FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions
Outlined below are answers to additional questions you may have about the First Nations Limited Partnership and its role with respect to the Pacific Trail Pipelines project. If your question isn’t covered here, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us via the Contact Us page.
Pacific Trail Pipelines Project
What is the current status of the Pacific Trail Pipelines Project?
Enbridge, as owner of the Pacific Trail Pipelines project is maintaining statutory obligations in readiness should the project advance but has not yet made a Final Investment Decision regarding whether the project will proceed. Although the natural gas facility that was associated with PTP as part of a broader LNG project has been decommissioned (by former PTP owners Chevron Canada and Woodside Energy), the PTP itself is a continuing Project, fully permitted Project.
Since acquiring PTP in December of 2021, Enbridge has been seeking potential customers for the project. While this process continues, the company is continuing to maintain the project’s assets and existing permits. This includes regular field monitoring to determine if any proactive maintenance work may be required on the pipeline right-of-way (ROW). Maintenance work, if and where needed, will be conducted during the summer and involves FNLP First Nations’ communities. Activities may include work on or around bridges, culverts and roads near the previously cleared portions of the PTP ROW.
What is the relationship between FNLP and the Pacific Trail Pipelines?
In 2013, FNLP concluded a multi-year commercial negotiation with the proponents of the Pacific Trail Pipelines (PTP) whose proposed natural gas pipeline project would impact the traditional territories of 16 First Nations. The commercial agreement sets out a carefully crafted framework of socioeconomic benefits, including initial financial payments made to each of the communities upon signing.
Enbridge acquired 100% ownership of PTP in December 2021. Since then, Enbridge has met regularly with FNLP’s Board of Directors and company Executive ensuring adherence with the undertakings set out in the 2013 FNLP-PTP agreement.
Has the Pacific Trail Pipelines Project been granted Substantially Started Status?
Yes, the Pacific Trail Pipelines project has been granted Substantially Started Status granted by EPIC (then EAO) in 2016 which remains valid for the life of the project.
Are there any employment opportunities with FNLP or the Pacific Trail Pipelines project?
The Pacific Trail Pipelines project is not currently operational and there are no active job opportunities. Enbridge Inc owns 100% of the project and will decide whether to proceed with a Final Investment Decision for the project.
First Nations Limited Partnership
What is FNLP’s operational status?
FNLP remains fully operational, meeting all its statutory requirements and obligations. FNLP continues to receive capacity funding under the terms of its commercial agreement with the Pacific Trail Pipeline owners.
Does FNLP own a portion of the Pacific Trail Pipelines project?
FNLP is not an equity holder in the PTP Project. The FNLP-PTP commercial agreement provides FNLP Participating Nations with milestone payments. Should the Project receive a Final Investment Decision and become operational, each Participating First Nation would receive structured, regular payments in addition to other socioeconomic benefits set out in the commercial agreement.
Does FNLP have connections to any other major natural resources project?
No. FNLP was formed with the express purpose of negotiating a commercial agreement with respect to the Pacific Trail Pipelines project and administering the benefits as set out in that agreement.
Has FNLP completed Financial Statements for FY 2023?
Yes. We have completed our annual audit as normal. Financial Statements are available on request from FNLP’s General Manager.
Who can I contact at FNLP for more information?
Additional questions should be directed to FNLP’s General Manager, Alexandra Ballard. She can be reached on 604-349-1221 or at [email protected].
Participating First Nations
Do FNLP Participating First Nations contribute financially to maintaining FNLP operations?
No. FNLP receives annual capacity funding directly from the proponent of PTP (Enbridge). No of FNLP Participating First Nation pays any kind of fee to FNLP.
Will monies received from initial milestone payments need to be repaid if the Pacific Trail Pipelines project is cancelled?
No. The milestone payments (disbursed via FNLP to each of the 16 FNLP Shareholder Nations according to an agreed distance-sharing formula) formed part of the ARBA undertakings and are not contingent on the project proceeding to construction.
Can FNLP Participating Nations pursue an equity stake in the Pacific Trail Pipelines project?
This is one of several possibilities that FNLP has discussed with past and present PTP owners. It remains a prospect should FNLP Participating First Nations wish to pursue negotiations with the project’s owner. This would be an entirely separate to the commercial agreement FNLP currently has in place with PTP.
Who can I contact for more information?
If you are a member of one of FNLP’s 16 Shareholder First Nations, please contact your First Nation’s leadership or management team.
FNLP Governance
How does FNLP implement corporate governance?
FNLP’s sole purpose is to safeguard and administer benefits flowing from the Amended and Restated Benefits Agreement (ARBA) for its Participating First Nations.
FNLP maintains a Board of Directors and operational executive entirely independent of the Company’s Participating First Nation Shareholders. FNLP Directors and executive are elected by Shareholders at the Annual General Meeting.
What is the Amended and Restated Benefits Agreement?
In 2013, Shareholders of the FN (PTP) Group Limited Partnership (FNLP) concluded a commercial benefits agreement with the proponents of the Pacific Trail Pipelines Limited Partnership regarding the proposed Pacific Trail Pipelines (PTP) natural gas pipeline project in Northern British Columbia. Known familiarly as the ARBA, the Amended and Restated Benefits Agreement sets out a carefully crafted framework of benefits payments and established parameters for procurement, training, employment, and general contracting arising from the proposed PTP project.
How are the benefits from the ARBA calculated and paid to each FNLP Participating First Nation?
The FNLP Executive, overseen by the Board of Directors, is responsible for distributing benefits payments to Participating First Nations. These payments are made pursuant to a distance-based Payments Schedule set out in the ARBA.
What is the legal operating structure of the FN (PTP) Group Limited Partnership?
FNLP adopted its current legal structure In 2013 to safeguard Participating First Nations from risk of incurring operational liability associated with the many facets of ARBA administration.
FNLP’s operating authority is vested in the Company’s General Partner, FNLP GP2. FNLP GP2 governance is overseen by its Executive and Board of Directors (each of whom is an industry professional with substantial financial and major projects’ experience).
Does FNLP have authority to act on behalf of its Participating First Nations regarding any matters beyond those associated with the ARBA?
No. Each FNLP First Nation retains the ability to act independently regarding matters unrelated to the ARBA (environmental stewardship, land management, cultural practices etc). FNLP GP2 has no authority to act on behalf of individual Participating First Nations in any other matters.
How do FNLP Participating First Nations ensure their interests with respect to the ARBA and the proposed Pacific Trail Pipelines project are recognized?
The Chief and Council of each FNLP’s 16 Participating First Nation Shareholders appoints an Authorized Representative to represent their Nation at the FNLP table. FNLP Authorized Representatives — one for each Shareholder — receive and relay project-related information from FNLP to Chief and Council, vote in FNLP Shareholder meetings and raise matters for discussion to FNLP’s General Manager and the Board of Directors.