The Environmental Assessment Office (EAO) and Squamish Nation have approved FortisBC’s application to increase the workforce lodge footprint for the Eagle Mountain – Woodfibre Gas Pipeline (EGP) Project. The approval will see the footprint increase from two hectare to seven hectares.
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“This five-hectare increase enables us to house non-local workers in the Squamish area at the lodge site, which directly responds to community feedback on reducing pressure on local housing, services, and traffic,” FortisBC said in a statement.
As a condition of EAO approval, all non-local workers in Squamish must stay at the lodge, except under certain conditions. Submitted as an amendment to existing environmental approvals from both the EAO and Skwxwú7mesh Úxwumixw, the lodge will house an average of 300 workers over the course of the project, with numbers peaking at approximately 600 workers in the summer of 2025.
The EAO notes that during the operations of the camp, FortisBC must: a) make accommodation available at the construction camp for all project workers, b) not provide rental housing or a housing allowance to Project Workers, and c) subject to conditions, require Project Workers to reside at the construction camp while working at the Project.
As part of another condition, FortisBC has also taken steps to establish a Gender and Cultural Safety Plan, which will be developed in consultation with Squamish Nation, the District of Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh Nation.
Some additional initiatives FortisBC has identified and will establish to support the safety of vulnerable peoples and the broader community include:
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A Worker Code of Conduct. Workers found to be in breach of this code will be removed from the EGP worksite;
Mandatory cultural awareness orientation, including on topics regarding harassment and bullying;
A Squamish Nation Elder in Residence at the Lodge;
Prohibiting the possession, consumption, or distribution of intoxicants of any kind by a worker on, or when travelling to or from, an EGP Project site;
24-hour security and no unauthorized visitors;
Regular communication with Indigenous nations, stakeholders and the public to collect feedback and address concerns;
Ensuring a focus on mental health, both through health and wellness programming, and social and recreational offerings at the lodge;
A confidential 24/7 reporting line for residents to bring forward concerns of worker behaviour in the community. A separate confidential line will be provided for residents of the lodge to bring forward concerns of bullying or harassment
The final step before lodge construction will be to secure a Temporary Use Permit from the District of Squamish. Fortis applied for this permit in December 2022, and anticipate a decision from the District in early 2024.
