The closure of the Woodfibre pulp mill and the loss of 325 mill jobs and over $2 million in property taxes (from a mill which needed no municipal services or road access) hardly “propelled” the local economy. 
 
Squamish has become a long distance bedroom community extension of Vancouver, lacking local good paying jobs.

With her “bursting at the seams” comment Mayor Heintzman is referring to housing development activity – as there has not been a corresponding jobs and business tax base increase.

The jobs and tax base benefits of Woodfibre LNG will be very much appreciated by many in Squamish including, no doubt, some of our present and future town council members.

Also, it is not true Squamish’s status as a forestry resource or industry town has ended. Industry provides several hundred sustainable high wage jobs in the region and has good opportunity for growth.

The Squamish Nation is today the largest forest industry player in the region, with operations also behind the WLNG site.