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Photo by Richard Lam / PNG

Trudeau said providing Asia with natural gas will help many countries kick their coal habit, and shows Canada’s commitment to combating the problem of climate change by driving down emissions worldwide.

“Climate change knows no borders, and as we reduce and replace coal plants around the world, LNG, done properly, done responsibly, here in British Columbia and across Western Canada, that’s good news for all of us,” he said.

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“These are the kind of steps we need to take to demonstrate that we are thoughtful about where the world is going and that we are doing it responsibly. And that Canada is a part of it.”

Trudeau said the project will create 10,000 jobs and strengthen communities in B.C.’s north. He added that the project will not face trade barriers.

“Trade barriers will not be an impediment moving forward on this project. There are specialized components that need to be imported, but there will also be a lot of Canadian steel used in the construction of this plant,” said Trudeau.

At the news conference, LNG president Andy Calitz confirmed Canada is “immediately today” moving into construction of the project.

Horgan said the $40-billion investment by LNG Canada shows B.C.’s future can balance economic opportunity and job creation with forward-looking environmental action that meets the province’s climate-action goals.

“British Columbians want a future that brings opportunities for them and their kids in the communities they call home, while living up to our responsibilities to guarantee clean air, land and water for the generations that follow,” he said. “Ours is a province of unlimited potential, and the responsibility of this generation of British Columbians is to make decisions that embrace and preserve that potential.”