Woodfibre LNG taxes
Below is what I said in my comments during debate at the Special Meeting of District of Squamish Council on September 22, 2026 followed by a few additional notes.
The folks at My Sea to Sky reduced this vote to what, for me, is THE question.
“How much should Woodfibre LNG pay in taxes?”
I’ve been struggling with this question for a long time.
People I respect are encouraging us to vote no, including former mayors Corinne Lonsdale, Patricia Heintzman and Karen Elliott.
I wrote two versions of these speaking notes, one supporting the agreement and one against.
This isn’t an easy decision for me.
I never expected we’d get to this vote because I believed the proponent and District negotiators were given an impossible task. Those negotiators came to terms they felt they could bring back to the people they report to. My expectation was that the negotiators would simply recommend moving forward with the traditional property taxation system that sets tax rates based on assessed value and a mill rate.
Well, here we are, in a place I didn’t expect to be.
We’re not going back to the bargaining table. The proponent has provided their final offer. That’s what’s in front of us right now.
How much should Woodfibre LNG pay in taxes? It’s the amounts set out in this mindfully negotiated agreement.
I’m voting against this motion because there’s no better agreement out there.
ADDITIONAL THOUGHTS
Note that I wasn’t calling the negotiated agreement a ‘deal’ because this wan’t meant to be a tax discount for the proponent. Both sides gave stuff up to finalize the agreement.
Do I wish the income from that site is higher than what is presented in the negotiated agreement?
Sure I do.
If not the agreement with front ended payments to help us fund much needed major community improvements, how does Squamish get a better deal?
First, reopening the negotiations is moving the goalposts. This isn't how negotiations work.
We’ll go through the ‘regular’ tax collection system used with almost every other property taxpayer.
There are many factors in that scenario that aren’t control resides elsewhere. BC Assessment sets the property value, we have no say in that value determination. We also have no control over what Woodfibre LNG does when the mill rate is set to determine each year how much the property tax invoice will be for the property owner. If the landowner doesn't like the mill rate and the invoice amount they may decide to file yet another legal challenge.
The relationship between the company and the district needs to be reset. If I'm given the privilege of a third term on council this will be something I'll push for. The next council needs to understand that Squamish is in the early years of what is expected to be a decades-long relationship with Woodfibre LNG. Getting our differences out of the courts has benefits for everyone. I have what it takes to improve this relationship and I need a group of council members with open minds to reset this relationship.
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