Tuesday, September 10, 2024

A Home Away from Home

Members working on the Woodfibre LNG project have moved from a work camp to a “floatel” after a protracted political battle

Guide Magazine

The issue of housing hundreds of workers who are building the Woodfibre LNG plant in Squamish, BC, was finally settled in June after weeks of debate and delay. Last year, after many Squamish residents expressed fears of having a large influx of temporary workers flooding their community, Woodfibre made plans for a cruise ship, or “floatel,” to house more than 600 of the project’s tradespeople. Many of these are hard-working CLAC members from across Canada.

The floatel was the housing model approved by the BC Environmental Assessment Office and Squamish Nation government. But it hit a roadblock in April when Squamish municipal council refused to issue a temporary use permit to anchor the ship in Howe Sound.

CLAC quickly launched a petition campaign to have council reconsider its decision. Without the floatel, members were spending several hours a day commuting to and from the site by boat from Vancouver, where temporary quarters were cramped and uncomfortable. Members, their families, and concerned citizens across Canada all took part in the campaign, sending letters to Squamish councillors.

Early in June, council decided the issue needed further study and referred it back to staff to gather more information. Woodfibre LNG was dismayed by yet another delay.

“It is concerning that district council seems to be trying to delay the temporary zoning authorization for an already-approved workforce housing solution that will accommodate 652 workers outside the community while simultaneously asserting the possibility of ‘cumulative impacts’ on housing,” a company news release stated. “Any such impacts would be the direct result of council inaction.”

Even local media scolded councillors. In a June 13 editorial, the Squamish Chief observed, “The resistance by some on council to the Woodfibre LNG floatel temporary use permit (TUP) is akin to folks standing around while a baby is being born, debating the merits of a pregnancy. The baby is on its way, folks.”

The editorial pointed out that the floatel option addressed all of the original worries about the project.

“Has the group applying met the standards that are equally and fairly applied to all those who submit such an application? If so, we need the TUP passed and the floatel in operation so that hundreds of workers can have a decent place to sleep while they earn their living. The community and council asked for a solution for workers that was not in town; this is it. They will be kept on a boat seven kilometres away.”

In mid-June, the BC Environmental Assessment Agency stepped in and ordered Woodfibre LNG to move its vessel to the approved area in Howe Sound. The agency said the project carries a requirement that any workers who didn’t live in Squamish before September 20, 2023, must reside on the floatel. Following the order, Woodfibre LNG withdrew from the municipality’s permit process but said that it was still willing to work with council on next steps.

The MV Isabelle X, a Croatian-built former cruise ship that underwent a $100 million renovation, sailed into Howe Sound on June 21, and workers finally began moving into their new and much-improved accommodations.

Sources: CBC, CityNews, Squamish Chief, Squamish Reporter, Vancouver Sun

A Home Away from Home

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