HAZELTON, B.C. – TransCanada Corporation announced this morning that it has signed an agreement with twelve hereditary Gitxsan Nation chiefs regarding the Prince Rupert Gas Transmission project.

The agreement outlines economic and employment benefits as well as other commitments that will be provided for as long as the project is in service.

“This agreement is the product of our engagement with the Gitxsan hereditary leadership. This comprehensive agreement provides long-term economic benefits, jobs, contracting opportunities and information sharing throughout the life of the project,” said Tony Palmer, Prince Rupert Gas Transmission president. “A lot of hard work and compromise went into this agreement, and it reflects our desire to work cooperatively with the Gitxsan,” said Palmer.

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Hereditary Chief Geel (Catherine Blackstock) said the agreement is important to the economic health of northern B.C., “I envision this as a great opportunity for all Gitxsan and community people to revitalize employment in our economically depressed upper Skeena region.”

The announcement means that Prince Rupert Gas Transmission has now signed project agreements with thirteen First Nations, including: Blueberry River, Doig River, and Halfway River First Nations.

The $5 billion Prince Rupert Gas Transmission project would see a 900-kilometre natural gas pipeline built from Hudson’s Hope to the proposed Pacific NorthWest LNG facility at Lelu Island, off the coast of Port Edward, near Prince Rupert.