FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. -The mayor of Fort St. John is calling on municipalities across British Columbia to reconsider restrictions on natural gas use, arguing the province’s economic future depends on allowing all regions to contribute their strengths.
In a letter sent to municipal leaders across the province, Mayor Trevor Bolin highlighted Northeast B.C.’s role as the centre of the province’s natural gas industry
Bolin said, “Fort St. John sits at the heart of BC’s natural gas industry, an industry that has shaped the community and Northeast BC for generations.”
“Fort St. John and its hard-working residents are proud of the role we play in powering our province, our country and, increasingly, communities around the world,” said Bolin. “When every region is given the opportunity to contribute its strengths, we can build a stronger economy that benefits all British Columbians.”
The mayor’s message comes as Canadian liquefied natural gas reaches international markets and as resource development increasingly takes centre stage in provincial political discussions.
Bolin said communities that have implemented restrictions on natural gas use in homes and businesses should reconsider those policies, arguing B.C.-produced natural gas can play an important role alongside other energy sources.
He also pointed to revenues generated by the resource sector, saying they help fund schools, health care, roads and other public services across the province.
The call aligns with promises made by Premier-elect Lorne Doerkson during his election victory speech last month, when he singled out Fort St. John as central to his economic vision for British Columbia.
Doerkson pledged to double natural gas production by 2032 and triple it by 2035, saying expanded development could create tens of thousands of jobs and generate billions of dollars annually for public services.
Bolin said his letter is intended to encourage municipalities to recognize the role natural gas can play in strengthening communities and supporting economic growth across the province.