monitoring Program that (1) provides steady funding for independent research on groundwater, seismicity, and emissions in resource-rich regions like the Montney, and (2) translates that science into plain-language dashboards and community briefings so British Columbians can see, at a glance, how innovation is reducing environmental impacts.
