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VICTORIA — It was a day when Premier John Horgan said “I cannot stop smiling … a spectacular day for all British Columbians.”

The date was Oct. 2, 2018, and Horgan was sharing a public platform with the prime minister, industry leaders and others to celebrate the decision by Shell and partners to green light the $40 billion LNG Canada project.

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Right then and there, Horgan declared that along with the record-setting investment and other benefits, the project had met NDP government standards for dealing with First Nations.

“Large natural gas development projects may proceed only if First Nations are consulted and treated as partners within their territories,” declared the New Democrats by press release.

“With the extraordinary steps LNG Canada is taking to partner with First Nations, this project can be made real as we recognize Indigenous rights,” added Horgan himself.

The background papers detailed benefit agreements with some 20 First Nations whose traditional territories included the LNG terminal site in Kitimat and the route of the pipeline linking the project to the natural gas fields in northeastern B.C.