PARTNERS IN PROGRESS FOR THE FUTURE
Northern Gateway working with communities to ensure economic benefits
When Michele Perret started her community outreach program in northern British Columbia in 2005, the regional economy was in big trouble. The pine beetle infestation was sweeping in, destroying vast stretches of forest. Sawmills were shutting down and laying off workers as timber supplies disappeared. Northern communities feared for their futures.
It soon became clear to Perret that jobs and economic development were a top priority to get the region back on its feet. As director of aboriginal and community engagement for the Northern Gateway Project, she and her team have spent almost 10 years talking to people across northern B.C., and her initial assessment has been confirmed over and over again.
After 37 open houses, 12 technical meetings, three public forums and more than 450 community presentations, Perret has a very good feel for what the communities want and need — economic development that both protects the environment and provides long-term stable employment.
“Unless you are in the region for any length of time, it’s difficult to imagine just how devastating the pine beetle has been,” says Perret. “Since starting our work in 2005, we’ve heard time and again that jobs, skills training, business opportunities and investment are top priorities for the communities, but also that people want to make sure we are doing everything we can to protect our environment,” she adds.
“At Northern Gateway we are working to build a safer, better pipeline that will meet the highest environmental standards while also bringing jobs and economic activity back to the region.”
Getting that message out to the communities has been Perret’s priority, and not just talking to people about the project, but also listening.
“We are making a huge effort to bein the communities and to make ourselves available,” she says. “We have talked to thousands of people about this project— and listened to even more.”
Perret’s team has been actively engaged in helping people understand not only the Northern Gateway Project, but also the pipeline industry as a whole. She’s spoken at length about the economic benefits the industry will bring for aboriginal and non-Aboriginal communities, and the measures being taken to protect the environment.
“We’ve found that many people are not very familiar with the oil and gas sector in general and pipelines in particular,” she says. “It’s been 60 years since the last pipeline was built in this region.”
Butthe primary focus of Perret’s program is grassroots communications. Her team spends most of its time in communities, hosting lunches and open houses, raising funds for local charities and other non-profits, and going door-todoor to hear from local residents.
“We know that many people don’t have the time to attend meetings, so we make it as convenient as possible for them to let us know their thoughts and ask questions about our project,” says Perret.
Based on what they’ve heard, the team has laid the foundations for some of the programs that Northern Gateway is developing for communities in the region. One of those examples is the skills development initiative, which has responded to community concerns by looking well beyond simply creating short-term jobs.
Catherine Pennington, Northern Gateway’s senior manager of community benefits and sustainability, says it became clear at the start of the company’s outreach program that communities want to be fully included in the project. She said it was also clear they want opportunities for employment beyond the construction phase so that they don’t go through another boom and bust.
“Northern Gateway is one of several major projects planned for northern B.C., so there should be strong demand for labour in the region over the next few years,” she says.
“Butit’s the years after construction that the communities are concerned about, which is why they want to be included in operations and not just construction.”
Pennington says Northern Gateway has responded by making investments in career counselling, workshops and youth leadership programs. Northern Gateway has also partnered with training colleges, community service agencies and employers to expand skills development opportunities for local residents.
She said the programs have already benefitted more than 1,800 people, including 1,000 people across British Columbia, adding Northern Gateway takes a different approach in each community based on the specific needs and requirements.
“Our approach has been to develop programs that meet each community’s specific needs,” she explains. “Every step of the way, our programs have been driven by what the community tells us is best for their interests, goals and values.”
The most recent program was launched in 2011 with the establishment of a $1.5-million fund. Since then it has been increased to $3-million and attracted an additional $2-million in government, industry and community funding. To date, that fund has supported 60 programs with an additional 45 planned for 2014.
Some of the programs this fund has supported include training programs for women welders, environmental technicians and a program for marine skills training. Northern Gateway has also supported a shop class improvement fund offered in collaboration with the British Columbia Construction Association.
In keeping with Northern Gateway’s commitment to ensuring that job training translates to employment, Pennington says the company is making a concerted effort to connect trainees with potential employers.
“It’s one thing to provide the training, but trainees often also need assistance in taking the next step, which is to find a job and feel comfortable in the labourmarket,” she says.
To help with that, Northern Gateway has established a comprehensive regional skills and business database where individuals can upload information about the skills theyhave to offer, and where employers can post upcoming job vacancies that need to be filled.
Pennington acknowledges there will be strong competition for skilled workers as the planned projects in northern B.C. move closer to construction, but says Northern Gateway is committed to working with other organizations to share labour and resources.
“There are some good examples from other major resource and infrastructure projects of how cooperation can be achieved in a way that meets the needs of companies undertaking the projects and the communities where they are being constructed,” she says.
The developments planned for northern B.C. are an opportunity for companies to make meaningful, long-lasting contributions to the future of the region, adds Pennington.
“At Northern Gateway, for example, we are raising the bar from old-style corporate engagement to a new way of creating programs and partnerships that will lead to healthy, sustainablecommunities,” she says.
As part of its commitment, Northern Gateway has already established aggressive Aboriginal inclusion targets based on community interests and local demographics.
These include 15% aboriginal inclusion during construction; 10% long-term aboriginal inclusion in the operational phase of the project; and business participation targets for goods and services procurement of more than $300-million.
These same commitments will be expected of contractors working with Northern Gateway. “We wanted to do more than what is typically done in communities that get new infrastructure projects,” explains Pennington.
“Sowe are exploring howpeople can use the skills they acquire in ways that last well beyond the construction of our project. That way they will contribute to the long-term economic sustainability of the region.”