Christy Clark talks up natural gas in northeastern B.C.

B.C. Liberal Leader Christy Clark was campaigning in northeastern B.C. today, promoting her plan to use the area's rich natural gas reserves to lift the province out of debt.

On Thursday morning Clark toured several facilities in the area including a water reclamation plant in Dawson Creek where sewage water is reclaimed and used for fracking, a process that helps open up underground gas reserves.

Clark claims that if B.C. invested in the infrastructure to convert natural gas to liquefied natural gas, the resulting dollars would be enough to pay off the provincial debt and invest in the province's future.

"The northeast of British Columbia is home to British Columbia's economic opportunity of a lifetime. Liquefied natural gas is the industry that will make British Columbia debt free. You, here in the north east, are world leaders in safely recovering natural gas," Clark told a crowd in Dawson Creek.

"If you can't get the resource out of the ground, not only are you going to put thousands and thousands of people out of work in the Peace Region, you are going to imperil the future of our entire province."

But fracking, the method to extract the gas from shale beds deep underground, is controversial because of environmental concerns, and the NDP is calling for a review on it.

Clark also confirmed her support of the proposed Site C dam, an essential part of the plan to provide the extensive power necessary to run the proposed LNG plants.

She said the Liberals are dedicated to promoting the export of liquefied natural gas, but the party is also committed to ensuring the process is safe and environmentally responsible.  

Clark  heads to Terrace tonight and Prince Rupert tomorrow.

British Columbian's head to the polls on May 14 to elect a new government.