Squamish LNG opponents stage Howe Sound protest

About 300 people gathered in Squamish,B.C., Sunday to protesta planned liquefied natural gas terminal in HoweSound.

The protesters described the gathering as a prayerservicefor the area waterways, which they say could be harmed bythe $1.6-billion Woodfibre LNG project.

"Sure if all goes as planned maybe there is no risk but we all know it never goes like that," said organizer Charlene Williams. "It never happens, the smallest mistake can cause big destruction, and it's just not worth the risk."

The event was organized by two groups, My Sea to Sky and Skwomesh Action.

The terminal is to be located on an old mill site atHowe Sound.

• WoodfibreLNG plant one step closer to reality with First Nations support, says premier

Construction is expected to begin next year, and Premier Christy Clark has said the project will start shipping gasto Asian markets in 2020.

The project has drawn criticismsince it was first proposed.Some Indigenous and environmental groups say theproposed facility will damage the Howe Sound environment, will hurt tourismand doesn't fit into the future of Squamish.

AtSunday's gathering, protesters said they feared increased tanker traffic could threaten marine life. Some said they would be willing to set up protest camps next year.

The protest came a day after thousands of people marched through Vancouver to protest the planned expansion to the Kinder Morgan Trans Mountain pipeline.

"This is not simply an Indigenous issue this is an issue of our time," said Grand Chief Stewart Phillip with the Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs in Squamishon Sunday.

The federal government will make a decisionby Dec. 19 on whether to allowthatcompanyto twin its existingpipeline, whichcarries bitumen from Alberta's oil sands to the Vancouver harbour.

With files from Deborah Goble and The Canadian Press

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