Prospective workers outweigh protesters, claims pipeline company rep

The company behind a controversialgas pipeline project in Northern B.C. says, despite high profile opposition, the project has the support of manylocal workers.

Coastal GasLinkhas been holding a series of job fairs and networking events this year in northern towns andIndigenous communitiesto connectjob seekers with contractors involved inthe pipeline's construction.

Communications advisor Suzanne Wiltonsaid the company is focusing on a 'local first' recruitment policy and therehave been thousands of face-to-face meetings with prospectiveworkers, some of whom have received job offers on thespot.

"It's like speed dating for business," she said.

High profile protests

The gas pipeline, which will run throughWet'suwet'enterritory to LNG Canada's planned $40-billion export facility nearKitimathas been the site of protests and arrests in recent months.

TransCanada-owned Coastal GasLink is in court on Wednesday for injunction hearings against hereditary chiefs with the Wet'suwet'en First Nation and members of the Unistoten Camp who have tried to stop its staff from accessing worksites.

Protesters have gained support on social media and even from celebrities including LeonardoDiCaprio.

'Local first' hiring plan

Thecompany is trying to improve its relationship with Indigenous communities,said public affairs managerKielGiddens.

Coastal GasLink has announced$620 million of the pipeline project budget will go to contracts for Indigenous companies, and the company has a team dedicated to hiringIndigenous and local workers

"We're going to continue to work locally to find solutions that will work for the hereditary system but also for the community members that really can benefit from this project, as well as through jobs and contracting opportunities," he said.

Giddens said the pipeline project will create2,500 jobs over the planned four years ofconstruction.

One of those jobs went to Judy Desjarlais's sister-in-law, who was recruited at thePrince George event.

Desjarlaisfrom the Blueberry River First Nationsowns a company that clears land for pipeline construction.

She came to the event to scout work opportunities and said it was worth the trip.

"I very much appreciated that TransCanadaand Coastal GasLink have done their due diligence with First Nations and itputs back into our community ... it's time to start building," she said.

Listen to the CBCs Andrew Kurjata speaking to organizers and attendees at thePrince George job fairhere: