Coastal GasLink reduces workforce
Coastal GasLink says it has reduced its workforce in northern B.C. by two thirds over the last month and that the decline is continuing next week.
There were 1,200 people working on the pipeline project in February, which had been cutback to 400 by March 20. The decrease will continue ahead of the spring thaw and as winter construction is completed, the company said.
“To ensure our construction footprint is safe and secure during the spring thaw, we will continue to employ residents and local contractors to perform critical activities, including environmental monitoring, pipe delivery and stockpile,” the company said in a statement.
“Local contractors will undertake some off right-of-way site preparation and maintenance as the spring thaw does not impact it.”
In northeast B.C., just under 70 per cent of the 670-kilometre Coastal GasLink route had been cleared as of March 19, according to the company website. Progress west of Prince George varied from zero per cent on section seven from south of Houston to north of Morice Lake, to 38 per cent on section six from south of Burns Lake to south of Houston, to 66 per cent on section eight from north of Morice Lake to Kitimat to 83 per cent on section five from north of Vanderhoof to south of Burns Lake to 98 per cent on section four from north of Prince George to north of Vanderhoof.
With spring breakup around the corner, the company expects a significantly lower workforce to be onsite before resuming clearing and beginning pipe installation this summer.
Smaller crews will be at work along the route and ensuring that workers and nearby communities are safe through its COVID-19 protection measures, said Coastal GasLink.
This includes having workers who are considered non-essential working from home instead. It also is continuing to work with provincial and local authorities on COVID-19 management.
As construction activities change and the size of its teams fluctuate, Coastal GasLink will continue to primarily employ B.C. workers, with 25 per cent of them from Indigenous communities.