The Woodfibre LNG project—and the associated proposal for a workcamp—is one of the most critical issues the District of Squamish council will face because of the potential impacts on housing, healthcare access and on human rights. I urge them to prioritize the needs of this community and the planet and vote “no” to providing a Temporary Use Permit for FortisBC’s workcamp.
Squamish already faces a severe housing shortage and has a limited amount of developable land. As of 2022, the vacancy rate for purpose-built rental housing remained below 1%, and nearly 7,000 new homes will be needed in the next seven years to support this growing community. Building a temporary camp for visiting workers is not a productive use of developable land that could otherwise be used to address the housing shortage by building permanent homes for residents.
A workcamp would also add further strain to the already overwhelmed healthcare system. Because of the high cost of housing coupled with limited availability, Vancouver Coastal Health is navigating a “staffing crisis” as they struggle to recruit and retain staff.
While FortisBC has stated they have plans to provide first aid to workers, as well as an on-site clinic area for health and medical services, no concrete information has been provided on what services the clinic will provide. But, as a temporary clinic, it will likely not be equipped to provide emergency or trauma services, resulting in workers using the already strained resources at VCH in many cases.
Councillors must reject the FortisBC workcamp to stop further destabilization for housing, healthcare and human safety.
Kirsten Westeinde
Squamish
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