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Squamish council on the Woodfibre LNG plant

As of , Woodfibre LNG is building its gas export plant, which council cannot stop, and its worker run on a two year permit council approved in July 2025.

Woodfibre LNG is building a gas export plant on Howe Sound, about 7 km from downtown. Senior governments and the Squamish Nation approved it. Council did not, and cannot stop it. What council does control is local: permits for worker housing (the ‘floatel’ and workers’ lodges), rules on traffic, noise and safety, and how hard it presses the Province to enforce the plant’s conditions. In April 2024 council refused the floatel permit 4–3; the Province overrode it, and in July 2025 council approved a two-year permit 5–2. How the plant is taxed is a separate question: see Taxes and spending.

What council is doing now

The background

Woodfibre LNG is building a liquefied natural gas export plant on Howe Sound about 7 km from downtown, fed by a new FortisBC pipeline; it was approved by senior governments and the Squamish Nation, not by council, and remains divisive locally. Council's real levers are land-use permits (such as the '' worker housing) and how the plant is taxed. The biggest recent decision was a proposed 10 year deal under which Woodfibre would have paid the District at least $142 million from 2027 in exchange for a fixed, much lower municipal tax bill, and would have dropped its lawsuits over 2025 and 2026 taxes. On Sept.

22, 2026 council rejected it 5 to 2, so the question for the new council is whether to go back for a new deal. This is really two separate arguments. One is about the plant itself. The other is about money: supporters of the deal value predictable revenue and an end to litigation, while critics, including several people now on council who support the plant, said the District might be giving up revenue and that the decision was rushed.

The Woodfibre tax deal: what each choice means

Update, Sept. 22: council said no, 5–2 (Stoner, Hamilton and Pettingill against; Andersen and French for). The new council could still negotiate a new deal, so where each member stands still matters. Squamish Reporter

This is a question about money. It is not a vote for or against the plant, which is already being built, and candidates who support the plant are on both sides of it.

If council says yes

  • At least $142 million over 10 years, fixed in advance: about $14.2 million a year on average, with the biggest payments in the first five years.
  • The court cases end. Woodfibre drops its three legal actions over the 2025 and 2026 tax rates, with no refunds.
  • No risk from the Province or appeals. The amount holds even if the Province caps tax rates or the plant’s assessed value drops.
  • But it can’t go up. Most of the money doesn’t rise with inflation, it can only be spent on building projects, and it stays the same if the plant expands.

If council says no

  • Squamish still gets paid. Woodfibre keeps paying normal property tax every year. It paid $7.7 million in 2026 with the plant only part-built.
  • How much is unknown. Staff estimate $9 million to $29 million a year once the plant is finished, depending on the tax rate council sets. Today’s rate is about four times the B.C. average, and the District says keeping it that high for 10 years “would be unusual”.
  • The court cases go ahead, and the Province could cap the tax rate (as it does for ports and utilities) or change how LNG plants are valued.
  • A new council could try for a better deal. Nothing guarantees a new offer, and one could not start before 2028.

District staff say normal taxes “could be either higher or lower” than the deal and make no recommendation. District of Squamish: questions and answers on the deal.

Key facts

Agree or disagree?

Where each council member lands on this statement, from their own questionnaire answers or their public record. Tap a name for the detail.

“The District should use its permit powers to press Woodfibre LNG on local impacts, even if that means delays or legal fights.”

What does this mean?

What council can actually do: It cannot stop the Woodfibre LNG plant; senior governments approved it and it is being built. Council controls local permits, such as the floating worker housing (the “floatel”) and workers’ lodges, plus local rules on traffic, noise and safety, and it can press the Province to enforce the plant’s conditions.

In 2024 council refused the permit for Woodfibre’s floating worker housing 4–3; the Province overrode it, and Woodfibre is now suing over the delay. The other view: approve permits promptly and work with the company. The tax deal is a separate question.

Strongly agree
Somewhat agree
Neutral / mixed
Strongly disagree
  • Sean Easton (mayor) Somewhat agrees

    “Woodfibre is here to stay - we need to use every tool available to ensure we protect our people's health, our air and water quality, and leave a meaningful legacy to Squamish.”

  • Janice DesJardins In the middle

    “We need to be reasonable.”

  • Sarah Ellis In the middle

    “My expectation is that WLNG is accountable to all levels of government with regular reporting and responsiveness to concerns. I expect WLNG to help pay for the District’s 10-year capital plan either through taxation or a fair tax deal, and have not seen enough analysis to be convinced that the current tax deal in front of Council achieves this.”

  • Luc Perreault Strongly disagrees

    “I would have supported the agreement because I want the District to have a strong, workable relationship with Woodfibre LNG. That relationship should be respectful, accountable, and built on clear expectations from both sides. Whether people support the project or not, the reality is that if the facility operates successfully, it will be part of our community for decades. I believe we can often achieve more through constructive engagement and partnership than through constant conflict and litigation. A stable relationship creates opportunities for ongoing dialogue about community benefits, infrastructure investments, local employment, environmental accountability, and other issues that matter to residents. That doesn't mean giving anyone a free pass. It means holding partners accountable while working together toward outcomes that benefit Squamish. My preference is to build relationships that are firm but respectful, because I believe that approach is more likely to deliver long-term benefits for our community than continued uncertainty and legal disputes.”

  • Laura Prosko Didn’t pick an answer

    “The question does not make sense without addressing Council’s relationship with Woodfibre LNG and the need to renegotiate an agreement that delivers greater long-term financial benefits to Squamish.”

  • Shaun Veltkamp Strongly agrees

    “Without question we need to meet Woodfibre LNG with a strong business tone. They are slated to make 8+ BILLION over 15 years after they pay down their capital costs, and are now trying to push back against our heavy industry mill rate. We will then be sucking back their emissions with the strong inflow we have daily in Squamish. We need a FAIR deal in Squamish and that will be informed by data based on all comparables. It's very easy for them to dangle a large number in front of everyone and expect people to be blinded by that... it's a smart business move on their part. We need to have a smart business move in return and push for strong value in return, not leave millions on the table.”

Comments they added when answering our questionnaire during the campaign, unedited.

What each council member has said

The mayor first, then council, in alphabetical order. Our summary of the public record; tap [source] to check it.

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