Vaughn Palmer: David Eby faces growing challenge reconciling LNG support, commitment to climate change
Opinion: B. C. premier can’t seriously believe he could manage a credible, cohesive government if ministers were free to break publicly with their own colleagues on major issues such as LNG development
VICTORIA — Premier David Eby was midway through a news conference on the wildfire crisis this week when he was asked about his government's commitment to fight climate change. The Green party has accused the NDP of doubling down on LNG development at a time of worsening wildfires. Had Eby abandoned climate change?"Not at all, and I think you know that," replied Eby, as if it was the reporter's job to set those irksome Greens straight about the NDP position. Just in case the media didn't know every nuance, Eby supplied his rationale for pushing LNG development in the face of the latest, combustible manifestation of climate change. "We take climate change very seriously. But we also recognize that B. C. can play a role in driving down carbon pollution around the world," he said Thursday. "Our LNG is the lowest carbon in the world because it is electrified as much as possible throughout the chain, because we have high standards around methane leakage and emissions. "The alternative is simply to allow Donald Trump to build LNG across Alaska with the lowest possible standards and ship basically out of the exact same area to the same countries while emitting more carbon and methane. "I just don't think that's a good approach," added the premier. "If the Greens want to make these points in an election campaign, then they're certainly welcome to do so. "The Greens are making those points effectively, as noted this week by Geoff Meggs, chief of staff to Eby's predecessor John Horgan. "New data from the Angus Reid Institute shows some federal Liberal party support bleeding to the federal New Democrats because of climate concerns," wrote Meggs in the Tyee online. "The reverse is the case here: The B. C. NDP is at risk of losing climate voters to the B. C. Greens. "Eby's slumping personal popularity was "good news for B. C. Green leader Emily Lowan, who expects to win environmental votes from disaffected NDP voters," Meggs argued. Nor are the Greens the only ones challenging B. C. 's enthusiasm for LNG. Meggs noted emerging divisions within Eby's own party. "The growing rift in NDP ranks was underlined July 15 by an open letter to Eby from 16 NDP luminaries, including 10 former MPs and MLAs. "The signatories didn't pull their punches: 'Once a leader on climate action, B. C. is backtracking on nearly every metric of progress. B. C. no longer has a climate plan … We are witnessing widespread capitulation to the fossil fuel industry under the guise of safeguarding our economy against U. S. threats and other geopolitical shocks. '"Then there's Kelly Greene, minister of emergency management, and — ahem — climate readiness in Eby's cabinet. When the cabinet passed an order late last month to expedite development of FortisBC's $2 billion LNG terminal at Tilbury Island, Greene went public with her "disappointment," citing safety concerns. Yet she departed from the long-standing practice, here and elsewhere, that ministers who break with their own government also resign from cabinet and take a seat on the backbench. Eby not only made light of the breach of precedent, he endorsed it. Kelly Greene is the province’s minister of emergency management and climate readiness. "Eby was himself so comfortable with Greene's stance that his office assisted her in drafting her statement," wrote Meggs. "By framing Greene's concerns as a safety matter, rather than a rejection of LNG development, the Eby team evidently hoped to minimize the focus on climate policy at the heart of the argument. "But there was no overlooking the precedent-setting nature of what Eby allowed to happen. "Unhappy MLAs who speak out against a government's direction are nothing new," as Meggs noted. "Cabinet ministers who do so with the assistance of the premier's office are an Eby innovation. ""For members of cabinet, the rules have been straightforward: You're in, or you're out. Now, perhaps, it will be possible to take a separate stand and even be sanctioned to do so," the former chief of staff speculated. Eby himself suggested as much this week. Greene was standing on the platform Thursday in her capacity as minister of emergency management. A reporter asked Eby to address her opposition to the LNG project. "There is always space for members of my government to have a conversation with me about a particular project or initiative and to be able to advocate for their communities, which is exactly what MLA Kelly Greene has done," replied Eby. "That will continue to be the case. We are a big-tent party. "Will that continue to be the case? The premier can't seriously believe he could manage a credible, cohesive government if ministers were free to break publicly with their own colleagues on major issues such as LNG development. "You know who else has a big tent?" as one reader put it recently. "The Ringling Bros, and Barnum And Bailey Circus. "vpalmer@postmedia. comRelated