Our newsletter: 28 August 2025
Natural gas: lifeblood of our manufacturing
While producers talk of natural gas and LNG being used to replace coal to generate electricity, there’s also this important fact to underline: Natural gas is the lifeblood of manufacturing here at home in Canada.
Indeed, the National Bank of Canada makes points that include these:
- Manufacturing in Canada is highly energy-intensive, drawing nearly 34% of its energy from natural gas and 29% from electricity.
- Canada benefits from some of the most affordable natural gas in the world—prices are 77% below the G7 average and 50% lower than in the U.S.—thanks to the world’s second-largest resource base after Russia.
- Natural gas will be essential as a fuel for power generation and as a critical input for a manufacturing sector in need of revitalization.
- Ontario says a rushed phase-out of natural gas could drive household electricity bills up by as much as 60% and risk widespread service disruptions.
And while Ontario and Quebec use gas to get power, more than half of the demand is still met through imports from the United States.
“This reliance not only raises energy security concerns but . . . at a time when AI, data centres, and manufacturing reshoring are driving up electricity demand, securing a stable, domestic natural gas supply is critical to ensuring cost competitiveness and long-term industrial resilience.”
- Read it here: https://ow.ly/NRF850WJHcl
BC premier hails Haisla LNG project
BC Premier David Eby announced a $200-million contribution to the Haisla Nation to support building the infrastructure needed to ensure the Nation’s Cedar LNG facility runs on BC electricity.
“By supporting Haisla Nation to power Cedar LNG with clean B.C. electricity, we’re taking another step in building a stronger economy that’s less exposed to reckless decisions made in the White House.”
And: “As the world’s first Indigenous majority-owned LNG facility, Cedar LNG will create more good jobs that support families and give young people a future in local communities and throughout the North, all while generating revenue for the things we all count on, like better health care and good schools across the province.”
The Haisla elected chief councillor, Maureen Nyce, added: “When Indigenous communities lead projects as owners, as is the case with Cedar LNG, we are able to ensure that these projects are developed in the most environmentally responsible manner, while generating revenues that enable us to protect our way of life and build long-term prosperity.”
- Premier’s video: https://ow.ly/5c7950WBhe5
- His earlier video on Cedar LNG: https://ow.ly/A0WH50WyyEo
- BC government news release: https://ow.ly/f6rg50WBXvw
Karen Ogen: Indigenous role in resources
Podcast: Karen Ogen, CEO of our First Nations Natural Gas Alliance, on the role of Indigenous communities in Canada’s resource economy, and the growing global demand for Canadian LNG. Listen here: ow.ly/jP2l50WHug3
IPSS award nominations open
The Indigenous Partnerships Success Showcase seeks nominations for its new IPSS Shared Prosperity Awards. You can nominate a person or organization here: https://ow.ly/BsRp50WB38X
- The Indigenous Partnerships Success Showcase comes to Vancouver Nov. 13. Info/register: https://ow.ly/NvQl50WJ0xX
First Nations and clean energy
- BC Utilities Commission OKs 10 energy-purchase agreements with BC Hydro that include First Nations equity partnerships ranging from 49% to 51%. https://ow.ly/RGbG50WMoIw And https://ow.ly/19YF50WMoIv
- Ottawa puts up $33 million for Indigenous-owned solar project in Saskatchewan: https://ow.ly/8NSl50WMN7U And Saskatchewan provides a $7-million loan: https://ow.ly/RkJ350WMkXq
- Yukon First Nation celebrates completion of solar facility: https://ow.ly/Otly50WJFNB
- Eight Ontario First Nations set up new council to work with Hydro One on 50-50 equity partnerships: https://ow.ly/tWbx50WHBbo
- See also: https://ow.ly/WojQ50WJG6h
- Canada’s clean-energy sector has hundreds of successful Indigenous partnerships: https://ow.ly/lY6h50WJGgT
- Generation Power connects Indigenous youth (ages 18-30) with employers in the clean energy sector: https://ow.ly/zHzU50WLHBp
ALSO IN THE NEWS
- Judge tosses ‘busybody’ legal challenge to the PRGT pipeline that will feed natural gas to the Nisga’a Nation’s Ksi Lisims LNG project: ly/AlVo50WK0ql
- By 2026, LNG will be BCs most valuable export, but we need another gas pipeline: ly/KgUv50WJgmP
- Ottawa has opened the door to LNG exports to Europe, says Energy Minister Tim Hodgson. ‘Canada will deliver.’ https://ow.ly/TOPa50WMKgH
- Energy for a Secure Future welcomes Crystal Smith, former chief councillor of the Haisla Nation, as Senior Fellow, Energy and Partnerships: https://ow.ly/walL50WLGot
- Canada is a natural-gas powerhouse. Some natural-gas statistics: ly/UzC450WCw06
- BC’s LNG sector will be huge, but the world wants it to be bigger: ly/75tR50WH2QK
EVENTS
- Our Alliance CEO, Karen Ogen, will take part in a panel discussion (above) at the Forward Summit in Vancouver on Sept. 3. The Alliance is a proud sponsor of the event. We’ll have a booth there; do visit us! Register now: https://ow.ly/Pz5L50WJ068
- Earlier that day, Alliance chair Crystal Smith will be the first keynote speaker, on Indigenous economic prosperity. “I’ll be sharing my perspectives as the former chief councillor of the Haisla Nation, reflecting on our journey — our challenges, our growth, and our vision for the future.”
Also on the calendar:
- Forward Summit, West Coast, Sept. 3-4, Vancouver. Info/register: https://ow.ly/Pz5L50WJ068
- Assembly of First Nations, annual general assembly, Sept. 3-5, Winnipeg: https://ow.ly/nhVK50WbQXY
- Indigenous Power Coalition webinar on Indigenous role in electricity transmission development in Canada, Sept. 8: https://ow.ly/fKlY50WBZcL
- FortisBC CEO Roger Dall’Antonia speaks to Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce, 9, Victoria: https://ow.ly/ip1Q50WzpcS
- Alberta Industrial Heartland Association’s annual conference Sept.11, Edmonton: https://ow.ly/ZyWo50WrXSv
- National Coalition of Chiefs, Energy and Natural Resource Summit, Sept. 18-19, Calgary: https://ow.ly/kt8a50Wl6fM
- Greater Vancouver Board of Trade and Indigenous Corporate Training Inc., Indigenous consultation & engagement course, online, Sept. 19: https://ow.ly/ttMl50WAT4m
- Greater Vancouver Board of Trade’s annual Indigenous Opportunities Forum, Oct. 2, Vancouver: https://ow.ly/WTWt50WaVJ5
- Canadian Council for Indigenous Business, Indigenous Forum and PAIR awards, Oct. 8, Vancouver: https://ow.ly/o1lf50WlJGY
- Canadian Council for Indigenous Business, West Coast Business Forum and awards dinner, Oct. 9, Vancouver: https://ow.ly/o1lf50WlJGY
- Ninth annual Nation2Nation forum, Oct. 21-23, Kitimat BC: https://ow.ly/LvkJ50VYq07
- Canadian Gas Association, Energy Nexus and Annual Technical Conference, Calgary, Oct. 27–30: https://ow.ly/H5kt50WlEgR
- Spark Indigenous Energy Summit, Nov. 5-6, Calgary: https://ow.ly/2B5E50Wgj11
- Indigenous Partnerships Success Showcase, Nov. 13, Vancouver: https://ow.ly/l3O650Wj25v
- Canadian Council for Indigenous Business, Indigenous Procurement Event, Nov. 26, Winnipeg: https://ow.ly/bVJy50WlJkb
2026
- The BC Natural Resources Forum, Jan. 20-22, Prince George: https://ow.ly/71Y250Wj0zL
- Canadian Gas Association, CGA Energy Security Summit, March 10-11, Ottawa: https://ow.ly/6FLp50VQu0N
- Public Policy Forum’s Canada Growth Summit, May 7, Toronto: https://ow.ly/ikCs50WGyYr
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(Posted here 01 September 2025)
