Ellis Ross, the chief councillor for the Haisla First Nation and ardent supporter of a liquefied natural gas industry, has been appointed the B.C. Liberal candidate for Skeena by Premier Christy Clarke and the B.C. Liberal Party.
Ross’s appointment was announced Monday September 12.
Ross is among the First Nations leaders in B.C. who have wholeheartedly supported the development of an LNG industry. He and his people have opposed the Northern Gateway pipeline proposal, however.
In Kitimat, the Haisla have struck a number of partnerships on LNG projects, all of which have either stalled or been delayed, including Shell’s multi-billion dollar LNG Canada project.
Last month, he told Business in Vancouver he thinks an LNG industry will develop in B.C. but that it will be delayed until LNG prices recover.
The Haisla also have partnership agreements with Rio Tinto, which recently undertook a massive multi-billion dollar expansion to its aluminum smelter in Kitimat.
“My life’s work has been getting First Nations to the table with industry and government, so that all British Columbians can benefit from economic development,” Ross said in a press release.
“I’ve done everything I can as Chief Councillor. Now I want to do everything I can in the Legislature to make sure we are sending a strong message to the world: Northwest B.C. is open for business and our communities, Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal alike, are ready to welcome good jobs and investment.”
Ross was first elected to band council in 2003, was elected chief councillor in 2011 and re-elected in 2013.
Read BIV’s 2012 profile of Ross here .
