Dr. Eoin Finn, an expert in international business and a leading Woodfibre LNG opponent, spoke to the independent Coast Clarion and said, “The fight is nearly over.”

This was a project that Christy Clark’s Liberals hoped to promote in the May election as proof their LNG strategy was not constructed with glitter glue and puffballs. Postmedia, a partner of the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers, reported Premier Clark’s words:

This is the first of 20 projects that are in the pipeline somewhere to go forward so far, and I’m just delighted to say that LNG in British Columbia is finally becoming a reality.

Its convenient proximity to the city, ensured that any Woodfibre photo op attracted city-bound media along with a host of Liberal MLAs and nameless party apparatchiks. But, there may have been darker reasons that explain how a convicted, big league tax avoider and destroyer of tropical jungles gained special treatment from British Columbia’s government.

At TheBreaker.news, indefatigable investigator Bob Mackin reported:

Woodfibre LNG donated $79,500 to the BC Liberals from 2014 to 2016, including $5,000 just 11 days after the eDrive announcement. [Country manager for Woodfibre Byng] Giraud gave $48,964.36 since 2006. Two of Giraud’s 2016 Liberal donations ($10,225, Sept. 30 and $3,050, Nov. 30) bookended the period that included Coleman’s meeting with Tanoto and the eDrive decision. Natural gas supplier FortisBC and its predecessor, Terasen, donated $327,487.79 between 2005 and 2016.

Economists write papers on the circular flow of income but they don’t include the flow between politicians, businesses and the public treasury. In BC, it is commonplace.

Eoin Finn may have explained how Woodfibre can afford to pay both lobbyists and Liberals.

BC Hydro pays Woodfibre $1.7 million a year for electricity generated at the site. It’s a small independent power producer (IPP); water from a lake up top powers a small turbine.

I think it is a take or pay: whether Woodfibre gives electricity to BC Hydro or not, BC Hydro is on the hook for $1.7 million a year. It allows Woodfibre to pay their staff out of what is essentially an ongoing gift from BC Hydro.

BC Hydro pays Woodfibre $158 per megawatt hour, about twice the rate to break even. But last November, it was announced that Woodfibre will be able to buy electricity from BC Hydro for $54 per megawatt hour.

If correct, and BC Hydro’s FIA report supports the amount, that payment of nearly 16¢ a KWh is almost 50% more than the average paid other IPPs and six (yes, 6) times the price at which BC sells the Canadian Entitlement from downstream benefits of Columbia river dams.

The price BC Hydro pays Woodfibre for power is also three times what BC Hydro would charge Woodfibre to liquefy what would probably be royalty-free, subsidized natural gas.

If you are an observer grown cynical – like the writer – you may wonder what secret benefits are to be found in the circular flow of income between Government, leaders of the governing party of British Columbia from 2001 to 2017 and the companies they purport to regulate. 

Sukanto Tanoto & luxury housing expert Rich Coleman holding LNG documents Government refuses to release to the public.

Are illegal donations from Woodfibre LNG linked to political favours?, Tracey Saxby (Co-Founder of My Sea to Sky), Dogwood BC