The District of Squamish has formally requested that the federal and provincial governments carry out an independent health impact assessment of communities affected by British Columbia’s gas and LNG industry.
In a letter dated June 26, Mayor Armand Hurford asked Health Canada Minister Marjorie Michel and BC Health Minister Josie Osborne to work together on a study examining the cumulative health effects of gas industry activity.
Council said the request follows correspondence from residents and health professionals, and echoes a resolution passed by the Health Officers Council of BC in November 2025 calling for a comprehensive, independently conducted assessment that accounts for cumulative impacts and is informed by Indigenous contexts.
As a community with major industrial development currently under construction, the Mayor said the District understands both the economic significance of these projects and the community impacts that come with them. While municipalities are not the primary regulators of LNG infrastructure, the letter states that local governments have a responsibility to advocate for transparent, evidence-based decision-making by senior levels of government.
The Mayor’s letter says a cumulative health impact assessment would give a broader understanding of how multiple industrial activities affect communities and regional health outcomes over time.The letter notes that such a review should be “independent, science-based, and grounded in credible public health expertise,” with findings meant to inform policy, mitigation measures, emergency planning, and community protection strategies.
The letter said the goal is to ensure governments, regulators, Indigenous Nations, industry, and communities all have access to the best available information as they make long-term decisions affecting people and places across BC.
