When it comes to major infrastructure projects such as pipelines, much is made about the need of project proponents to obtain “social licence.” This is generally seen as the need to gain support for a project from the people who live in or near the project’s location.

During last year’s federal election, the Liberals stated: “While governments grant permits for resource development, only communities can grant permission.” But as critics have pointed out, who decides when social licence is granted?

Which brings us to Fort St. John in British Columbia’s Peace River region where an experiment in demonstrating social licence is unfolding.

Fort St. John has long been the hub for BC’s natural gas sector, servicing the gas fields and assorted pipelines that feed natural gas to homes and businesses across the province. It is to BC’s natural gas industry what Fort McMurray is to Alberta’s oil sands.

But the collapse in oil and gas prices battered Fort St. John as jobs dried up and unemployment soared. Now the community is looking at BC’s proposed liquefied natural gas industry as a source of future prosperity. In particular, they want the feds to approve the Petronas-backed Pacific Northwest LNG project, a $36 billion export terminal planned for near Prince Rupert that would source its natural gas from the Peace region surrounding Fort St. John.

However, the PNW LNG project is snarled in regulatory red tape, awaiting an environmental certificate and approval by the federal Liberal cabinet.

Rather than quietly waiting for Ottawa’s decision, Fort St. John residents are coming together, boldly and loudly declaring their support for PNW LNG - in effect granting social licence.

It began with the formation of a group, FSJ for LNG, a Facebook page, and a truck rally in March that featured more than 600 hundred trucks adorned with signs and placards in support of LNG development parading down the Alaska Highway. They followed that up with additional public rallies including one in April attended by BC Premier Christy Clark. Now they plan to travel to Ottawa, along with supporters from Fort Nelson and Prince Rupert, to deliver a petition supporting LNG development and reinforce the community support.

Local politicians are also on side. Fort St. John Mayor Lori Ackerman travelled to Ottawa with a group of Northern BC mayors in April, meeting with key Liberal ministers to make the case for a BC LNG industry. FSJ for LNG has the support of Liberal MLA Pat Pimm and Tory MP Bob Zimmer.

The FSJ for LNG organizers say they need to make their voices heard; they need to show Ottawa the community supports and wants the proposed LNG projects.

"It's about time the federal decision makers hear the voice of the unemployed here in Fort St. John and northern B.C." FSJ for LNG organizer Alan Yu recently told Alaska Highway News.

But they face a formidable challenge as many of the well-funded environmental activists are campaigning hard to ensure the project doesn’t go ahead. The fear is Ottawa will listen to the anti-fossil fuel activists, not the people working and living in Northern BC.

In the polarized debate on energy projects, is the civic activism of Fort St. John now required for rural communities wanting natural resource projects? Are there lessons here for other resource-based communities in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Northern Ontario and Atlantic Canada? Do New Brunswick communities need to mount similar campaigns in support of the Energy East pipeline?

With Fort St. John showing its support for LNG, it appears the social licence is there. The question is, will Justin Trudeau and his cabinet listen?

- Dean Pelkey is a Vancouver-based communications consultant.