In the last month, two local politicians have snarkily referred to the FortiBC lodge as a ‘man camp.’ While rejecting FortisBC’s permit application for the temporary lodge, Mayor Armand Hurford called it a ‘600-person man camp‘. On September 26, BC Greens MLA candidate Jeremy Valeriote issued a press release applauding the Squamish council’s rejection of FortisBC’s ‘man camp’.
He also lambasted Capilano University for saying that the camp “does not pose any additional risk to the University and Students Residences.” Jeremy Valerote said: “Given the extensively documented connection between industrial work camps and gender-based violence, it is remarkable that CapU is so unconcerned about risks to its students.”
Now, FortisBC has issued a statement to the media clarifying that if the council had approved it, the workforce lodge would have been open to both men and women. “The previously proposed Temporary Workforce Lodge, rejected by the District of Squamish, would have been open to a broad diversity of people, including men and women,” said Jessica Skjeveland, a corporate communications advisor with FortisBC.
She continues: “FortisBC’s workforce, including our contractors’ workforce on the Eagle Mountain – Woodfibre Gas Pipeline Project, reflects the diversity that makes British Columbia special. We are committed to building inclusive, diverse and equitable workplaces, outlined in our Statement of Principles.”
350 non-local workers living in Squamish
She also said approximately 350 non-local FortisBC workers are living in Squamish. “We are working with our contractors to develop alternate accommodation plans for our construction workforce,” she said. “Years of work went into the extensive planning and engagement that culminated in our Lodge proposal, but as the Temporary Use Permit was not approved, no Lodge construction activities have taken place. The upgrades we carried out on the Mamquam River FSR were to support construction activities in the Stawamus and Indian River Valleys and are unrelated to the Lodge.”
Skjeveland noted the plan for workforce lodge was approved by Skwxwú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation) and the BC Environmental Assessment Office in 2023, based on a comprehensive set of conditions. “We are grateful for the input we received from Indigenous Nations, local organizations, and community members who invested their time and expertise into shaping our proposal.”
She also added that the company’s construction timelines will not be impacted by this decision and said the company will move forward with alternate plans for worker accommodations. This will include utilizing local accommodations and some workers commuting from out of town during peak construction periods. “We remain committed to working with the community to reduce impacts as best we can,” she added.
The company is currently reviewing the conditions of the District of Squamish concerning the Temporary Laydown Yard.
