After Troy Patterson含羞草研究社檚 petition against the Coastal GasLink pipeline含羞草研究社檚 construction gained over 23,000 signatures, the teen earned himself enough attention to get a meeting with B.C.含羞草研究社檚 environment minister.

The Greater Victoria area 15-year-old met virtually with George Heyman, minister of environment and climate change strategy, for about 30 minutes earlier this month.

含羞草研究社淚含羞草研究社檓 glad that somebody finally agreed to speak with me because I think it含羞草研究社檚 good for the government to be able to see young people含羞草研究社檚 perspective on this,含羞草研究社� Patterson said. 含羞草研究社淚t is our future, right.含羞草研究社�

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The conversation included Indigenous consent for the project and how it含羞草研究社檚 being built.

含羞草研究社淚 am, of course, nowhere near convinced that this will do more good than bad,含羞草研究社� the Claremont Secondary student said.

Once completed, TC Energy含羞草研究社檚 670-kilometre Coastal GasLink pipeline will transport natural gas from the Dawson Creek area to the LNG Canada export facility in Kitimat, where the company says it含羞草研究社檒l be converted into liquefied natural gas and shipped to global markets.

One of Patterson含羞草研究社檚 main worries when he started the petition was the potential impact on wildlife if the pipeline increases tanker traffic off the province含羞草研究社檚 northern coast.

He was slightly relieved to that hear that three tugboats will help large tankers traverse tight channels on their way to Kitimat.

Heyman told Patterson that B.C. will still be able to meet its 2030 emissions reduction targets with the pipeline operational, but it含羞草研究社檒l be by a slimmer margin than without it. Patterson said the government should be more proactive and pursue projects that drive emissions down and create jobs in the renewable sector to fuel the economy.

含羞草研究社淭he point is not, we have a target and we含羞草研究社檙e going to go as close to that target as possible,含羞草研究社� he said. 含羞草研究社淲hy do we protect grizzly bears, well it含羞草研究社檚 because we nearly drove them to extinction. Well how about we don含羞草研究社檛 nearly drive our environment to extinction 含羞草研究社� how about we protect it now.含羞草研究社�

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A ministry-provided response said liquefied natural gas 含羞草研究社渕ust fit within含羞草研究社� B.C.含羞草研究社檚 climate targets and they含羞草研究社檙e focused on reducing emissions from LNG extraction, production and liquefication.

Patterson said he told Heyman he含羞草研究社檚 concerned that the province isn含羞草研究社檛 putting enough focus on training current oil and gas workers for jobs in sustainable industries.

含羞草研究社淲e are, in a sense, saying that in five years you含羞草研究社檒l be unemployed, whereas if we start retraining them now, we can make sure that everybody has a job,含羞草研究社� he said.

With the goal to one day see the Great Bear Rainforest, Patterson hopes the province will protect the area until he gets a chance.

含羞草研究社淭his is my future and this is our future,含羞草研究社� Patterson said. 含羞草研究社淏y preserving this stuff now, we are preserving it for generations to come.含羞草研究社�

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