NDP and Conservatives both claim credit for B.C.'s LNG boom as Phase 2 decision nears

British Columbia's two largest parties both moved to take credit for the province's growing liquefied natural gas sector on Monday, as a final investment decision on LNG Canada's second phase was expected as soon as Tuesday, the Vancouver Sun reported.

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NDP Leader David Eby promised to double critical-mineral production, while interim Conservative Leader Lorne Doerkson pledged to double natural gas production by 2032 and triple it by 2035, calling it B.C.'s superpower plan and promising quick approvals for projects that are good for the province.

NDP candidate Ravi Parmar, the incumbent forests minister, dismissed the Conservative plan as promising what his government is already committed to achieving, the Agassiz Harrison Observer reported.

The industry, championed by former premier Christy Clark, was slow to start but now has five terminals either under construction or proposed, making resource policy a central economic issue ahead of the Oct. 24 vote.