Stronger Together: Six Indigenous-led companies sign agreements with prime contractor Michels Canada to build Section 6
Indigenous participation is foundational to Coastal GasLink’s extraordinary legacy. We are excited to further strengthen our project as we proudly announce the formation of a collaboration that will deliver lasting benefits and opportunities for Indigenous and local communities in B.C.
Michels Canada has formalized agreements with economic development corporations from Atsiyan Services LP (Stellat’en First Nation), Kyah Devlopment Corporation. (Witset First Nation), Yinka Dene Economic Development Limited Partnership (Wet’suwet’en First Nation), Natanlii Development Corporation (Skin Tyee Nation), Hunust’ot’en Investment Corporation (Nee Tahi Buhn Band) and Ts’il Kaz Koh Development Corporation (Ts’il Kaz Koh First Nation) to further advance construction from south of Burns Lake to south of Houston in Section 6.
Yinka Dene Economic Development Limited Partnership
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Coastal GasLink is excited and proud that all Prime contractors since late 2020, have now signed agreements with Indigenous communities in whose territories they are operating including, Ledcor (Haisla), OJ Pipelines (Witset, WFN, Skin Tyee), Macro (Nadleh Whut’en) and Michels (Stellat’en, TKK, Witset, WFN, Skin Tyee and Nee Tahi Buhn).
“Nearly ten years ago we committed to building a project that would benefit local communities and workers while respecting the environment. This collaboration is another foundational building block in support of this legacy that we are developing hand in hand with Indigenous communities,” said Sonya Kirby, VP of Project Delivery, Coastal GasLink. “Together, we are leading the way in terms of how energy projects are developed in Canada, with meaningful Indigenous involvement.”
Coastal GasLink and its primes have awarded subcontracts valued at more than $1.5 billion to Indigenous and local businesses. Outcomes like these, including the earlier announcement to sell 10% equity in the project to Indigenous communities, are critical examples of our commitment to support and advance economic reconciliation.
“We are excited to participate in creating a lasting legacy in the Indigenous communities in which we are operating while constructing Coastal GasLink,” says John Hunt, Michels Canada Director of Coastal GasLink. “Our strategic agreements with these six nations is reflective of our core values and desire to advance reconciliation by creating meaningful contracting and employment opportunities and contributing to those communities in an impactful way.”
Prime contractors continue to provide hiring opportunities for Indigenous workers across the Project who are gaining experience on one of the largest and most complex projects in Canadian history – experience that will endure long after project completion to support a skilled local workforce who can participate in other projects and employment in the region.
With overall project progress at more than 80% complete, Coastal GasLink is closing in on the day when construction is finished and the benefits of our extraordinary legacy support a sustainable future for Indigenous and local communities, and those around the world for decades to come.