In an editorial on May 31, 鈥�How will the Woodfibre LNG saga end?,鈥� The Chief staff took 麻豆社国产council to task for creating a 鈥渢oxic relationship鈥� with a 鈥渢argeted corporate citizen:鈥� Woodfibre LNG.
The editorial board can say what they want; that鈥檚 the nature of editorials. But this article is part of a pattern of misleading and biased coverage that extends well beyond the opinion section.
In Steven Chua鈥檚 June 9th article 鈥淐an a 麻豆社国产liquefied natural gas terminal reduce global emissions?,鈥� a long-form piece that purports to show both sides, the arguments of Tom Gunton, director of the resource and environmental planning program at SFU, are laid side by side with statements from Woodfibre鈥檚 public relations specialist Rebecca Scott as though she and her employer are similarly impartial 鈥渆xperts鈥� in the field.
Assertions like 鈥渁nalysis seems to disagree with him on the overall coal displacement opportunity鈥� are stated as fact and mark the end of the discussion. David Hughes, another scientist interviewed for the piece, is almost given the last word, arguing that Woodfibre鈥檚 report fails to give a full picture of upstream emissions, but Chua made sure the PR department got a rebuttal to that, ending the article with a powerfully misleading claim: 鈥淐anadian LNG represents a significant offset of emissions.鈥�
If The Chief wanted to present a truly fair and balanced perspective, I鈥檇 suggest they look at some of the more recent science and defer to organizations like the IPCC rather than relying on reports commissioned by Woodfibre LNG and statements from the spokesperson.
A more recent IEA report explains that upstream emissions from natural gas extraction could be dramatically reduced with relatively small investments. Where鈥檚 Woodfibre鈥檚 report on how they are working with B.C. producers to 鈥渃lean鈥� their natural gas? Where鈥檚 The Chief鈥檚 report on the emissions involved in the production of the gas Woodfibre will export? Where鈥檚 The Chief鈥檚 investigative journalism on the potential market for LNG in 2025, 2030, 2040, when Woodfibre will be at full operations?
And, where are the estimates of how much Woodfibre鈥檚 export capacity will increase total natural gas production?
Instead, we鈥檙e given a deep dive into a PR campaign masquerading as science and a series of critical pieces about the District鈥檚 efforts to prevent climate catastrophe, accusing our councillors of living in a fantasy world. Someone here is living in a fantasy world, but it鈥檚 not council.
Nick Gottlieb
Garibaldi Highlands
