My Sea to Sky is officially endorsing BC Green candidate, Jeremy Valeriote, for the West Vancouver Sea to Sky riding.

Jeremy has been a powerful voice in Victoria these past two years, and is the only MLA who will defend our health as Woodfibre LNG starts flaring in 2027.

The BC Green platform under the leadership of Emily Lowan is incredibly inspiring, with strong policies to make life more affordable, improve healthcare and education, tax the billionaires (eliminating BC's debt), and fight for our future.

Every. Vote. Counts.

In West Vancouver Sea to Sky, we helped to shift the vote over two election cycles to elect the first BC Green MLA on the mainland in an historic win.

How? We gave people permission to vote for the BC Greens.

In 2020, our message was simple: BC Greens only needed 3,000 more votes to win. Jeremy Valeriote lost by 41 votes.

In 2024, Jeremy Valeriote was elected with a 676 vote lead.

In 2026, this election could be decided by a handful of votes. Make your vote count.

*******

Woodfibre LNG's voting block

We are extremely concerned that Woodfibre LNG and FortisBC's temporary workers (who live throughout the riding) will form a large voting block of ~1,000 BC Conservative voters who will vote for Ayla Dumais, a former Woodfibre LNG employee.

It's a tight race, and we need every single vote to stop the BC Conservatives from winning the West Vancouver Sea to Sky riding.

If you typically vote for the BC NDP, please consider voting for the BC Greens in this riding. In this riding, voting for the BC NDP will split the vote.

SEE THE POLLS

*******

Get informed and vote!

No matter who you vote for, the most important thing is that you vote!

Here are the party platforms:

BC Greens | BC NDP | CentreBC | BC Conservatives | OneBC

Watch the BC Leaders Debate.

*******

Make a plan to vote on Saturday October 24

You can vote at any voting place across B.C. on October 24, 2026.

Go to ElectionsBC to find a voting place near you. Make sure to bring your ID (learn more about Voter ID)

*******

Ask your friends and family to vote

This election is shaping up to be a very tight race, and the outcome could be decided by just a few votes.

That means every vote counts.

Please phone, text, or email your friends and help to get out the vote for Jeremy Valeriote, BC Greens.

*******

Democracy is under attack around the world

Our communities are being divided by disinformation spread via social media and amplified by A.I.

Watch the Great Hack on Netflix to learn more and read how social media and A.I. have been weaponized to undermine democracy.

*******

Please vote on Saturday October 24!

Thank you for being part of a healthy democracy.

Tracey Saxby

Executive Director
My Sea to Sky
Follow me on BlueSky

Vote in the provincial election on October 24!

There is a snap provincial election on October 24 and every vote matters.

In the last year, we've seen the BC Cons splinter into three different parties (CentreBC, BC Cons, OneBC) as thirteen MLAs abandoned the party.

Despite already having a majority, David Eby cynically called a snap election to take advantage of the turmoil, but this may backfire as somehow the BC Cons are leading the polls.

Now Eby is begging BC Green voters to hold their nose and vote for a party that has doubled down on fossil fuel expansion while BC communities burn to the ground.

Our ideal election outcome is a BC NDP minority government with five BC Green MLAs.

Wouldn't it be nice if we had proportional representation so we could vote for what we want instead of the least bad option?

*******

If you don't vote for what you want you'll never get it

The BC NDP continue to fail us on the issues we care about. The only time any real progress is made is when the BC Greens hold the balance of power.

Should you vote strategically? That's ultimately up to you, but here's some information that may help inform your decision.

*******

Every vote earns $1.89 for your preferred party

For every vote that a party receives, that party receives an annual allowance. In 2026, that was $1.89 per vote.

Every vote means more resources for your preferred party.

*******

People that don't vote could tip the balance by 41.55%

Know someone that doesn't vote because they think their vote doesn't count? That is 41.55% of eligible voters!

Imagine how our politics would change for the better if everyone voted!

In the 2024 election, several ridings across BC were won by a handful of votes. Every vote matters.

*******

Every. Vote. Matters.

In West Vancouver Sea to Sky, we helped to shift the vote over two election cycles to elect the first BC Green MLA on the mainland in an historic win.

How? We gave people permission to vote for the BC Greens.

In 2020, our message was simple: BC Greens only needed 3,000 more votes to win. Jeremy Valeriote lost by 41 votes.

In 2024, we could show that every vote matters, and Jeremy Valeriote was elected with a 676 vote lead.

*******

Ridings where the BC Greens could win

Looking at historical votes and the latest polls, here are the ridings that could be won by the BC Greens:

Saanich North and the Islands | Emily Lowan

Please vote for Emily Lowan, the inspiring leader of the BC Greens!

West Vancouver Sea to Sky | Jeremy Valeriote

Please vote for Jeremy Valeriote if you want an MLA who will continue to advocate for regional transit and defend our health as Woodfibre LNG starts flaring in 2027.

We are extremely concerned that Woodfibre LNG and FortisBC's temporary workers will form a large voting block of ~1,000 BC Conservative voters who will vote for Ayla Dumais, a former Woodfibre LNG employee.

We need every single vote to stop the BC Conservatives from winning the West Vancouver Sea to Sky riding. If you typically vote for the BC NDP, please consider voting for the BC Greens in this riding.

Victoria Beacon Hill | Rajinder Sahota

Only 2,000 votes are needed to elect a BC Green.

Juan de Fuca Malahat | David Evans

Only 3,800 votes are needed to elect a BC Green.

Saanich South | Lisa Lapointe

Only 5,000 votes are needed to elect a BC Green.

*******

Ridings where BC NDP climate leaders could win

We also need to elect strong climate leaders in the BC NDP. We encourage you to vote for the BC NDP in these ridings to avoid splitting the vote.

Courtenay-Comox | Will Cole-Hamilton

Only 100 votes needed. Please vote BC NDP.

Boundary-Similkameen | Roly Russell

Only 1,500 votes needed. Please vote BC NDP.

Penticton-Summerland | Tina Lee

Only 320 votes needed. Please vote BC NDP.

Powell River-Sunshine Coast | Randene Neill

Potential risk of vote splitting. Please vote BC NDP.

*******

Who is terrible on climate within the BC NDP?

Politicians only care about votes. Here are the MLAs driving poor climate policies within the BC NDP. Send a message by voting for the BC Greens (then email contact@bcndp.ca to share why they lost your vote).

Vancouver-Point Grey | David Eby

Low risk of vote splitting. Vote BC Green to send a message.

Vancouver-Renfrew | Adrian Dix

Low risk of vote splitting. Vote BC Green to send a message.

Langford-Highlands | Ravi Parmar

Low risk of vote splitting. Vote BC Green to send a message.

Port Coquitlam | Mike Farnworth

Potential vote split. Vote BC Green to send a message.

*******

Ridings where you can vote with your heart

Victoria Swan Lake

BC NDP and BC Greens lead in this riding. Vote for your preferred candidate!

Any "CPBC safe" riding according to polls

Check the polling data and if your riding shows "CPBC safe" with a clear margin, vote for your preferred party (BC NDP or BC Greens).

Remember that every vote means more resources for your preferred party.

There is no such thing as a wasted vote!

*******

Get informed and vote!

No matter who you vote for, the most important thing is that you vote!

Here are the party platforms:

BC Greens | BC NDP | CentreBC | BC Conservatives | OneBC

Watch the BC Leaders Debate.

*******

Democracy is under attack around the world

Our communities are being divided by disinformation spread via social media and amplified by A.I.

Watch the Great Hack on Netflix to learn more and read how social media and A.I. have been weaponized to undermine democracy.

Don't take your vote for granted, and please use it wisely.

Eoin Finn

Board Chair
My Sea to Sky

Have you voted yet? Vote today!

This election is critical for Squamish residents. Please get informed and Vote4Tomorrow!

Advanced Voting | 12pm to 8pm, Thursday October 15 at Brennan Park

*******

History repeating?

In the leadup to the 2022 local election, My Sea to Sky exposed how Woodfibre LNG covertly funded Squamish Forward to undermine trust in local government and influence voters. The National Observer also exposed the link between Canada Proud and Squamish Voices, which spent over $78,000 on online attack ads targeting council. CBC News warned how fake facebook profiles and social media groups were influencing voters and shifting public opinion.

This election, it feels like we're seeing similar tactics... online groups that have only appeared in the last year, focused on hot button issues like parking and development, using A.I. to stoke online outrage and distrust targeting the current council.

Why is that? Who benefits from that? What are they trying to achieve?

Woodfibre LNG needs a sweetheart deal on taxes

The next elected council will be responsible for setting the major industry tax rate, which will determine how much Woodfibre LNG will pay in municipal taxes every year.

If Woodfibre LNG doesn’t pay its fair share in taxes, it shifts that tax burden to homeowners and businesses.

In Kitimat, the pro-LNG council signed a deal with LNG Canada for $9.7 million per year for the first five years of operations when the tax rate for major industry should have generated $47.8 million per year. LEARN MORE

Woodfibre LNG's CEO, Luke Schauerte, wrote in an open letter that they're waiting on election outcomes.

We need to elect a council that will ensure that Woodfibre LNG pays their fair share in municipal taxes.

GET INFORMED AND VOTE!

Holding Woodfibre LNG accountable for air pollution

In May this year, we helped to document invisible air pollution at LNG Canada. Kitimat residents are reporting health impacts from LNG Canada's excessive flaring.

However, the pro-LNG council has failed to advocate on behalf of its residents, and refused to support healthcare professionals who are calling for a cumulative health impact assessment of fracking and LNG export projects.

In contrast, we're grateful that Squamish council voted unanimously to send a letter of support.

We need to elect a council that will advocate for the health and safety of Squamish residents.

GET INFORMED AND VOTE!

Woodfibre LNG and FortisBC's voting block

We estimate that there are over 1,000 workers for Woodfibre LNG and FortisBC that have temporarily moved to Squamish during construction. Many of FortisBC's workers will only be here for another year of construction.

We're extremely concerned that this voting block will help to elect a pro-LNG council and then leave us with a mess of pollution, health risks, and a council who favours industry over citizens.

*******

Step 1: Get informed!

My Sea to Sky asked candidates:

• How much should Woodfibre LNG pay in taxes?
• How will they advocate for the health of Squamish residents before Woodfibre LNG starts flaring?
• Where do they stand on development projects?
• How will they address climate-related risks to increase our community’s resilience?
• How will they work towards reconciliation with Indigenous peoples?
• Will they commit to climate action policies and principles?

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE ISSUES

WATCH THE ALL-CANDIDATES DEBATE

then

CHECK OUT THE CANDIDATES

*******

Step 2: Vote!

Advanced Voting | 12pm to 8pm, Thursday October 15 at Brennan Park

General Voting Day | 8am to 8pm, Saturday October 17 at Brennan Park

FIND WHERE YOU CAN VOTE

*******

Step 3: Ask your friends and family to vote

Only 39.73% of eligible Squamish voters cast a ballot in 2022.

We know from previous elections that every vote counts—literally! Please phone, text, or email your friends and help to get out the vote.

Voting is one of the most powerful ways we have to influence decisions that will affect our lives, our community, and our future.

*******

Voting tip!

When you vote, only vote for the candidates you want elected. If that is one mayor and four councillors, only put down those five names.

For council, the top six candidates with the most votes are elected, so if you vote for someone that you don't really want elected, that may bump your preferred candidates out of the top six.

CHECK OUT THE CANDIDATES

*****

Thank you for being part of a healthy democracy!

Tracey Saxby

Executive Director
My Sea to Sky
Follow me on BlueSky

To help you navigate the field of 18 candidates in the Squamish municipal election, we have met with candidates, watched all-candidates events, read their responses to media interviews and community questions, reviewed public statements, and evaluated past voting records.

Council candidates who align with our values

My Sea to Sky is endorsing the following five candidates for the 2026 local election in Squamish:

Jenna Stoner

Sarah Ellis

Andrew Hamilton

Chris Pettingill

Shaun Veltkamp

Only 39.73% of eligible Squamish voters cast a ballot in 2022. Please get informed and vote!

*******

Step 1: Get informed!

My Sea to Sky asked candidates:

• How much should Woodfibre LNG pay in taxes?
• How will they advocate for the health of Squamish residents before Woodfibre LNG starts flaring?
• Where do they stand on development projects?
• How will they address climate-related risks to increase our community’s resilience?
• How will they work towards reconciliation with Indigenous peoples?
• Will they commit to climate action policies and principles?

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE ISSUES

WATCH THE ALL-CANDIDATES DEBATE

then

CHECK OUT THE CANDIDATES

*******

Step 2: Vote!

Advanced voting | 12pm to 8pm, Thursday October 15 at Brennan Park.

General Voting Day | 8am to 8pm, Saturday October 17 at Brennan Park

FIND WHERE YOU CAN VOTE

*******

Step 3: Ask your friends and family to vote

We know from previous elections that every vote counts—literally! Please phone, text, or email your friends and help to get out the vote.

Voting is one of the most powerful ways we have to influence decisions that will affect our lives, our community, and our future.

*******

Voting tip!

When you vote, only vote for the candidates you want elected. If that is one mayor and four councillors, only put down those five names.

For council, the top six candidates with the most votes are elected, so if you vote for someone that you don't really want elected, that may bump your preferred candidates out of the top six.

CHECK OUT THE CANDIDATES

*****

Thank you for being part of a healthy democracy!

Tracey Saxby

Executive Director
My Sea to Sky
Follow me on BlueSky

Take action! Vote4Tomorrow on October 17

My Sea to Sky volunteers have developed an independent voter guide called Vote4Tomorrow to support community groups across BC to evaluate where local candidates stand on climate and environmental policies.

The election tool profiles 828 candidates in 34 communities and regional districts across BC.

Check out your candidates, and make a plan to vote in the upcoming local election!

Why we're making climate action an election issue

While the polls show voters are worried about affordability, what many people don't realize is how climate change is making life more expensive.

Rising food costs, higher insurance premiums, and bigger energy bills. Our taxes also go up to pay to repair public infrastructure such as roads, bridges, and buildings damaged by severe weather.

By investing in climate action we can:

🚲Reduce energy and transportation costs

👷Develop more sustainable economies and jobs

🌿Protect ecosystems and biodiversity

🔥Reduce pollution

🌞Improve human health and well-being

👏Create a more prosperous, just, and equitable society.

Local climate leadership is critical

Our provincial and federal leaders are expanding fossil fuels as B.C. communities burn. Climate scientists are warning that we must take action now.

We need to elect local leaders who will prepare our communities to protect against future climate disasters, keep everyone safe, ensure food and water security, improve energy security, and keep critical infrastructure working.

Local governments are uniquely positioned to take a leading role on climate action as decisions on land use, buildings, transport, and waste are largely controlled at the local level.

Voting tip!

When you vote, only vote for the candidates you want elected. If that is one mayor and four councillors, only put down those five names.

For council, the top six candidates with the most votes are elected, so if you vote for someone that you don't really want elected, that may bump your preferred candidates out of the top six.

Did you know that average voter turnout was only 36% in the 2022 local election?

Please take the time to get informed and vote. Democracy is under attack around the world. Don't take your vote for granted.

Eoin Finn

Board Chair
My Sea to Sky

P.S. Our friends at Dogwood are working to Triple the Vote. Check it out.

My Sea to Sky is incredibly proud and grateful to say that we rely on the My Sea to Sky community for small donations that provide the majority of our funding. Since our launch in 2014, we have been funded through personal savings, family and friends; and powered by the passion of our volunteers. Your generous contribution will help us to run our critical campaigns to defend, protect, and restore Átl’ḵa7tsem / Howe Sound. Can you chip in?

Advance voting starts tomorrow!

This local election is critical, and who we elect will shape the future of Squamish for decades to come.

We engaged with candidates, and asked them to complete a questionnaire to find out where they stand on climate action and other key issues affecting Squamish.

Step 1: Get informed

• How much should Woodfibre LNG pay in taxes?
• How will candidates advocate for the health of Squamish residents as Woodfibre LNG plans to start flaring in mid-2027?
• Where do they stand on three proposed development projects?
• How will candidates address climate-related risks to increase our community’s resilience?
• What steps will they take to work towards reconciliation with Indigenous peoples?
• Will they commit to climate action policies and principles?

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE ISSUES

then

CHECK OUT THE CANDIDATES

Step 2: Vote!

Advanced voting starts on October 7, 2026.

General Voting Day is October 17, 2026.

FIND WHERE YOU CAN VOTE

*******

Voting tip!

When you vote, only vote for the candidates you want elected. If that is one mayor and four councillors, only put down those five names.

For council, the top six candidates with the most votes are elected, so if you vote for someone that you don't really want elected, that may bump your preferred candidates out of the top six.

CHECK OUT THE CANDIDATES

*****

Thank you for being part of a healthy democracy!

Tracey Saxby

Executive Director
My Sea to Sky
Follow me on BlueSky

In 2015, Woodfibre LNG estimated flaring during start-up and commissioning would last for one month. (see Section 2.2 of Woodfibre LNG's Planned and Emergency Flaring Report.)

Now, in August 2026, Woodfibre LNG shared in an update to Squamish Nation that “Flaring is to occur more frequently in roughly three years of commissioning and early operations of the LNG facility.”

Three years! Not one month as Woodfibre LNG originally claimed.

And the flame will be up to 90 metres high!

🔥Attend Woodfibre LNG's open house

WHEN: 4:30pm to 7:30pm, Thursday October 1, 2026

WHERE: Executive Suites Hotel
40900 Tantalus Road, Squamish BC

*******

I am a mom of a six-year-old and I live in Squamish.

Earlier this year we learned from Dr Tim Takaro how air pollution from LNG facilities can harm human health. Seniors and children are most at risk.

We also heard from Kitimat resident and Acute Care Nurse, Ankur Patel, how flaring at LNG Canada is affecting Kitimat residents.

LEARN MORE: INSTAGRAM | FACEBOOK | WATCH THE PRESENTATION

*******

Our communities deserve to have clean air, not toxic pollution from Woodfibre LNG's flarestack.

Can you join me this Thursday to ask Woodfibre LNG the tough questions?

Kate McInnes
Director of Health and Economic Campaigns
My Sea to Sky

My Sea to Sky is incredibly proud and grateful to say that we rely on the My Sea to Sky community for small donations that provide the majority of our funding. Since our launch in 2014, we have been funded through personal savings, family and friends; and powered by the passion of our volunteers. Your generous contribution will help us to run our critical campaigns to defend, protect, and restore Átl’ḵa7tsem / Howe Sound. Can you chip in?

We did it!

Last Tuesday, the District of Squamish voted 5 to 2 to reject Woodfibre LNG's terrible tax deal!

Thank you to everyone that sent a letter or attended the meeting to show council it has strong community support to stand up for Squamish residents.

WATCH THE COUNCIL MEETING | SQUAMISH CHIEF | CBC NEWS

Debunking the B.S. online

The next elected council will be responsible for setting the major industry tax rate, which will determine how much Woodfibre LNG will pay every year.

Even if Woodfibre LNG pays the average tax rate for communities with major industry, it will pay at least $16–24 million every year. If Woodfibre LNG pays the tax rate the pulp mill used to pay, it will contribute $24–36 million every year.

We're not locked into a terrible deal without knowing Woodfibre LNG's assessed value, that won't increase with inflation, or if Woodfibre LNG doubles or triples in size.

Do you get to put your name on a building when you pay your damn taxes? No? That's what Woodfibre LNG was asking for, turning its civic duty to pay taxes into a branding opportunity.

If Woodfibre LNG defaults on its payments, the terms of the Community Enhancement Payment Agreement could have put Squamish at risk. It is much safer for Squamish to use regular taxation mechanisms to ensure Woodfibre LNG pays its fair share.

Now we can start a conversation about what our community needs to upgrade critical infrastructure and services.

How much should Woodfibre LNG pay in taxes? A frack tonne more than $14.2 million on average, that's for sure.

READ OUR LETTER

This is why we keep fighting. The last few weeks our community stood together to hold Woodfibre LNG accountable and fight corporate greed.

I've been dancing all week. Please celebrate this win with me.

Tracey Saxby

Executive Director
My Sea to Sky

Tomorrow at 6pm, Tue Sept 22, council will decide whether to accept or reject Woodfibre LNG's terrible tax deal of $142 million over ten years ($14.2 million per year on average).

This is $10 million dollars less per year than the average tax rate for communities with major industry across BC. This will not increase with inflation or if Woodfibre LNG doubles or triples in size.

Do you get a deal on your taxes? No! Why should Woodfibre LNG?

🔥TAKE ACTION! Send a letter

Tell council they have your support to reject Woodfibre LNG's terrible tax deal. Tell them if you're a resident. Tell them if you own a home or a business. We put together example speaking points to help you personalize your letter.

DEADLINE: September 22, 2026

*******

So you want a new Recreation Centre...

I'm a mom and my six-year-old is continually disappointed when the pool is closed or full to capacity. Squamish has a lot of aging infrastructure that has not kept pace with population growth.

We need municipal tax revenue so we can invest in critical infrastructure and services including roads, clean drinking water, waste management, parks and recreation, fire and emergency services, and more.

We estimate a new Recreation Centre will cost at least $250 million based on one NHL-sized rink ($65 million) and an aquatic centre ($185 million) with parking infrastructure. Woodfibre LNG isn't even offering that.

If council rejects Woodfibre LNG's terrible tax deal, the next council will be able to set a municipal tax rate based on community needs. Council identifies how much revenue is needed to pay for critical services and sets the tax rates accordingly. These rates can be adjusted to offset depreciation.

If Woodfibre LNG doesn't pay its fair share, it shifts the tax burden to you and me as home owners and business owners.

What should Woodfibre LNG pay in municipal taxes?

Woodfibre LNG's tax offer
= $14.2 million per year

If they paid the average major industry tax rate
= $16–24 million per year*

If they paid the equivalent pulp mill tax rate
= $24–36 million per year*

*Based on an estimated assessed value of $400–600 million per year for Woodfibre LNG.

🔥Show council they have your support

WHEN: 5:30pm to 8pm, Tuesday September 22, 2026

WHERE: Squamish Municipal Hall
37955 2nd Ave, Squamish, BC

ITINERARY:

5:30pm | Gather for a quick photo action outside Squamish Municipal Hall.

6pm till ~8pm | Attend the council meeting and hold a sign inside council chambers.

*******

My Sea to Sky has been advocating for Woodfibre LNG to pay its fair share in taxes since 2014.

Thanks for standing with us.

Kate McInnes
Director of Health and Economic Campaigns
My Sea to Sky

I'm noticing a lot of disinformation online about Woodfibre LNG and the tax deal. Let's set the record straight.

2014 | Woodfibre LNG proposed a $2 million tax agreement that would be capped at $3 million with inflation during operations. My Sea to Sky successfully advocated for council not to accept this unfair tax deal. LEARN MORE

July 2015 | BC Assessment Authority estimated Woodfibre LNG could generate $5–7 million in municipal tax revenue per year during operations. Phew! Thank frack we spoke up. LEARN MORE

October 2015 | Woodfibre LNG was approved by the provincial government. According to the Reason for Ministers' Decision, Woodfibre LNG told the province it would generate $21 million in municipal taxes per year during operations. Frack! That's ten times more money than Woodfibre LNG offered the year before. LEARN MORE

2022 | My Sea to Sky exposed that Woodfibre LNG covertly funded Squamish Forward, a local group led by Evan Drygas and Gord Addison, which started a petition to stop the District from borrowing money it needed to upgrade critical infrastructure to supply Squamish with clean drinking water and to manage our wastewater. This stunt cost Squamish taxpayers half a million dollars. Woodfibre LNG actively undermined trust in local government to influence voters in the leadup to the election, in the hopes that a pro-LNG council would give them a sweetheart deal on taxes.
LEARN MORE

2023 | Woodfibre LNG begins construction.

2024 | District of Squamish set the tax rate for Major Industry to $125 per $1,000 of assessed value.

2025 | Woodfibre LNG pays ~$2.2 million in municipal taxes during construction.

June 2025 | Woodfibre LNG files a lawsuit to contest the tax rate in court, claiming it would make the US$8.8 billion dollar project unsustainable.
LEARN MORE | READ THE COURT DOCUMENTS

2026 | Woodfibre LNG pays $8 million in municipal taxes during construction.

June 2026 | Woodfibre LNG renews its lawsuit. LEARN MORE

September 2026 | Woodfibre LNG offers $14.2 million in municipal taxes per year during operations. Wait. What the frack? That's a terrible tax deal.
LEARN MORE | READ THE TAX OFFER

*******

How much should Woodfibre LNG pay in taxes?

Municipal tax rates are determined by council every year based on community needs and can be adjusted to offset depreciation. Council identifies how much revenue is needed to pay for critical services and sets the tax rates accordingly. SEE MUNICIPAL TAX RATES FOR BC

Squamish has a lot of aging infrastructure that has not kept pace with population growth. For example, we need a new Recreation Centre, which we estimate will cost at least $250 million based on one NHL-sized rink ($65 million) and an aquatic centre ($185 million) with parking infrastructure.

Woodfibre LNG's tax offer
= $14.2 million per year

If they paid the average major industry tax rate
= $16–24 million per year*

If they paid the equivalent pulp mill tax rate
= $24–36 million per year*

*Based on an estimated assessed value of $400–600 million per year for Woodfibre LNG.

One LNG carrier could earn...
$37–93 million every week based on a spot price of $10 to $25 per million Btu. Woodfibre LNG currently plans to export one LNG carrier per week, but hopes to double or triple its exports.

Do you get a deal on your taxes? No! Why should Woodfibre LNG?

🔥TAKE ACTION! Send a letter

Tell council they have your support to reject Woodfibre LNG's terrible tax deal. Tell them if you're a resident. Tell them if you own a home or a business. We put together example speaking points to help you personalize your letter.

DEADLINE: September 22, 2026

*******

🔥Show council they have your support

WHEN: 5:30pm to 8pm, Tuesday September 22, 2026

WHERE: Squamish Municipal Hall
37955 2nd Ave, Squamish, BC

ITINERARY:

5:30pm | Gather for a quick photo action outside Squamish Municipal Hall.

6pm till ~8pm | Attend the council meeting and hold a sign inside council chambers.

*******

Where are the economic benefits Woodfibre LNG promised?

Tracey Saxby

Executive Director
My Sea to Sky

Woodfibre LNG is offering a municipal tax agreement of $142 million over ten years ($14.2 million per year on average).

This is ten million dollars less per year than the average tax rate for communities with major industry across BC. This will not increase with inflation or if Woodfibre LNG doubles or triples in size.

Do you get a deal on your taxes? No! Why should Woodfibre LNG?

Tell council to reject Woodfibre LNG's terrible tax deal.

IMPORTANT! Personalized letters are much more impactful. See the example speaking points to customize your letter to council. Use our letter writing tool, or email council@squamish.ca directly.

*******

How much should Woodfibre LNG pay in taxes?

Municipal tax rates are determined by council every year based on community needs and can be adjusted to offset depreciation. Council identifies how much revenue is needed to pay for critical services and sets the tax rates for residential, commercial, utilities, farms, managed forests, supportive housing, light industry, and major industry.

The average tax rate for B.C. communities with major industry in 2026 was $40.57 per $1,000 of assessed value (ranging from $3.44 to $125.24).

We don't know what Woodfibre LNG's assessed value will be, but District staff conservatively estimate $400–600 million. See FAQ #21.

Here is how much tax revenue could be generated from Woodfibre LNG every year:

*******

So you want a new Rec Centre...

Before it closed in 2006, the Woodfibre pulp mill in Squamish paid a tax rate of $58.86106 per $1,000 of assessed value. If Woodfibre LNG paid a similar tax rate, it would contribute $24 to $36 million in taxes every year.

Squamish has a lot of aging infrastructure that has not kept pace with population growth. For example, we need a new Recreation Centre, which we estimate will cost at least $250 million based on one NHL-sized rink ($65 million) and an aquatic centre ($185 million) with parking infrastructure.

To correct online misinformation, no, Woodfibre LNG never offered to pay for a new Recreation Centre. This is the deal that is on the table: $142 million over ten years. It's an improvement from the $2–3 million tax deal Woodfibre LNG offered in 2014, but it's still not a fair or reasonable tax rate.

Please take a moment to send a personalized letter to council before September 22, 2026. Council needs to know they have your support to say no to Woodfibre LNG's terrible tax deal.

Join us at the council meeting at 6pm, September 22, 2026 at Squamish Municipal Hall.

Woodfibre LNG must pay its fair share.

Tracey Saxby

Executive Director
My Sea to Sky

My Sea to Sky is incredibly proud and grateful to say that we rely on the My Sea to Sky community for small donations that provide the majority of our funding. Since our launch in 2014, we have been funded through personal savings, family and friends; and powered by the passion of our volunteers. Your generous contribution will help us to run our critical campaigns to defend, protect, and restore Átl’ḵa7tsem / Howe Sound. Can you chip in?

We need your help.

Woodfibre LNG’s plans to triple in size are very real. As the world burns, our governments are doubling down on fossil fuel expansion.

Woodfibre LNG was listed as one of four priority projects in the Canada-British Columbia Cooperative Prosperity Agreement signed on July 2, 2026, which outlines Carney's intention to support BC’s LNG Exports by fast-tracking permits and using public money to line the pockets of billionaires:

“Canada and British Columbia will work with proponents, communities, and First Nations to support the permitting, financing and construction of LNG export capacity in B.C.”

My Sea to Sky has warned regulators and the public since 2015 that Woodfibre LNG planned to expand and exploit regulatory loopholes to sneak in a project up to three times bigger.

Now it looks like Carney and Eby are poised to rubber stamp the expansion on or before December 1, 2026.

Triple the tankers. Triple the pollution. Triple the health & safety impacts.

We need to act fast. We need to fight back. Here's how you can help:

*******

1. Become a monthly supporter

My Sea to Sky is small but feisty, and we punch way above our weight.

With only two staff and ~20 volunteers we are fighting as hard as we can on a shoestring budget.

We need more capacity. Monthly donations allow us to respond quickly to hire an expert or mobilize our communities.

Our amazing monthly supporters make it possible for us to protect our coast, our communities, and our climate.

NOTE: My Sea to Sky is a registered non-profit, but to ensure our community's advocacy can be as effective as possible, we are not a charity, and donations are not eligible for a tax credit.

*******

2. Support our legal actions

My Sea to Sky has partnered with the Sunshine Coast Conservation Association to overturn project approvals for Woodfibre LNG and FortisBC, and hold the Federal and Provincial governments to account.

Can you chip in to help pay for legal fees, expert peer review, access to information, and dedicated staff time to support our legal actions?

Donate below to get a charitable tax receipt from Sunshine Coast Conservation Association.

*******

3. Join our volunteer team

We are organizing! From Squamish to the Sunshine Coast to Vancouver, and across BC and Canada, we are looking for volunteers to help.

Bring your ideas, your energy, and your expertise, and join our incredible volunteer team.

*******

I genuinely don't understand the bad decisions our governments are making. I am in shock at the cognitive dissonance of our politicians.

Over 100 wildfires are burning across BC. People have lost their homes. Thousands have been on evacuation alert.

I am feeling angry. I am feeling despair.

But I am not powerless and neither are you.

Please stand with me as we fight for a livable future. We'll be in touch with more ways to take action soon.

Tracey Saxby

Executive Director
My Sea to Sky

Specialized optical gas imaging (OGI) technology reveals that Tilbury LNG—operated by FortisBC—is releasing huge, invisible plumes of toxic chemicals directly into the Metro Vancouver airshed.

These pollutants are harmful to the climate and human health, and people in nearby communities are breathing them in.

"What I'm looking at is just a crazy amount of pollution here... uncontrolled venting..."

--Tim Doty, former Texas regulator, consultant with Oilfield Witness, describing pollution from Tilbury LNG in Vancouver.

WATCH THE INTERVIEW WITH TIM DOTY

*******

TAKE ACTION! Have your say on Tilbury LNG

Tilbury LNG is a small LNG storage facility in Vancouver, and FortisBC has applied to make Tilbury LNG ten times bigger.

LNG expansion in close proximity to urban centres is reckless. Governments in Canada are not monitoring Tilbury LNG adequately, and there are big monitoring gaps that should concern everyone.

We need to hold FortisBC accountable for this harmful air pollution and demand that our governments protect public health.

Make your voice heard! Our friends at Stand.earth have put together an Action Toolkit to help inform your comments.

Submit a comment on Tilbury LNG here.

DEADLINE: July 27, 1 PM PT

As Tim Doty said, "We need to have public outcry."

Tracey Saxby

Executive Director
My Sea to Sky

FortisBC has a dirty little secret in the middle of Vancouver called Tilbury LNG.

In May, I visited Tilbury LNG with Tim Doty to capture footage of Tilbury LNG's invisible air pollution using an optical gas imaging (OGI) camera.

This small LNG storage facility is a massive polluter, filling Vancouver's airshed with invisible plumes of toxic chemicals. These pollutants are harmful for the climate and human health.

And FortisBC has applied to make Tilbury LNG ten times bigger. WATCH THE VIDEOS

*******

TAKE ACTION! Have your say on Tilbury LNG

FortisBC wants to expand Tilbury LNG to produce 2.5 million tonnes of LNG every year.

LNG is a fossil fuel, specifically methane, which is 80-86 times more potent than CO2 over a 20-year period.

Why are we building new fossil fuel infrastructure when Canada is on fire?

Expanding Tilbury LNG will increase greenhouse gas emissions and harmful air pollution in Vancouver's airshed.

Make your voice heard! Our friends at Stand.earth have put together an Action Toolkit to help inform your comments.

Submit a comment on Tilbury LNG here.

DEADLINE: July 27, 1 PM PT

This is the wrong industry, in the wrong place, at the wrong time.

As Tim Doty said, "We need to have public outcry."

Eoin Finn

Board Chair
My Sea to Sky

My Sea to Sky is incredibly proud and grateful to say that we rely on the My Sea to Sky community for small donations that provide the majority of our funding. Since our launch in 2014, we have been funded through personal savings, family and friends; and powered by the passion of our volunteers. Your generous contribution will help us to run our critical campaigns to defend, protect, and restore Átl’ḵa7tsem / Howe Sound. Can you chip in?

Share how important clean air is to you. Do you or your family have health conditions that could be impacted by flaring from Woodfibre LNG?

The Minister of Energy and Climate Solutions recently emphasized—in correspondence to dozens of organizations asking governments to apply transparent and comprehensive carbon accounting in evaluating the full lifecycle emissions of LNG projects, and mandate an industry-funded independent, cumulative health impact assessment for British Columbia’s gas and LNG industry that can inform B.C. and other jurisdictions—that LNG projects in Canada are approved using industry-developed emissions modelling and assumptions. These provide predicted concentrations of potential exposures to air pollution and chemicals—all prior to operations, and seemingly without levers to address real-world emissions that surpass those modelled.

For example, LNG Canada, the country’s first export facility, has disclosed that it operates far beyond its Air Waste Discharge Authorization permit. Air pollution volumes were over 40 times those authorized between October 2025 and January 2026. Significant exceedances have continued every month through May 2026, for which the most recent data is available, when the facility’s three flares were 15, seven and four times over their permits.

At this time, Ottawa and the Province of B.C. are conducting a combined environmental assessment, led by B.C., for FortisBC’s application to increase Tilbury LNG’s liquefaction capacities by 10 times to nearly 8,000 tonnes per day (~2.8 million tonnes per year), and to build a new LNG storage tank to hold nearly 145,000 cubic metres of liquified gas. The public comment period is open until July 27, 2026.

The BC Utilities Commission has authorized FortisBC to charge ratepayers the cost of the $1-billion LNG storage tank, a component of the Tilbury LNG expansion, providing an indirect, billion-dollar subsidy to FortisBC. At the same time, households in British Columbia already experienced surges on their FortisBC residential gas bills of 18 percent in 2025 and 11 percent in 2026.

The Tilbury LNG expansion project would generate 1 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions every year over the course of the project’s planned multi-decade lifespan. Additionally, a ground-level flare and venting will release other toxic pollutants into the already polluted river valley. Most of these emissions are invisible to the naked eye, without specialized technology, and are harmful to the climate and human health.

New Westminster is the latest municipality in British Columbia to call for a cumulative, independent health impact assessment of LNG infrastructure, joining Squamish, Dawson Creek, Hazelton, and Terrace, as well as the Squamish Lillooet Regional District, the Health Officers Council of B.C., and more than 50 organizations across the country.

Tim Doty, an ITC Level III Master Thermographer and technical advisor to Texas-based nonprofit Oilfield Witness, documented pollution at the existing Tilbury LNG facility on May 8 and 9, 2026, using specialized optical gas imaging technology. He says; “I worked as a regulator in Texas for almost three decades, and this technology is the gold standard per the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Every LNG facility that I have surveyed in Texas, Louisiana—and now two in British Columbia—has been a big emitter. You won’t see much of the air pollution with the naked human eye unless you use OGI technology and that’s something industry, government, and regulators already know.”

QUOTES

City of New Westminster Mayor Patrick Johnstone
“As local communities continue to carry the burden of climate disruption with murderous heat domes, shifting flood patterns, wildfire devastation and choking summer smoke, it is unconscionable for senior governments and corporations to be throwing fuel on the fire. There is no moral case for fossil fuel expansion while our cities burn, and any alleged short-term economic gain comes only with downloading costs to local taxpayers and a continued degradation of our quality of life."

Tim Doty, technical air monitoring expert for almost 30 years at the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality; ITC Level III Master Thermographer; current Technical Advisor to Texas-based nonprofit Oilfield Witness, and President of TCHD Consulting LLC
“At Tilbury LNG, I documented stacks, vent pipes, and processing units continuously spewing emissions that were actively filling the airshed with pollution, both overhead and downwind, and we’re not talking about heat, the technology confirmed that. These are largely uncombusted hydrocarbon emissions that include but are not limited to methane and volatile organic compounds that people really need to be concerned about from environmental, climate, and human health standpoints.”

Diane Milsom, concerned resident
“I live here. I also boat up and down the coast. I understand the huge implications there would be for pollution in the community, accidents on the Fraser and Salish Sea, and fracking inland. We know this kind of project brings pollution, having this camera footage just proves how severe the problem is and how important it is that the government refuses to grant the project certificate.”

Tracey Saxby, marine scientist and executive director of My Sea to Sky
“LNG expansion in close proximity to urban centres is reckless, especially when it lacks controls and effective pollution monitoring. Governments in Canada are not monitoring LNG emissions adequately, and there are big monitoring gaps that should concern everyone. Our governments need to act and use the levers they have to hold companies like FortisBC and LNG Canada accountable for this harmful air pollution and protect public health.”

Janelle Lapointe, senior adviser indigenous strategies at David Suzuki Foundation
“The public is being asked to pay for Tilbury LNG twice: first through rising utility bills, and again through the extreme weather and air pollution that this fossil fuel expansion will intensify. Indigenous and rural communities continue to experience the disproportionate impacts from climate chaos, but Tilbury LNG shows how quickly the boundaries of the sacrifice zones are expanding. The risks and impacts that may have been out of sight and out of mind are arriving at our doorstep. But none of this is inevitable: we can refuse to accept the financial, health and environmental costs of fossil fuels and instead invest in clean energy that makes our communities safer, healthier and more affordable.”

Thomas Green, senior manager climate solutions at the David Suzuki Foundation
"FortisBC's case for Tilbury LNG expansion doesn't hold up because global LNG markets are heading into a glut. Adding more supply into a softening market, when BC already has millions of tonnes of LNG capacity under construction at LNG Canada, Woodfibre LNG and Cedar LNG, is a risky bet that could prove expensive for ratepayers and taxpayers. We don't need to build a bigger LNG terminal to find out that betting on gas expansion in a glutted market is a bad deal, for our air, our climate and our wallets."

Anna Barford, Oceans Campaigner, Stand.earth
“FortisBC is applying to expand the Tilbury LNG facility beyond recognition, but they don’t have their permits yet and we have the opportunity to stop the bad idea before it is too late. Plans include an industrial flare polluting local air, enough liquefaction to fulfill their export license and over 100 tanker voyages per year, not to mention construction noise and increases to our utility bills in the short term. Orcas, Salmon, and our future selves need us to speak up now in opposition to dangerous gas expansion.”

Dr. Tim Takaro, BC-based physician-scientist in environmental medicine, public health and toxicology and representative of the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment
“The question isn’t whether people will share the same air as this facility. They already do. Communities in the Lower Fraser River and delta region share the same airshed, and air pollution doesn’t stop at the plant boundaries. Before approving an expansion of this scale, governments have a responsibility to ensure decisions are based on an accurate picture of what people are actually breathing, not simply what models predict. When pollution monitoring leaves significant gaps, it is harder to protect the health of nearby communities, especially children, older adults and people living with heart or lung disease.”

– 30 –

MEDIA RESOURCES

High-resolution images + b-roll of OGI footage, taken by former regulator Tim Doty, at Tilbury LNG in May 2026.

BACKGROUNDER

What is Optical Gas Imaging? Optical gas imaging (OGI) technology allows us to see the invisible pollution from oil and gas facilities by using a Teledyne FLIR G620 optical gas imaging camera that is calibrated to detect hydrocarbons, methane and volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

What can the OGI camera see? The OGI camera detects gases in the 3.2 to 3.4 micrometer wavelength band of the electromagnetic spectrum. Humans see in the 0.4 to 0.7 micrometer range (visible light). The OGI camera allows us to “see” hydrocarbon, methane, and VOC pollution that would otherwise be invisible to the naked eye.

What is in the gas? This OGI footage shows uncombusted and partially combusted hydrocarbons, methane, and VOCs, including benzene, being released from the Tilbury LNG facility in Delta. The OGI camera cannot speciate the gases, but it can show the movement of the gases as they are released into the airshed.

Is this a leak? No, this is the intentional release of harmful pollutants. The OGI camera captures the movement of the gases that are being released that would otherwise be invisible to the naked eye.

Is this heat? No, the temperature span scale on the right side of the videos shows the approximate temperature of the gases as they are released into the airshed.

In early May, I spent a week in Kitimat with Tim Doty, a former Texas regulator who now contracts with Oilfield Witness, to capture footage of LNG Canada's invisible air pollution using an optical gas imaging (OGI) camera.

It was truly shocking to see the huge, invisible plumes of toxic chemicals that LNG Canada is releasing into Kitimat's airshed. These pollutants are harmful to the climate and human health, and people in nearby communities are breathing them in. WATCH THE VIDEOS

We documented a plume of pollution from the 120 foot high flare drifting towards the community of Kitimat. We also saw massive amounts of pollution pouring from six hot stacks at the liquefaction facility itself.

As we're researching, we're learning that a lot of this harmful air pollution is unmonitored and unregulated. For example, benzene—which is a potent carcinogen—is not routinely monitored at LNG Canada.

Our governments have not properly assessed the human health risk for people who are living near LNG plants in Kitimat, Squamish, or Vancouver.

LEARN MORE: WATCH THE VIDEOS | READ THE PRESS RELEASE
MEDIA: NATIONAL OBSERVER | VISTA RADIO | ENERGI MEDIA

TAKE ACTION! Demand clean air!

The Health Officers Council of B.C. are calling for an independent cumulative assessment of the health impacts from fracking and LNG export projects. Several frontline communities including Squamish, New Westminster, Dawson Creek, Hazelton, Terrace, and the Squamish Lillooet Regional District have joined the call.

Please take a minute to send a letter to federal and provincial ministers. We need to halt LNG expansion until health impacts are studied.

LNG is not "clean" it is a dirty fossil fuel. Our governments need to act and use the levers they have to hold the LNG industry accountable for this harmful air pollution and protect public health.

Please take action to demand clean air for our communities.

Tracey Saxby

Executive Director
My Sea to Sky

My Sea to Sky and the Sunshine Coast Conservation Association are calling for the BC Energy Regulator to pause the permit amendment and investigate the discharge point as the toxic effluent is flowing into the Átl’ḵa7tsem / Howe Sound Biosphere Region.

The toxic wastewater has exceeded Federal and Provincial water quality guidelines for copper and aluminum on an almost weekly basis since December 2024. Both copper and aluminum are known to be highly toxic to marine life.

The new permit allows FortisBC to:

• Increase discharge effluent by over four times: from 1,500 m³/day to 6,815 m³/day);
• Discharge copper at levels ~18 times higher than BC Water Quality Guidelines;

Patrick Canning, legal counsel for My Sea to Sky, says: “Section 16 of the Environmental Management Act gives power to amend permits which have already been granted, but only if the amendments are ‘for the protection of the environment.’ That’s not the case here. This is about cutting costs and enabling construction timelines to benefit a mostly foreign-owned fossil fuel project.”

“Canada’s ‘clean’ LNG industry has a pipeline of pollution that runs directly into the fragile marine ecosystems of the Átl’ḵa7tsem / Howe Sound Biosphere Region. This is a clear regulatory failure. Instead of holding FortisBC accountable to the original permit, the BC Energy Regulator has allowed FortisBC to pollute even more. Two years ago, we warned the regulator that FortisBC's water treatment system for the Eagle Mountain to Woodfibre Gas Pipeline project was inadequate and that it would fail to meet requirements. FortisBC has broken its promise to halt effluent discharge from the tunnel if water quality guidelines were not being met,” says Tracey Saxby, marine scientist and executive director of My Sea to Sky.

Suzanne Senger, executive director of the Sunshine Coast Conservation Association, says; “Átl’ḵa7tsem / Howe Sound is designated as a UNESCO Biosphere Region and recognized internationally as a cultural and ecological treasure. Increasing pollutants and weakening water-quality protections violates the principles of a UNESCO Biosphere Region and risks undermining the hard-fought ecological recovery of Howe Sound. The regulator should make FortisBC stop work on the tunnel until they control the excessive flow of wastewater and upgrade the water treatment system to meet water quality guidelines.”

Note to editors: As required by the Public Notification Regulation, FortisBC did not complete the required BCER application. In lieu, FortisBC sent in a memo from a contractor to act as an application, so the BCER should never have approved this non-compliant “application.”

– 30 –

Proximity of the discharge point to Howe Sound

According to pages 13-15 of the “application,” FortisBC is discharging wastewater laden with heavy metals into a highly modified stream, a mere 170 metres upslope from Howe Sound. Less than 50 metres of the natural stream remains, the rest is an excavated channel armoured with riprap and concrete, ending in two pipes that discharge directly into Howe Sound.

FortisBC’s original permit application states that direct discharge into Howe Sound was not considered due to “anticipated concerns from First Nations and the public from discharging directly onto the marine environment; cost and schedule implications from requiring to conduct a year-long sampling program to determine background conditions of the receiving environment; and the need to develop a comprehensive mitigation and monitoring plan due to potential environmental impacts to marine ecosystems.”

Resources for Media

• Photographs and videos of FortisBC’s tunnel portal at the Woodfibre site can be accessed here.
• FortisBC’s current waste discharge permit PE-110163 can be accessed here.
• FortisBC's application to amend the permit at the Woodfibre site (and past permit applications) can be accessed here. Relevant documents are:
  • Appendix A - Project Description
  • Appendix B - Hydrometric Monitoring Plan
  • Appendix C - East Creek Hydraulics - Discharge Capacity Assessment
• FortisBC's weekly water quality testing results can be found here.

Background information

FortisBC is currently constructing the Eagle Mountain–Woodfibre Gas Pipeline to feed piped gas to the Woodfibre LNG export project in Átl’ḵa7tsem / Howe Sound. The pipeline includes a 9-km tunnel under the Skwelwil’em Squamish Estuary and Wildlife Management Area (WMA). FortisBC is tunneling through 5.2 km of granite bedrock and has encountered potentially acid-generating rock, which is what made Britannia Mine the most polluted site in North America for nearly a century.

History of acid rock drainage from the Britannia Mine

For much of the 20th century, acid rock drainage from the Britannia Mine poured massive amounts of toxic, metal-laden water into Átl’ḵa7tsem / Howe Sound. The pollution created a "dead zone" in nearby ecosystems, devastating marine life for decades. After the mine closed in 1974, it took decades of advocacy, regulatory reform, remediation, and sustained stewardship by First Nations, scientists, volunteers, and local government to clean up the mess at public expense.

About My Sea To Sky

My Sea To Sky is a people-powered environmental organization that was founded in 2014 to defend, protect, and restore Átl’ḵa7tsem / Howe Sound, www.myseatosky.org

About Sunshine Coast Conservation Association

The SCCA is a charitable non-profit society dedicated to conserving and restoring biodiversity in Howe Sound and the Sunshine Coast. We develop and lead transformative conservation campaigns to protect watersheds, ecosystems, and species through research, education, alliance-building, and advocacy in the territories of the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh, shíshálh, Tla'amin, Klahoose, and Homalco First Nations, www.thescca.ca