Eby defends minister’s criticism on LNG expansion citing ‘big tent’

British Columbia Premier David Eby says he helped a cabinet minister write her statement denouncing plans for the expansion of a liquefied natural gas plant neighbouring her riding, despite his government advocating for the project.

It’s a break from the long-standing tradition of “cabinet solidarity” — the understanding that elected ministers can disagree behind closed doors but fall in line in public — which one political watcher says could be an attempt by the premier to provide relief for those who disagree with him amid falling poll numbers.

Kelly Greene, the minister of emergency management and climate readiness, posted a statement on Friday saying she was “disappointed” in the decision by FortisBC to move forward with the next phase of the Tilbury LNG project, citing safety concerns.

Greene represents the riding of Richmond-Steveston and says while some of the concerns raised by her community may be mitigated by plans that are in place, the project “raises concerns about a possible safety incident,” at the site not far from her riding.

“For months, I have listened to safety concerns from people in my community. I raised those issues with government at every opportunity. I am disappointed with FortisBC’s decision, as I know many of those I represent will be,” she said.

“My position on this project has remained unchanged since before being elected to the legislature.”

Eby told an unrelated news conference on Tuesday that his government has a “big tent,” which allowed Greene to criticize the plan.

“This is an issue that has been important to Kelly Greene as an MLA for her community for a long time. We worked together on her statement, so she was able to continue the advocating, and I supported her ability to do that,” he said.

David Black, who teaches political theory at Royal Roads University in Greater Victoria, said “cabinet solidarity” means that ministers hash out their differences behind closed doors and when ministers speak publicly it’s understood that they are “speaking for what is a consensus that’s been kind of worked out in cabinet.”

“So, when cabinet ministers speak in ways that depart from the government line on a given issue or at odds with their premier, as seems to be the case with MLA Greene, that is a public breach of cabinet solidarity,” he said.

He said Eby was allowing Greene to speak out amid a “massive split happening within the NDP base.” after Eby said last month that the province wouldn’t try to stop another pipeline being built between Alberta and the West Coast.

Black said the “prosperity agreement” with Ottawa, which includes a promise by the federal government to not remove the northern oil tanker ban and to accelerate construction of LNG projects, has led to a decline in Eby’s popularity.

Black said Greene is speaking for the environmental portion of the New Democrats.

“So, I think Eby, based on what I can tell, what I can see, is looking to accommodate for this split, one that every person working at a particular level in the NDP government is always aware of,” he said.

Eby said Tuesday that developing the economy includes LNG projects.

“Having a facility that can deliver LNG fuel to the next generation of ships that’s already on the water is crucial for our port to be able to be successful. It’s as simple as that,” he said.

The province announced it had issued an order-in-council on Friday that exempts the Phase 1B Tilbury expansion from the need to obtain a certificate of public convenience and necessity under the Utilities Commission Act.

The government touted the expansion of the facility to produce more LNG to help meet rising demand at the Port of Vancouver and improve access to LNG fuelling for vessels that travel the coast and across the Pacific.

Normally, developers need to obtain a certificate from the B.C. Utilities Commission before starting or expanding a public utility plant or system.

Energy Minister Adrian Dix said on Friday that skipping that step would save time and allow the expansion to proceed, clearing the way for investments, the creation of 1,100 jobs during construction and $260 million in tax revenues.

The government said the project would remain subject to all other applicable regulatory approvals and permitting requirements before construction, which could start by the middle of next year with operation starting as early as 2031.

Eby is not the only party leader dealing with dissent in his ranks.

After a report surfaced that Conservative Leader Kerry-Lynne Findlay and her senior staff have begun directing some MLAs to no longer use the term “First Nations” and instead use terms like “Indian” in their description, one Conservative caucus member spoke out.

Brennan Day, the MLA for Courtenay-Comox and critic for rural and seniors health, posted online that “language policing” should be left to the NDP.

“We’ve got enough to worry about with the economy, health care, and public safety crisis they’ve created,” he said.

Black said Findlay was elected as a “culture warrior” from the populist right “who foregrounds cultural issues, including how we speak about Indigenous Peoples.”

He said by moving the party to the right, Findlay has left some MLAs “stranded in the middle” but she’ll want to make peace with them.

“So, I think she’s going to give them some room. But again, it’s a balancing act because the people who elected her, the party members, were the right-leaning members of that party membership, and they want her to do culture war,” he said.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 28, 2026

— with files from Wolfgang Depner

Ashley Joannou, The Canadian Press